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Xanthos was the oldest and biggest city of Highland Lycia State. It was established on the valley of Xanthos River.  City was the administrative and religious center of Lycia Area (Teke Peninsula). The history of Xanthos goes back to 8th century B.C, and it was an independent city-state until the invasion of Persian Empire in 545 B.C. While the Persian invasion was taking place, people of Xanthos defended their city bravely. However, when they understood that they were not strong enough to prevent invasion, they first killed all women and children, later they set the city on fire, and they suicided by throwing themselves into this fire. City was re-established by the 80 family who survived this massacre, and immigrants. Xanthos again turned into ashes with fire outbreak. Nevertheless, city remained to be an important center thanks to its strong relationship with the western civilizations.
This situation ended badly as well. People of Xanthos, who opposed the demand of tax by the Athenians, dragged into a war which caused the city to be ruined in 429 B.C. Xanthos Hellenized after the arrival of Alexander the Great in 333 B.C. This era was followed by the reign of Ptolemaic Dynasty. Later, city, which was conquered by the Syrian King Antiochus III in 197 B.C, lived a bright era. In second century B.C, Xanthos became the capital of the Lycia Union. Xanthos, which took its liberty in 167 B.C, invaded by the Roman Empire in 42 B.C. During the invasion, the Lycian Acropolis on the west side of the city demolished, and the residents of the Xanthos slaughtered by the Roman army. One ye4ar later, Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius rebuild the city. During the Byzantium era, city was an eparchy center. The city abandoned after the beginning of the Arab campaigns to the area in 7th Century A.D...
 

Xanthos was the oldest and biggest city of Highland Lycia State. It was established on the valley of Xanthos River.  City was the administrative and religious center of Lycia Area (Teke Peninsula). The history of Xanthos goes back to 8th century B.C, and it was an independent city-state until the invasion of Persian Empire in 545 B.C. While the Persian invasion was taking place, people of Xanthos defended their city bravely. However, when they understood that they were not strong enough to prevent invasion, they first killed all women and children, later they set the city on fire, and they suicided by throwing themselves into this fire. City was re-established by the 80 family who survived this massacre, and immigrants. Xanthos again turned into ashes with fire outbreak. Nevertheless, city remained to be an important center thanks to its strong relationship with the western civilizations.
This situation ended badly as well. People of Xanthos, who opposed the demand of tax by the Athenians, dragged into a war which caused the city to be ruined in 429 B.C. Xanthos Hellenized after the arrival of Alexander the Great in 333 B.C. This era was followed by the reign of Ptolemaic Dynasty. Later, city, which was conquered by the Syrian King Antiochus III in 197 B.C, lived a bright era. In second century B.C, Xanthos became the capital of the Lycia Union. Xanthos, which took its liberty in 167 B.C, invaded by the Roman Empire in 42 B.C. During the invasion, the Lycian Acropolis on the west side of the city demolished, and the residents of the Xanthos slaughtered by the Roman army. One ye4ar later, Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius rebuild the city. During the Byzantium era, city was an eparchy center. The city abandoned after the beginning of the Arab campaigns to the area in 7th Century A.D...