Letoon

The city of Letoon was founded according to legend by Leto, the mother of Apollo and Artemis. Hera, the jealous wife of Zeus (who, in one of his amorous escapedes, had fathered the children) had Leto pursued to prevent her from giving birth. The children were born nevertheless on Oelos (according to one account, in Pataral and Leto then fled to Lycia to escape Hera’s wrath.

The cult of Apollo was based on that of an Anatolian god and was initiated at Patara. As the cult spread, many places were adopted as his birthplace, among them the most widely accepted being Delos. It has often been said that many of the Greek gods were imported to Greece from Anatolia and were developed from the religious culture of the Hittites. This idea was popularised by the Turkish poet, the fisherman of Halicarnassos. Similarly Artemis was considered a continuation of the Kybele cult, under a new name, and the clearest evidence of this is the Arternis temple at Ephesus. Letoon was the sacred cult center of Lycia.

We can trace settlement at Letoon as far back as the 7th century. After 1962, excavations were carried out by Dr. H. Metzger, and are now under the direction of c. Le Roy. As can be seen, the excavation site covers an area containing three temples placed side by side. The first of these, of the Ionic order, is dedicated to Leto.

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. However, as the inscriptions from both temples have been confused, it is now not clear which temple . belonged to whom, although mosaics discovered flanking the main temple to show the bow and quiver of Artemis and the lyre of Apollo. An inscription which came to light near a flight of steps cut into the rock north of the temples refers to Artemis in the Lycian script as Ertemi, which suggests that the central temple belonged to Apollon, and the third temple to Artemis.

In recent excavations, an area designed for the display of statues and the remains of a fountain were discovered to the west of the temples. The temple was apparenly built during the reign of the emperor Hadrian and was constructed over an older building. Excavation has been largely obstructed by the fact that these remains now lie under several feet of water.

Letoon also had a stoa and a theater, and the existance of a stadium, although as yet untraced, is known, proving that it was not only a cult center, but also a living city.

The theater lies opposite the temples, resting on the slope behind, with an entrance visible to one side. This theater belongs to the Hellenistic period. The portals to the east and west were decorated with Doric friezes and the auditorium was in good condition when excavation began although the skene building was completely destroyed. Among the foundations of the temples at Letoon, many inscriptions were found during excavation. Of these, the most important is an inscription referring to a visit by Alexander to Letoon, and another inscription, near this, which is multi-lingual and contains texts in Aramaic, Greek and Lycian. This is very important in that it helped experts to decypher the Lycian script. It refers to a decree made by the satrap of Caria and Lycia, Pixodares.

Letoon was a center of cult activity and a living setdement until the 7th century, after which it was abandoned. After looking at the works of art in the museum there we will leave Letoon for Patara. Portico ruins, Letoon.

Settlement of Antalya and its environs stretches back to the dawn of humanity however as attested by Paleolithic finds discovered in the nearby Karain and Beldibi caves and Early Bronze Age finds discovered at Semahoyuk. Today it is part on Turkey’s “Golden Coast” , an exquisite land of sun, sea, and history. In 133 B.C. Antalya, together Pergamon’s other possessions in Asia Minor, were taken over by Rome. Antalya (or “Attalia” as the Bible calls it) is where Paul set sail from together with Barnabas on his first missionary journey: “They passed through Pisidia and reached Pamphylia. Then after proclaiming the word at Perge they went down to Attalia and from there sailed for Antioch…” Acts xiv 24-26). In 130 A.D., Hadrian visited the city during his peregrinations of his empire and to this we owe the monumental arch (7) built in his honor. During Byzantine times Antalya was an archdiocese. Following the Seljuk capture of the city, Antalya continued to be an important commercial and military port.

Because the modern city sits atop the remains of its predecessors, very little remains of old Antalya. Of the fortifications that once surrounded the city, only Hidirlik tower is still standing. Hadrian’s Gate, as we have said, was originally constructed is a victory arch. Kesik (“cut-off”) Minaret and Yivli (“fluted” or “grooved”) Minaret are works from the reign of Alaeddin Keykubad I (1219-1236). The former is located on the site of a temple from the 2nd century A.D. while the latter has become a symbol of modern Antalya. Another of the architectural works of importance in Antalya is the Karatay Medresse, built during the reign of the same sultan. The ancient castle overlooking the ancient harbor with its old houses nestled inside is worth exploring and the Antalya Museum is a must for anyone interested in this region’s art and history.

The area around Antalya is full of places from which one-day trips may be made to ancient Lycian, Pisidian, and Pamphylian sites: Termessos,located amidst the lofty peaks above Antalya; Perge located 17 kilometers, Aspendos located 49 kilometers, and Side located 80 kilometers along the road to Alanya; and cities like Selge and Sillyon located somewhat inland are but a few examples. In the direction of Kemer is Phaselis a marvelous archaeological site where one may enjoy the ruins in the atmosphere of a seaside pine forest. In addition there are a number of scenic spots of natural beauty such as the waterfalls at Duden, Kursunlu, and Manavgat which are a delight to Visit on a hot Mediterranean summer day.

An important Seljuk seaport, Antalya was connected by a number of trade routes leading into the hinterland and up-country .As a result, there are many Seljuk caravanserais in the vicinity. Some of the many that are worth a look are Alarahan, built in 1231 by Alaeddin Keykubad I; Sarapsahan and Kirkgozhan, both built during the reign of Giyaseddin Keyhusrev II (1236-1245); Evdirhan, built by Izzeddin Keykavus. All of these are located on the roadside. Two others -Yusufhan and Incirlihan – today stand a short distance from the modem road as one approaches Antalya from the direction of Burdur.

When you turn off from the Kas-Fethiye motorway and advance towards the Village of Bozoluk, you reach Letoon. Letoon is a city that had been founded in the name of Leto, mother of Apollon and Arthemis.

The first one, of the three temples here, belongs to Leto and it is dated back to 400 BC It is of Ionian order, has six columns in the front and at the back and eleven columns at the sides. The smallest temple which is located adjacent to the above mentioned one, that is to say at the center, is dated to the 4th century BC and belongs to Anthem’s. The third temple of Doric order which is situated at the extreme end, belongs to Apollon and to the Hellenistic Period.

The exedra in the form of a semicircle which was used to place statues on, belongs to the Hellenistic Period. There are the remains of a fountain belonging to the Hadrian Period. The theater belongs to the Hellenistic Period and it has two entrances in the west and in the east which have vaults.

The ruins of Letoon are situated in the village of Bozoluk. They can be reached by a road 4 kms long, leading off the road from Kas to Fethiye before Kinik.

The ruins of Letoon are situated in the village of Bozoluk. They can be reached by driving along a four-kilometer stretch of road that exits off the Kaş - Fethiye Road before Kınık.

The city of Letoon was founded in honor of Leto, who was the mother of Apollo and Artemis. Zeus, the father of the gods, falls in love with Leto. Hera, Apollo's jealous wife, has her followed and prevents her from giving birth to the children whom Zeus has fathered. Finally, Leto gives birth to A and Artemis on Delos, and escapes to Lycia, 01 Anatolian coast, away from Hera. Later, Delos indicated as the birthplace of Apollo, but perhap Leto said, she really gave birth at Patara.

The cult of Apollo was based on that ( Anatolian god and was initiated in Patara. As thc spread, many places were adopted as his birthI among them the most widely accepted being Delc has often been said that many of the Greek gods exported to Greece from Anatolia and were deve] from the religious culture of the Hittites. This was popularized by the Turkish poet, Azra Erhal Fisherman of Halicarnassus as well as the writ this book. Similarly, Artemis was consider continuation of the Cybele cult, under a new name and the clearest evidence ofthis is the Artemis Te at Ephesus. It is accepted that Leto, the moth these gods, was Anatolian and that she merged Cybele.

Letoon, founded by the mother of Artemis Apollo, the twin children of Zeus, was the sacred center of Lycia. We can trace settlement at Leto (far back as the 7th century B.C. Excavations begun by Dr. H. Metzger in 1962, and late] continued under the direction of M. Christian Le Roy .

As one can see, the excavation site cove area containing three temples placed side by side. first of these, of the Ionic order, was dedicated to and constructed towards the end of the 5th century B.C. through the efforts of King Arbinas. This has sixcolumns on the front and rear facades and elev each side. To either side of this temple are two temples dedicated to Apollo and Artemis.

An inscription which was uncovered r flight of steps cut into the rock north of the te refers to Artemis in the Lycian language as El which suggests that the second temple, which da the 4th century B.C., belonged to Artemis.

The third temple, which was construd the Doric order, belonged to Apollo. A mosaic discovered flanking the main temple, which nearly unrecognizable form, shows the bov quiver of Artemis and the lyre of Apollo. In ad( many inscriptions were found among the found; of the temples at Letoon during excavation. of 1 one of the most important is a multi-lil inscription containing texts in Aramaic, Greel Lycian. This inscription, which dates to 358 B.C is currently in the Fethiye museum, is very impl in that it helped experts to decipher the Lycian language. It refers to a decree made by Pixodares, who was the satrap of Caria and Lycia .

To the south and west of the main temple excavation has revealed a large nymphc connected with the sacred spring. A rectan building facing east-west is bordered by a large circular paved basin, 27 meters in diametel flanked on the north by two semi-circular exedJ dates to the time of Emperor Hadrian (117-138 and replaces an earlier Hellenistic building. excavation was conduCted largely underwater, ar greater part is now permanently flooded. Part I nymphaeum was later overlaid by a chi apparently dating to the 6th century.

Letoon also had a stoa and a theater, wh the existence of a stadium, although as yet untl is known, proving that this was not only a cult o but also a living city .

The theater lies opposite the temples, rl on the slope behind, with an entrance visible D side. This theater belongs to the Hellenistic Period. The arches to the east and west were decorated Doric friezes and the auditorium was in condition when excavation began although the i building was completely destroyed .

Besides the fact that Letoon was a reli center, proof that it was also a place where p lived is shown with the finding of the theater, as well as the stoa and stadium. which have yet to come to the light of day.

To the north of the precinct is a large and well-preserved theater of Hellenistic date. The cavea. which faces northwest, is more than a semicircle and in its middle part is cut out of the hillside; the ends are built of regular smooth-faced ashlar. There is one diazoma. A vaulted passage leads to the cavea on either side; that on the southwest end has on its inner face a row of 16 masks, representing among others Dionysus. Silenus, a satyr I a girl, and a funny old woman.

Letoon was a center of cult activity and an inhabited settlement until the 7th century, when it was subsequently abandoned.