The Temple of Athena at Heracleia under Latmus
 

Location

   Heracleia is located on the south slopes of Mount Latmus and ca. 25 km west of Miletus (Milas), Turkey. Heracleia under Latmus was originally a port city at the extreme SE corner of the Latmian gulf. As the Meander river silted its delta a swamp developed at Miletus and the freshwater lake of Bafa was formed at the SE.

Map of the Latmian gulf, the Meander river, Ephesus,
Samos, Miletus and Heracleia.
(Click the image for a full screen view)

Mythology

   Greek mythology names Heracleia as the home of the handsome shepherd Endymion. He was a beautiful youth who fed his flock on Mount Latmus.

   Selene, the Moon Goddess, fell in love with Endymion and seduced him while he was sleeping in a cave on the mountain. So enamored of his beauty was she that she came down from heaven to be with him in his dreams. From then on, Selene made nightly sojourns to Heracleia, where her lover resided.

   Over many years their passionate love affair resulted in the birth of fifty daughters.

   Endymion begged for perpetual youth, sleep, and immortality so he could prolong this pleasant dream forever. Selene begged Zeus to grant him eternal life so she might be able to embrace him forever. Zeus complied, putting Endymion into eternal sleep and each night Selene visits him on Mt. Latmus.

   It is still possible to see the Sanctuary of Endymion on the southern side of the city, a horse shoe shaped chamber with an entrance hall and pillared forecourt.

Relief of Selene and Endymion
(Click the image for a full screen view)

History

   Originally a Carian city on the edge of the Ionian territory, Latmus became a member of the Delian League in the 5th century BCE.

   In the 4th century BCE Mausolus of Halicarnassus captured the city by trickery and fortified it with a circuit wall.

   At the beginning of the 3rd century BCE, with the removal of the Persian influence in Anatolia, a new city of Latmus was established ca. 1 km west of the old city. At this time, or slightly earlier under the Hellenizing policy of Mausolus, the city received the new name of Heracleia.

   The new city was planned in the Hippodamian grid system with major streets running due north from the fortified harbor. At the center of the city is a rectangular agora (60 x 130 m) with a two story row of shops still preserved along the southern edge. East of the agora is the bouleuterion. 

Map of Heracleia, the Temples, the Agora,
the Theater and the village. 
(Click the image for a full screen view)

   The main temple of the city, the Temple of Athena, is one of the few structures not aligned to the city grid. It sits on a prominent rocky spur to the west of the agora.

Plan of Athena's Temple at Heracleia
A: Pronaos. B: Cella. C: Cult Statue of the Goddess Athena.
(Click the image for a full screen view)

Head of Athena from Heracleia
Possibly representing the head of the Cult Statue
(Click the image for a full screen view)

   The Temple was built at the end of the 3rd century BCE, much of which is still standing to full height.

The guardian of the Temple
(Click the image for a full screen view)

   The area of the city north of the agora is less well known, but remains of three temples, a Roman bath, a Roman theater, and a nymphaeum have been identified. 

   South of the agora, on a rise overlooking the lake is another structure not aligned to the grid. This is a sanctuary with a SW facing building that was almost certainly dedicated to Endymion. The unusual horseshoe-shaped rear wall of the cella incorporates sections of natural bedrock and may well be a reflection of Endymion's cave.

Exploration

   Chandler visited the site in 1765. Since then there has been some study of the visible remains, but no systematic excavation at the site.

Clickable Plan of Heracleia under Latmus
(Click the image for a full screen view)

Gallery

Maiander 395 X 493 12 KB	Plan 359 X 590 15 KB	Clickable 630 X 410 8 KB
Endymion 471 X 425 58 KB	Temple from W 592 X 391 55 KB	Temple from S 592 X 391 36 KB
Temple from E 592 X 391 54 KB	Temple plan 465 X 320 5 KB	Athena Head 374 X 378 18 KB
The guardian 640 X 428 47 KB	Lake from E 592 X 391 35 KB

  Tourist Information:

   Heracleia under Latmus is located 25 km west of Miletus (Milas), Turkey.

   The most common access to Heracleia is by boat from Ceri'nin Yeri. Tours generally depart between 9.30 and 10.30am, take twenty minutes to cross the lake, and allow just under two and a half hours at the ruins.

Alternatively, if you have your own vehicle, drive east to Çamiçi village (6 km beyond Ceri'nin Yeri) and then turn left at the signpost 'Herakleia'. The ten kilometer, all-weather dirt road leads through fields and finally a wilderness of Latmian borders to modern village of Kapikiri, built higgledy-piggledy among the ruins. 

   Scattered in and around Kapikiri are a few simple restaurants and a campsite. The Zeybek Restaurant/Camping has a good view over the lake, serves moderately priced fish and seems the most consistently open; for a room, the best bet is the Agora Pansiyon in the village.

  Views:

Temple of Athena, from SE

Temple of Athena, from E

View into the cella of the Temple of Athena, from the pronaos and SE

East wall of the Bouleuterion and the Temple of Athena, from NE

View from the Temple of Athena toward S and the Necropolis

View from the Temple of Athena toward W and the fortified point of the ancient harbor

Sanctuary of Endymion, overall view from SW

Sanctuary of Endymion, inside rear wall from W

  Links:
 

Perseus Project: Herakleia under Latmus