Heraclea Cybistra


Heraclea Cybistra, or simply Heraclea or Herakleia, also transliterated as Heracleia, was a town of ancient Cappadocia or Cilicia; located at the site of modern Ereğli in Konya Province, Turkey.

History

Middle Bronze

In the Hittite Old Kingdom, it was known as Hupisna/Hubisna.

Late Bronze

In the Hittite New Kingdom, Hupisna was part of the empire.

Iron Age

Dated to the 8th century BC, about 12 km south of Heraclea, is the Hittite İvriz relief.

Hellenistic to Crusader periods

It had some importance in Hellenistic times owing to its position near the point where the road to the Cilician Gates enters the hills. It lay in the way of armies and was more than once sacked by the Arab invaders of Asia Minor. Heraclea was also the site of multiple battles in the Crusade of 1101, wherein Seljuk forces dealt a decisive blow to multiple contingents of the Crusader armies.