Castabala was one of the cities of the
Late Hittite period. The name Castabala was probably of
Luwian origin. The city was captured by
Achaemenid Empire and became part of the
Cilician satrapy. Later it was taken by
Alexander the Great. The city was first mentioned in literature when Alexander the Great made a stage before the
Battle of Issos. During the
Hellenistic period and
Roman period it was called
Hieropolis, known as either Hieropolis on the Pyramos or as Hieropolis Castabala. Later, the city became a part of
Cappadocia Province in the
Roman Empire. At the city there was the sanctuary of
Artemis Perasia (Περασίας Ἀρτέμιδος ἱερόν). According to
Strabo, the priestesses were walking with naked feet over hot embers without pain. He also added that "
some tell us over and over the same story of Orestes and Tauropolus, asserting that she was called Perasian because she was brought from the other side." ==Roman Period==