The Caves of Hercules

The Caves of Hercules lie northwest of Eregli in the valley of ancient Acheron about 100m/110yds upstream. According to Xenophon in his "Anabasis", it was here that Hercules, hero and demigod, descended into the underworld and brought out Cerberus the three-headed dog which guarded the entrance to Hades.

Plundered ancient stones can be seen at the entrance to the cave. The valley which leads to the mouth of the cave is known in local parlance as the "Valley of the Infidels". This description harks back to Byzantine times when a Christian resurrection cult used the caves and a floor mosaic in the first cave provides some evidence of their existence. The actual entrance to the underworld was believed to be in the second cave as a narrow staircase leads down from there into a dark chamber 50m/55yds wide. There is an underwater lake and also traces of painting and other workings.