xanten
xanten Lexical Profile
• noun
A historic town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, situated near the lower Rhine river and renowned for its extensive Roman archaeological park (Colonia Ulpia Traiana) and Gothic cathedral.
"During our architectural tour of western Germany, we spent an afternoon in Xanten exploring the impressive reconstructions of ancient Roman baths and temples."
The mythological capital and royal seat in the Middle High German epic poem 'Nibelungenlied', celebrated as the birthplace of the dragon-slaying hero Siegfried.
"In Germanic legend, the valiant prince Siegfried hails from Xanten, a magnificent kingdom on the shores of the Rhine."
• Rhymes for xanten
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the Latin phrase 'ad sanctos' (meaning 'to the saints'), referring to the graves of early Christian martyrs upon which the town's medieval cathedral was built.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.