study day : Man faced with natural risks in antiquity: fatalism, adaptation, resilience
MSH Bordeaux, December 16, 2022

“The Létôon
of ]u-bordeaux-montaigne.fr

Keywords: Sanctuary, flooding, silting, Xanthos

The myth of the goddess Leto and the peasants of Lycia transformed into frogs is located in the swamp which extends at the foot of the city of Xanthos. The natural setting and its particularities (a hill, a source, a marsh) undoubtedly explain the fixation of the myth in this place and the creation of a sanctuary with a certain reputation. But what the Ancients did not foresee was the fluctuating and malleable character of this environment which, during Antiquity, continued to modify, leading to serious consequences for accessibility to the sanctuary and its surroundings. buildings. The combination of archaeological and geomorphological studies makes it possible to draw up a picture of the problems raised by natural elements and the responses that men have tried to provide.