Herakleias predecessor settlement Latmos originated around 1000 B.C. from Karer expelled by land taking Greeks in the inhospitable, but safe rock landscape of the Latmos mountains.
The original Carian city came under Lydian and later Persian rule in the 6th century, as did the cities of Ionia. In 499-494 B.C. Latmos, like the rest of Caria, took part in the Ionian uprising against Persia. After 494 Latmos received a fortification. It became a member of the Attic-Dellian Lake Confederation with the minimum contribution of 1 talent per year, which reflected its economic potency.
Latmos again came under Persian rule and became part of the Satrapie Caria, which was ruled by a native dynasty (House of the Hecatomnids), whose best known representative was Mausolos. Between 377 and 353 B.C. he pursued a massive Hellenization policy in Caria.

Around 300 BC the Hellenistic foundation Herakleia replaced the old Latmos (10 minutes walk away). The exact time and the authorship of this foundation are controversial. The Duodez-Diadoche Pleistarchos made Herakleia apparently the capital of his empire, which included parts of Caria, and renamed the city Pleistarcheia. After the end of his not too long reign, however, the city returned to its original name Herakleia.
Whether the renewed change of name, which condemned the presumed "founder" Pleistarchos to oblivion, is due to the fact that the old Latmos was completely destroyed by him and its inhabitants were resettled against their will, remains to be seen.

Just as controversial as the question of the foundation is the question of who was responsible for the expansion of the massive fortifications, which were at the cutting edge of military technology development, and the extensive road network (accessible only to pack animals and pedestrians), which both developed the city's territory and secured the connection to the regional traffic routes.

Rome gave Herakleia freedom in the early 2nd century B.C.. Herakleia had wisely changed sides before the defeat of the Seleucid Antiochus III against Rome. The golden century of the city began. In 133 B.C. Herakleia and Caria became part of the Roman province of Asia.
However, Herakleia, which was situated in a remote area, did not win the favour of imperial or senatorial sponsors. Only a Roman miniature spa changed the old Hellenistic cityscape. Even in the 6th century, the remote city of Herakleia was the second largest city in the province of Caria.

In the 7th century the Latmos mountains were settled by monks from Sinai and became a holy mountain comparable to Athos. At the end of the 14th century the Ottomans defeated the regional competing Turkish dynasties in Southwest Asia Minor.
By this time at the latest, Lake Latmos had been completely separated from the sea and Herakleias economic development had been deprived of its basis.

Today Herakleia lies in a former bay of the Mediterranean Sea, called Latmikos kolpos (Latmic Gulf) in ancient times, separated by sedimentation processes and transformed into freshwater waters. The village lies at the foot of the Latmos mountain range, which is difficult to access. Between the remains of the ancient city stands the village of Kapıkırı. n the vicinity of Herakleias, legend has it that the grave cave of Endymion lay. In ancient Herakleia the moon goddess Selene was especially venerated.

The 6.5 km long, 2-3 m wide walls, some of which are 6 m high and reinforced with 65 towers, are an excellent example of Hellenistic fortifications. Furthermore, the Agora (forecourt of today's village school) and a temple of Athena to the west of it are known. Near the eastern city walls there is a theatre partly overgrown with olive trees. Near the lake there is a rock sanctuary for Endymion with a five-column vestibule.
The remains of the harbour are visible in the lake near the shore. In the village you can also find a small Odeion.

Translation aid: www.DeepL.com/Translator