Edens of Turkey

About eight centuries were here until the late Leto, Artemis and Apollo worshipped. The ruins of temples and other buildings, together with the remains of Xanthos since 1988 the World Cultural Heritage (World Heritage, UNESCO). The two sites in Lycia (Asia Minor, Turkey) lie about 35 km southeast of Fethiye.

History
Pottery pieces from the 8th Century BC show the early history of this place. Here, a source, who is revered place in the Greek mythology, in which Leto on the run from Hera their children Artemis and Apollo in Lycia washed in holy water. The history of the sanctuary is closely linked with that of Xanthos, for a long time led the Lycian Federation. All common ritual ceremonies, theatrical performances and competitions of the Lycian cities found here, in Letoon instead. A multiple advanced Stoicism and a small theater, conservatories. Even in the time Hadrian was the sacred source in a new, beautiful Nymphaion (wells building) focus. The stadium has not been found. It was still early in a monastery, but with the influx of Arabs in the 7th Century ends the occupation of the town. Since 1962 French excavations can be found here.

 
Plan of LetoonKleiner digression: Ovid to past and present

Ovid Leto knows the legend in his Metamorphoses (VI, 340-380) still add a detail: As punishment the goddess transformed those farmers who are on their way to the source in the way presented in frogs. At the swampy location of the Letoons has since antiquity also apparently not changed. Even the place of the source is now back under water, the excavations can be found partly under the water surface. Even the farmers there are. Today only resisting but their goats and dried vegetables the way through the World Heritage here and there.