Walking The Lycian Way

Sidyma & Letoon

Continuing our journey Walking The Lycian Way we look at two historic sites. Sidyma and Letoon are both on The Lycian Way route. They are impressive ancient sites though neither get many visitors.

Lycian Way Holidays Lycian Tombs Sidyma — Lycian Tombs Sidyma

Sidyma is located on the slopes of Mount Cragus on the edge of the Xanthos Valley. In history, Sidyma was mentioned in the 1st century BC by the Greek scholar, Polyhistor. The current ruins were discovered by Charles Fellows in the mid-19^th Century. Many fine ruins remain today including engraved Lycian Tombs, theatre, agora, baths and temples.

Lycian Way Holidays exploring Sidyma Ruins — Exploring Sidyma ruins

Today the local village is known as Dudurga. The villages have incorporated many of the ancient stone blocks into their village houses. The small, pretty Mosque in the centre of the village contains broken Roman columns.

Further information

www.roughguides.com/destinations/europe/turkey/turquoise-coast/xanthos-valley/sidyma/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidyma

Walking The Lycian Way, Letoon is 4 kilometres south of Xanthos near a paved road, close to modern day town of Kumluova. In history it was an important religious site in the region. Dating back to the 6th Century BC the site centred around a water spring from the ground.

Lycian Way Holidays Letoon — Letoon Temple

In 1962 excavations discovered the foundations of the Hellenistic temple dedicated to Leto. Hence the name Letoon. At the site of modern day Letoon the ruins consist of temples and large amphitheatre. Perhaps the most intriguing discovery was later called ‘The Letoon Trilingual’ A carved stone bearing inscriptions in Greek, Lycian and Aramaic language. This provided archeologists with crucial information in being able to decipher The Lycian language. It can be seen today in the Fethiye Museum. Letoon was abandoned as a religous site and sanctuary around the 7^th century AD.