Abderus or Abderos, The Tragic Hero of Abdera
In Greek mythology, Abderus (or Abderos, meaning "son of the battle") is a hero and the namesake of the city of Abdera in Thrace.
The parentage of Abderus is ambiguous, because there are different sources offering various accounts:
- According to Apollodorus, Abderus was a demigod born in Opuntian Locris and the son of the god Hermes.
- Strabo considered him the son of Thromius the Locrian.
- Pindar claimed he was the son of Poseidon and the Naiad nymph Thronia.
- Photius believed Abderus was the brother of Patroclus.
- Hellanicus of Lesbos maintained he was a son of Hermes.
Erastes (lover) and eromenos (beloved) kissing. Interior of an Attic red-figured cup. Around 480 BCE. Louvre Museum
Furthermore, according to Hellanicus, Abderus was also known as one of the lovers (eromenos, the younger and passive partner in a male intimate relationship) of Heracles (erastes, the older and active partner).
Abderus is chiefly known for his tragic role in Heracles' eighth labor.
'Diomede devoured by his horses' (1870) by Gustave Moreau (1826–1898) - Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rouen, France
To complete his eighth labor, Heracles decided to take along his eromenos, Abderus, and other young men to help him. Their mission was to capture the four man-eating mares of Diomedes, king of the Bistones, a barbaric tribe living in Thrace.
After arriving near the stables, Heracles overpowered and killed the guards. He then drove the mares to the sea but was pursued by Diomedes and his followers. Unaware of the mares' ferocity, he left them in Abderus's care.
While Heracles fought Diomedes, Abderus was devoured by the beasts. To avenge him, Heracles captured Diomedes and fed him alive to his own horses, who then became tame.
In memory of his eromenos, Heracles founded the city of Abdera near Abderus's tomb and organized agones, or athletic games, which included boxing, pancratium, and wrestling. Thus, Abderus remained in Abdera alongside Heracles, his erastes, a founding figure in the mythology surrounding Greek pederasty.
In some significantly different traditions, rather than assisting Heracles with his eighth labor, Abderus (or Abdertis) was instead a servant of Diomedes. He was killed by Heracles along with his master and Diomedes' man-eating horses.
Last update: November 6, 2024
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