Satala Ancient City

Satala (Sadak) Ancient City is located within the borders of Kelkit Sadak Village. The city, which is 28 km from the district center and 99 km from the city center, can be reached by traveling approximately 10 km after the junction that turns left on the Erzincan route.

The ancient name of the city, which is an Archaeological Site today, was 'Satala'. Sadak (Satala) is a place where the 15th Legion (Lego Apollinares) established its headquarters. The settlement was the largest and most important headquarters of the Roman Empire in the east. Since Satala was a garrison city, it was in a strategic location where the military roads passing from Anatolia and Cappadocia to the Black Sea met in ancient importance. Satala, which was established with the aim of protecting the waters of the Euphrates River, also fulfilled the duty of being the strategic outpost of the Roman State.

Satala (Sadak) remained under the rule of Assyria, Macedonia, Rome and Byzantium throughout history, and during the reign of Emperor Justinian and Heraclius, great works were built, traces of which can still be seen today. Although a 47-eyed aqueduct was built to bring water to the city in the 15th century, it was determined by Toylar in 1866 that only seven eyes remained. Today, only two eyes of this aqueduct are seen to be standing.