According to Homer the city the rocks of which were home to many pigeons was first settled in 2000 B.C. Built on the south foot of Mt Helicon, it marked its place in the centuries, spreading the worship of the hero Heracles from its fortified acropolis, in honour of whom the Heracleia festival was established. Its political, religious, and commercial power waned when the city was looted by the Roman army in 171 B.C.