The ancient city of Herakleia is located within the borders of Vakıf Village, Tavas district of Denizli province. Today, there is a village settlement on a part of the ancient city. The city is in the area where Vakıf Village is located at the foot of the Salbacos (Babadag) mountain range at the north-eastern end of the Tabae (Davaz) Plain. The administrative area of ​​the ancient city was bordered by the small Timelos river, adjacent to Aphrodisias. Therefore, the river god of both Aphrodisias and Heracleia is Timelos. This god is depicted on the Roman Empire coins of both ancient cities. The name of the city is mentioned as HERAKLEOTON on the coins. As the name suggests, the city was founded in the name of the demigod hero Heracles.

It is not known exactly when the ancient city was founded, as it has never been explored until today. However, the earliest date of the coins found in the city is BC. It does not go back any further than the 1st century. This shows that the city was founded in the Hellenistic period.

Herakleia Salbace, which was located within the borders of the Caria Region in the ancient period, was included in the Alabanda Conventus as an administrative union before the Roman Period. In the Roman period, Aphrodisias was included in the management union. During the Byzantine period, M.S. In the 5th century, as in all the regional cities, the ancient city was surrounded by a fortification wall. After the Byzantine period, the region passed into the hands of the Turks from the 12th century. On the Roman period coins, Glykon is mentioned as the priest of Herakleia, Stephanephoros, Gymnasiarch, Boule, Priteneion and Statilios Attalos during the reign of Emperor Nero (54-68 AD). These adjectives are even seen on the coins of the Antonine Period in the 2nd century AD. On the Herakleia coins; bearded Heracles, Serapis, on the reverse; Heracles standing, goddess or Amazon carrying a double-faced ax, between two stags or in a temple, Artemis of Ephesus, sitting on her throne with a snake in front of her, Asklepios, Hygeia, Isis, Hermes, Athena, Dionysus, Aphrodite are depicted.

Located around Denizli in the ancient period; Medicine was accepted as a branch of science in the cities of Hierapolis, Laodikeia, Attouda, Karura, Herakleia Sallbace and Eumeneia.

According to the information we obtained from inscriptions and ancient sources; Medical science has gone too far in Herakleia Salbace (Tavas, Foundation Village). In particular, doctors from the same family served as the chief physicians of the Roman Emperors Trajanus (98-117 AD), Marcus Aurelius (A.D. 161-180) and Lucus Verus (A.D. 161-169). According to the information we have obtained from the inscriptions, the physician and advisor of Emperor Trajanus is Titus Statilius Kriton. Again, an inscription found in the city shows that Archelaos was an important medical doctor around 50 AD. Again, according to the documents at hand, the doctor of Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius (138-161 AD) and Marcus Aurelius (161-180 AD) was Damocrates. Undoubtedly, the chief doctor in the periods of Roman Emperors Marcus Aurelius (161-180 AD) and Lucus Verus (161-169 AD) was Statilius Attalos. Another important doctor mentioned in the inscriptions is Diogenianost. Although the ancient city of Herakleia Salbace was founded in the name of Heracles, the god of power, the chief god of the city was Asklepios and his wife Hygeia. This shows how far the ancient city went in the field of medicine and that the doctors who grew up here in ancient times became famous all over the world. In addition, the god of health Asklepios and his wife Hygeia are frequently depicted on reliefs and statues in the ancient city of Herakleia. Related to these, there was a medical school in the ancient city and the most famous physicians of the ancient world were trained here. Information about these will be finalized as a result of the excavations to be made.

The ancient city of Herakleia, Aphrodisias, was located on the main road route reaching Kibyra (Gölhisar) on Apollonia Salbace (Medet Village). This road then reaches south to Attaleia (Antalya). For this reason, it has a very important strategic position in terms of being on the city crossing point.

Today, there are not many ruins due to the Vakıf Village on the ancient city. Despite this, it is possible to see the city’s fortifications, stadium and some unidentified structures. During the agricultural works carried out in the village, some foundation remains, sculptures, reliefs, inscriptions, and grain jars are encountered. There are many architectural blocks, capitals and column fragments scattered throughout the village. Marble artifacts such as the hygeia statue of the goddess of health, Zeus Ktesios Patrios (the relief of the shepherds’ protective father, sculpture torsos) unearthed in the ancient city of Herakleia are exhibited in the Hierapolis Archeology Museum. In addition, the Denizli Museum Directorate conducted excavations in the monumental Hieron tomb located on the Ören Ridge, which belongs to an important figure of the ancient city. and the reliefs of this monument are under protection today.

Scientific and continuous excavation and restoration works to be carried out in the ancient city of Herakleia and Herakleia Hieron will provide great mobility and profit to the region. Because the ancient city and tomb monument are on the touristic route of Aphrodisias. As a result of the unearthing of the archaeological artifacts located here, the tourists who will come to the region will buy handicrafts and textile products, thus both the archaeological richness of the region will be promoted and commercial activity and vitality will be provided.

Stadium

It is between the city wall surrounding the ancient city and today’s Vakıf village. Some steps can be seen on the slopes of the stadium in the east-west direction. The steps in the western part have been completely destroyed.

Heracleia Hieronu Artemis and Leto

About 4 km from the ancient city of Herakleia Salbace. east of today’s Tavas-Kızılcabölük town, 1 km. It is located in the northeast, at a place called Ören ridge and Kocapınar locality. Hieron, located on the ridge of Salbacos (Babadag) mountain, is rectangular in shape. It is surrounded by reliefs consisting of plates on all four sides. On the reliefs, mythological scenes related to Armetis, Apollo, Pan, Dionysus and Heracles were processed. It belongs to the 1st century AD Roman period. There are symbols representing 12 signs on the triangular pediments. It was made by the masters of Aphrodisias. It is a mausoleum belonging to a prominent ruler of the region. Here, the owner of the tomb showed himself with the gods and tried to explain his closeness to the gods. Hand tools belonging to the neolithic period on the skirts of the mound where Hieron is located are exhibited in Pamukkale Archeology Museum today.