Karia, Herakleia Salbake
Apollonios II, magistrate
Tiberius. 14-37 CE
AE 21mm 7.51g
Obv: ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΣ, bare head right.
Rev: ΑΠΟΛΛΩΝΙΟΣ ΑΠΟΛΛΩΝΙΟΥ ΗΡΑΚΛΕΩΤΩΝ, Heracles walking left, with arm extended and club.
RPC I 2856
Herakleia Salbake was most likely founded by the Seleukids and named after Herakles, who is depicted on this coin. It was situated on the slopes of Mount Salbakos, which was either named from the city or more likely the city was named from it. Archeological evidence goes back to the 1st century BCE.
Besides Herakles, Asclepius and Hygeia were also worshipped, and the city became a well-known source of medicine. Doctors from Herakleia were in high demand, and served as the personal physicians to Trajan, Marcus Aurelius, and Lucius Verus. Outside the city walls was a temple to Apollo, Artemis, and Leto.
The city of Aphrodisias was located nearby and both shared the river god Tmelos. The ruins today may be visited.