Urbanism of Xanthos in the Byzantine period

The city of Xanthos, which has a long history of excavations, has been mentioned mostly for its world-famous tomb monuments dating back to the Classical period. However, the Byzantine urbanism of the city has never been studied comprehensively, except for some excavations carried out in certain structures with limited publications. This dissertation aims to offer a complete building inventory of the city in the Early and Middle Byzantine periods and to interpret the urban landscape of Byzantine Xanthos based on these data. In order to do so, besides the publications made in the past, the results of new studies carried out in the field were used. This encompasses some structures that have never been the subject of detailed studies before, as well as some newly discovered ones which were studied and interpreted in order to contribute to a better understanding of the city plan. Xanthos always had a unique urban texture, even in the Classical period. It came under Roman rule in 43 BC and was subsequently turned into a Roman city through extensive construction activities. Starting in the Late Antique Period, Xanthos gradually became a Byzantine city, with the corresponding religious and cultural shift. The city shared to a large extent the same path and ultimate fate of other cities in the nearby region, keeping, however, its own unique characteristics. Four particularly large basilicas, aristocratic residences with rich architectural features, and a commercial life that spread to almost every part of the urban area give clues about how wealthy the city actually was – something that was difficult to understand before due to the lack of written sources. Through the examination of its architectural catalog, the city's importance, which is not evident from the Byzantine historical narrative, becomes apparent. In addition, preserving the ancient monuments in the city center can be explained as a conservative approach but may also point to a special bond with the past and even to the construction of a specific Xanthian urban identity.