Fodor's Expert Review Letoon
Excavations have revealed three temples in Letoon. The first dates from the 2nd century BC and was dedicated to Leto, the mother of Apollo and Artemis, and the namesake of the site; she was believed to have brought the infant twins here while hiding from Zeus's jealous wife, Hera. The middle temple, the oldest, is dedicated to Artemis and dates from the 5th or 4th century BC. The last, dating from the 1st century BC, belongs to Apollo and contains a replica of a mosaic depicting a bow and arrow (a symbol of Artemis) and a sun and lyre (Apollo's emblems). These are the three gods most closely associated with Lycia.
Re-erecting some columns of the Temple of Leto has made the site more photogenic. There is also a well-preserved Roman theater, right after the site entrance. The once-sacred pool where Leto sought to quench her thirst, now filled with ducks and chirping frogs, lends atmosphere. (According to legend, when local villagers tried to chase Leto away, she turned them into... READ MORE
Excavations have revealed three temples in Letoon. The first dates from the 2nd century BC and was dedicated to Leto, the mother of Apollo and Artemis, and the namesake of the site; she was believed to have brought the infant twins here while hiding from Zeus's jealous wife, Hera. The middle temple, the oldest, is dedicated to Artemis and dates from the 5th or 4th century BC. The last, dating from the 1st century BC, belongs to Apollo and contains a replica of a mosaic depicting a bow and arrow (a symbol of Artemis) and a sun and lyre (Apollo's emblems). These are the three gods most closely associated with Lycia.
Re-erecting some columns of the Temple of Leto has made the site more photogenic. There is also a well-preserved Roman theater, right after the site entrance. The once-sacred pool where Leto sought to quench her thirst, now filled with ducks and chirping frogs, lends atmosphere. (According to legend, when local villagers tried to chase Leto away, she turned them into frogs.) About 6 km (4 miles) south of Letoon, the road continues to a beach. Across a rickety bridge at the river mouth are the ruins of an early Lycian fort called Pydnai.
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