Xanthus

Xanthus (zăn`thəs), ancient city of Lycia, W Asia Minor, in present Turkey. On the Xanthus River, it was besieged and taken by the Persians (c.546 B.C.) and centuries later (c.42 B.C.) by the Romans. Both times the inhabitants destroyed their city before surrendering. Sir Charles Fellows excavated the ruins. Many works of art from Xanthus, such as the archaic sculptured reliefs and the Nereid monument, are now in the British Museum.

---

Xanthus

 or Xanthos

Ancient city of Lycia, Anatolia. Situated near the mouth of the Xanthus (modern Esen Cayi) River in present-day southwestern Turkey, its ruins include a theatre, temples, and tombs. A number of pieces were taken for the British Museum. The ancient city was twice besieged and destroyed: in 540 BC by the Persians of the Achaemenian dynasty and in 42 BC by the Romans. The ruins were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988.