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Letoon 114 pictures 5.31 minutes HQ video The site is located near the village of Bozoluk. Recently the remains of Letoon came to light a few kilometers from Xanthos; seat of the most famous sanctuary of Lycia, as its name suggests, it was dedicated to the goddess Latona - loved by Jove - and to her famous sons Apollo and Artemis. Letoon was the sacred cult center of Lycia. We can trace settlement at Letoon as far back as the 7^th century B.C. The site covers an area containing three temples placed side by side. The first of these, of the ionic order, was dedicated to Leto and constructed towards the end of the 5^th century B.C. through the efforts of King Arbinas. This has six columns on the front and rear facades and eleven on each side. To either side of this temple are two small temples dedicated to Apollo and Artemis. Besides the fact that Letoon was a religious center, proof that it was also a place where people lived is shown with the finding of the theater,as well as the stoa and stadium. Hellenistic and Roman Portico Temple of Apollo The temple was constructed in the Doric order, and belonged to Apollo. A mosaic was discovered flanking the main temple, which is in nearly unrecognizable form. Many inscriptions were found among the foundations of the temples at Letoon during excavation. One of the most important is a multi-lingual inscription containing texts in Aramaic, Greek and Lycian dating from 358 B.C. It refers to a decree made by Pixodares who was the satrap of Caria and Lycia. Theater The theater is opposite the temples, with an entrance visible to one side. This theater belongs to the Hellenistic period. The arches to the east and west were decorated with Doric friezes and the auditorium was in good condition, on the beginning of the excavation. Nymphaeum The Nymphaeum is connected with the sacred spring. A rectangular building facing east-west is bordered by a large semi-circular paved basin, 27 meters in diameter and flanked on the north by two semi-circular exedra. It dates to the time of Emperor Hadrian. The Temples Back to Turkey Index