Xanthos#The River Xanthos

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Template: Infobox River / BILD_fehlt

The river Xanthos ( Turkish Eşen Çayı outdated, Koca Çay ) is one of the main rivers in the southwestern Anatolian province of Antalya in Turkey. Its source is in the Taurus Mountains on Kizilca Dağ, from where it flows into the Lycian level and flows as navigable river north of Gelemiş ( Patara ) into the Mediterranean. With approximately 40 kilometers in length it is the longest river in Lycia. Today, the valley is dominated by agriculture especially.

Etymology

The name comes from xanthos ( ξανθός ) back, the Greek word for "yellow", and has its origin in the yellow -colored alluvial sands transported by the river and the color the water. Already Strabo mentions the river and handed over to the ancient name Sibros or Sirbis, meaning " reddish- yellow " in the Phoenician and Arabic.

Historical Significance

In the fertile Xanthos valley are important archaeological sites, such as Gökkaya, as well as the ancient cities of Xanthos ( kinin ), Patara, Pinara and Tlos. Near the village of Kemer spanned in Roman times a bridge to here about 500 meters wide river. In Oinoanda leads an Ottoman bridge over the river.

Mythology

According to Greek mythology, the goddess Leto washed on the run from Hera her children Artemis and Apollo in the holy water of the river. Is the Letoon temple complex at this point.

Gallery

Remains of the Roman bridge at Kemer

Other rivers

Xanthos is also in Homer's Iliad, the name of the river Scamander with the gods, and the name of a river in Epirus.