Heraclea Pontica in 218 B.C.

Heraclea Pontica — Spring 218 BC · A Free City of the Euxine.

Heraclea Pontica — a great and wealthy Dorian Greek city on the Black Sea coast, planted by the Megarians and Boeotians and called for Heracles, whose labour led him hereabouts down into the house of Hades. On these shores the colonists found the native Mariandynoi, and bound them to the soil as bondsmen who till the land for their Greek masters and may not be sold beyond the borders. From this broad and fertile territory Heraclea grew rich, fortified two harbours and a strong fleet, and in the last age fell under famous tyrants — Clearchus and his son Dionysius — who ruled as kings in all but name. By 218 BC the tyranny is past: Heraclea is again a free maritime republic, prosperous and cautious, holding its independence between the growing power of Prusias of Bithynia to the west and the kings of Pontus to the east, and keeping the friendship of the great cities of the sea.

On the Mariandynian shore of the Euxine, where the river Lycus runs down to the sea, stands Heraclea — the strongest and richest of the Greek cities of this coast. A colony of Megara with men of Boeotia among its founders, it took the Dorian temper and the name of Heracles, who is said to have gone down to the underworld through the cavern of Acherusia close by. The Greeks who came here made serfs of the native Mariandynoi, and on their labour built a broad and fertile land, two harbours, and a fleet feared along the whole sea. For a hundred years it bore the rule of tyrants — Clearchus, who proclaimed himself a son of Zeus, and after him Dionysius, who took the style of king. That house is now fallen, and Heraclea stands free once more: a wealthy, well-armed republic, walking warily between Prusias of Bithynia, ever pressing eastward, and the rising kingdom of Pontus beyond — and keeping its peace with both by the strength of its walls and the goodwill of its friends across the sea.