Xanthian Obelisk, Ancient funerary obelisk in Xanthos archaeological site, Turkey
The Xanthian Obelisk is a tall stone structure covered with detailed carved text that rises from the ancient ruins of Xanthos. The monument remains upright with much of its original surface intact, displaying the inscriptions across its sides.
The monument was built around 400 BCE when the region was under Persian control. It was created to honor a local leader and mark their final resting place.
The inscriptions carved into the stone display three ancient languages side by side, reflecting the linguistic richness of the region in classical times. You can see how different writing systems existed together on the same monument.
The site requires sturdy footwear due to uneven ground and scattered stones across the ancient ruins. You can reach the monument by following marked pathways that start from the main entrance of the archaeological area.
The stone features around 250 lines of text, which represents the longest known inscription in the Lycian language. This unusual amount of written content carved into a single monument makes it an exceptional record of the ancient world.
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