Letoon: Sacred Centre of the Lycian League Near Kaş

The Legacy of Lycia and Letoon

As you explore Kaş and its surroundings, you'll frequently encounter the legacy of the Lycian civilisation—one of Anatolia’s most important ancient cultures. Spanning the region between Fethiye and Antalya, Lycia was made up of independent city-states and is recognised as the ancient world’s most democratic union.

Letoon was one of its key religious and political centres, alongside Xanthos. In 1988, both cities were jointly added to the UNESCO World Heritage list due to their outstanding historical and cultural significance. Letoon is especially renowned for its well-preserved ruins and the discovery of the longest known Lycian inscriptions.

The Ancient City of Letoon

Archaeological evidence suggests Letoon was first settled in the 7th century BCE. It was dedicated to the goddess Leto and her twin children, Apollo and Artemis, and served as the religious sanctuary of the Lycian League. Inscriptions and artefacts unearthed here confirm its political and spiritual importance in the Lycian period.

The city’s name derives from Leto, and three adjacent temples form its sacred heart:

• The Temple of Leto (westernmost): Built in the Ionic style and the best preserved of the three.
• The Temple of Artemis (centre): The smallest temple, positioned between those of her mother and brother.
• The Temple of Apollo (easternmost): Doric in style, though less well-preserved today.

Nearby, you’ll find a fountain to the southwest of the temples and the remains of a Byzantine church to the east—marking Letoon’s shift from paganism to Christianity in later centuries.

Further up the slope is a large ancient theatre, dating to the 2nd century BCE, with a design meant to allow travellers walking from Xanthos to Letoon to pass through the theatre and into the sacred precinct.

Ruins, Religion and Myth

Other ruins include a semicircular Roman-period pool, a necropolis above the theatre, and remains of additional temples. Not all of the sanctuary has been excavated yet.

Before Hellenisation in the 4th century BCE, the region was home to cults worshipping local deities. Under Lycian ruler Arbinas, the worship of water sources and stones evolved into reverence for Greek gods. Fountains were often dedicated to water nymphs. Letoon eventually fell under the control of Persians, Carians, and Greeks—before becoming a cultural hub under Roman rule.

Christianity arrived in the 5th century CE with the building of a church, and the site was completely abandoned by the 7th century.

A key discovery here is a trilingual inscription from the 4th century BCE, written in Lycian, Greek, and Aramaic, providing crucial insight into Lycian language and governance. A well-known mosaic from the Temple of Apollo—featuring the god himself—was removed for preservation and is now housed in the Fethiye Museum.

The Myth of Letoon’s Founding

According to Roman poet Ovid, after giving birth to Apollo and Artemis on Delos, the goddess Leto came to Lycia. She arrived at a spring—now thought to be the site of Letoon—to wash her newborns. When the locals refused her access, she turned them into frogs in a fit of divine anger. This legend ties the sacred spring and sanctuary directly to mythological origins.

Visiting Letoon

Letoon lies just off the Lycian Way, a popular long-distance hiking trail that connects many important Lycian sites. The city was first documented by British naval officer Lieutenant Rd. Hoskyn, who served aboard the HMS Beacon. It’s only 4 km from Xanthos, making it an ideal twin visit.

Getting There:
Letoon is located approximately 50 km from Kaş, near the village of Bozoluk in Seydikemer, Muğla Province. It’s about 400–500 metres from the centre of Kumluova, just off the Kaş–Fethiye highway. Turn off at the junction near Kınık and follow the 4 km road to the site.