The temple of Leto, Letoon, Turkey. (photo)

The Letoon (Λητῶον), sometimes Latinized as Letoum, was a sanctuary dedicated to the three national deities of Lycia - Leto and her twin children Apollo and Artemis. It was one of the most important religious centres in the region. The site is located south of the village Kumluova in the Fethiye district of Antalya Province, Turkey. Archaeological finds date back to the late 6th century BC. During the Archaic and Classical periods (7th-5th century BC) the site was sacred to to the cult of an earlier mother goddess (Eni Mahanahi in Lycia), which was later superseded by the worship of Leto. The temple of Leto is the largest and best-preserved of the three temples of Letoon, likely dating back to the 5th century BC. The temple was built of very fine limestone, the clear color of which created the illusion of marble. An ionic portico surrounded the cult room (cella), which was decorated with an elegant engaged corinthian colonnade. Because of its dimensions and the quality of its sculptured decoration, this temple is one of the most exceptional examples of Greek architecture in Turkey and one of the best preserved Greek temples in the world.