Xanthos West Agora III: Dynastic Nele

New evidence from the Xanthos West Agora excavations suggests that the area's functional origins date to around 530–480 BCE, coinciding with the establishment of the Ksanthos Dynasty or during the reign of King Kheziga (Kossika) or his son Kuprlli (Kybernis). Comparative analysis with the Early Classical Period Avşar Tepesi agora reveals that these spaces were unique to Lycia, serving as venues for ancestral rituals, victory celebrations, and divine worship ceremonies. The study also challenges the distinction between 'agora' and 'akropolis' in Greek inscriptions, proposing that both terms may have referred to a single area known as 'nele' in Lycian language, which differed significantly from a Greek agora. While early 'nele' areas were influenced by Anatolian culture, they later aligned with the Greek pantheon due to Athens' influence during the Classical Period.

DÖNMEZ, A., & ERDOĞAN, H. M. (2023). Xanthos West Agora III: Dynastic Nele. Adalya, (26), 97–126. https://doi.org/10.47589/adalya.1414506