Hellenistic gate, Xanthos, Turkey (photo)

In the foreground are the ruins of the Hellenistic gateway and directly behind it is the Arch of Vespasian. The Hellenistic gate was the main city gate and was built by built in 197-90 BC by Antiochus III who was one of Alexander the Great generals. The Arch of Vespasian was built in honour of the Roman Emperor in the 1st century AD. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988, Xanthos was the capital city of the Lycian Federation. The Xanthosians famously twice chose to commit mass suicide rather than submit to invading forces. In 540 BC the Xanthosian men set fire to their women, children, slaves and treasure upon the acropolis before making their final doomed attack upon the invading Persians. Xanthos was later repopulated but the same gruesome story repeated itself in 42 BC when Brutus attacked the city during the Roman civil wars in order to recruit troops and raise money.