George Balanchine commissioned this composition in 1969, after having choreographed successfully two compositions by Xenakis in the past: Metastaseis and Pithoprakta, completed in 1955 and 1957 respectively. Even though these two compositions were not initially thought to be ballets, Xenakis already had previously written a ballet: Kraanerg, for orchestra and tape. Antikhthon was composed to be premiered by the New York City Ballet. As Xenakis puts it:
| Date of composition | 1971 |
| Premiered | 1974, September 21st in Bonn, Germany |
| First published | Éditions Salabert in 1986 |
| Type | Ballet |
| Approx. duration | 23 minutes |
| Instruments | Orchestra |
| Autotranslations beta |
Iannis Xenakis: Antikhthon Iannis Xenakis: Antikhthon Iannis Xenakis: Antikhthon |