Neem de hoofdweg van Soke te Milas tot u bij Lake Bafa. Sla linksaf en blijven voor een paar kilometer tot u bij een moderne stad waar je zal zien dat de resten van Heracleia. Potsherds zijn gevonden die erop wijzen dat deze site werd bewoond sinds de 6e eeuw voor Christus.
HeracleiaOriginally gewoon Latmus genoemd, de stad werd veroverd door Mausolus, koning van Caria, in de 4e eeuw voor Christus. Hij bouwde de massale stadswandelingen, tot 3 meter dik en de integratie van veel verdediging torens, die strekt zich uit van de oevers van het meer te hoog op de hellingen van de berg Latmus.
Heracleia
At the same time he changed its name to the Greek-style Heracleia, and began to develop its importance as a center for agriculture and seabased trade as well as a fortress town defending the northern boundaries of his empire.
Later, under Alexander's rule, the city's importance began to decrease until, with the silting up of the Gulf of Latmus, which effectively created the landlocked lake Bafa, Heracleia's heyday was over.
Greek mythology names Heracleia as the home of the handsome shepherd Endymion, on whom Zeus bestowed the gift of eternal sleep and youth. The moon goddess, Selena fell in love with him as he slept and is said to have borne his fifty daughters.
It is still possible to see the Sanctuary of Endymion on the southern side of the city a horseshoe shaped chamber with an entrance hall and pillared forecourt.
Mausolus developed the city in the grid pattern so beloved by the Greeks, on whom he modeled his kingdom. Many of the narrow streets and stone stairs of the old city still remain, as well as evidence of terrace walls, houses and tombs carved from living rock. Many of these are now under water, owing to the raised level of the lake.
In the market place, which was originally surrounded by colonnades, can be seen the rows of shops, their doors and windows still clearly defined. On a towering outcrop of rock high above the market place is the temple of Athena, built at the end of the 3rd century BC, much of which is still standing to full height. Also to be seen are the Amphitheater and Nymphaeum, the roman Baths and the nearby Gymnasium.
Mount Latmus behield haar reputatie als hulst berg ten minste tot de Middeleeuwen. De restanten van de eenvoudige woningen die worden gebruikt door monniken en kluizenaars is nog steeds te zien op de afgelegen heuvels tussen de rotsen, terwijl een Byzantijnse kasteel domineert het ene uiteinde van de stadsmuur op de site van Heracleia's lake fort.
Bodrum 
