Lycians were an important part of the Greek and the Near Eastern worlds, living at the point where two cultures intermingled. After the Persian conquest of Xanthos, Lycia underwent some remarkable changes. According to the archaeological, numismatic and epigraphic evidence, at the beginning of the fifth century there existed a political structure based on a number of leaders (dynasts). The Persian desire for a stable vassal state may have led them to supporting the central Xanthian monarchy. Greek political ideas also filtered into this area.
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