A heroon with inscribed statue bases of the 1st and 2nd centuries AD has come to light near the main gate of the city, between the paved road and the western fortification wall. The bases are located between two groups of cist graves.

The first group, consisting of 11 graves that were looted in late antiquity, are dated by the pottery and the inscriptions reused in their walls from the Classical period to the 3rd century AD. The second can be dated to the 6th or 7th century AD by a lamp typical of the period.

Each of the five partially preserved or intact bases is formed of three sandstone blocks. Four are inscribed, while the fifth, of which only the lower part survives, probably was too. One base preserves the full inscription, while the others, which are only partially preserved, bear only the word “hero” or a single letter.

The inscriptions honour prominent citizens of Aptera who were posthumously accorded the title of hero. These are not heroes who fell in battle defending their homeland, but citizens on whom an honorary title was bestowed, perhaps for services to the city.

Between the pillars were traces of ritual pyres with offerings of the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Many large cups and receptacles containing liquids were found in the pyres, together with remains of burnt fruit.