Heraclea Pontica facts for kids
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Ἡράκλεια Ποντική
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Map indicating Heraclea Pontica (underlined in red) during the Roman expansion in 264 BC
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 Location in Turkey
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| Location | Karadeniz Ereğli, Zonguldak Province, Turkey |
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| Region | Bithynia |
| Coordinates | 41°17′5″N 31°24′53″E / 41.28472°N 31.41472°E |
| History | |
| Builder | Colonists from Megara |
| Founded | Between 560–558 BC |
| Periods | Archaic Greece |
Heraclea Pontica was an ancient city located on the coast of Bithynia in Asia Minor, which is modern-day Turkey. It was built near the mouth of the Lycus River. The city was founded by Greek settlers from Megara around 560–558 BC.
The name "Heraclea Pontica" comes from Heracles, a famous Greek hero. The Greeks believed Heracles entered the underworld through a cave on a nearby cape called Archerusian. Today, the modern city of Karadeniz Ereğli stands where Heraclea Pontica once was.
How Heraclea Pontica Grew
The Greek settlers quickly took control of the local people, the Mariandynians. They made a rule that these people, who were like servants, could not be sold as slaves outside their home.
Heraclea Pontica became very rich. This was thanks to its fertile farmlands nearby and excellent fishing in its natural harbor. The city soon expanded its control along the coast. It even founded its own colonies on the Black Sea, like Cytorus, Callatis, and Chersonesus. A famous philosopher named Heraclides Ponticus was born here.
Challenges and Changes
The city's wealth and peace were disturbed by groups like the Galatians and the Bithynians. Later, Heraclea Pontica was severely damaged during the Mithridatic Wars.
A Greek historian named Memnon of Heraclea wrote a history of Heraclea Pontica. His work is mostly lost, but parts of it tell us about the city's rulers and events. For example, it describes how the Bithynians brought the Gauls (a barbarian group) into Asia. The Gauls first helped Heraclea but later turned against them.
Later History of the City
Heraclea Pontica was part of the Eastern Roman Empire for over 1000 years. After a big battle in 1071, the Turks began to raid the area.
In 1205, David Komnenos took control of Heraclea Pontica. He made it the capital of his region, called Paphlagonia. However, he lost the city in 1214 to Theodore I Laskaris. Laskaris made Heraclea Pontica an important border city.
After 1261, people from Genoa (an Italian city-state) started a trading post there. When the Turks conquered Paphlagonia in 1360, Genoa bought the city from the weakening Byzantine Empire. Heraclea became a busy trading center for the Genoese, and many of them settled there. You can still see a ruined castle overlooking the town from this time. The Genoese called the city Pontarachia. They held the city until the Ottoman Empire captured it after 1453.
Notable People from Heraclea Pontica
Many important people came from Heraclea Pontica, including:
- Herodorus – a writer of myths.
- Heraclides Ponticus – a philosopher and astronomer.
- Evagrius Ponticus – a philosopher, monk, and religious leader.
- Memnon of Heraclea – a historian.
- Bryson of Heraclea – a mathematician.
- Clearchus of Heraclea – a ruler (tyrant) of Heraclea.
- Chion of Heraclea – a student of Plato who helped remove the tyrant Clearchus.
- Dionysius of Heraclea – another ruler of Heraclea.
- Amastris – a female ruler of Heraclea. She was related to the Persian King Darius III.
- Diogenianus – a Greek expert in grammar.
- Theaetetus (philosopher) – a philosopher and student of Plato.
See also
In Spanish: Heraclea Póntica para niños
