Abydos of Mysia
The ancient city of Abydos, located in what is now Cape Nagara in Turkey, was a vital city on the Asian shore of the Hellespont, facing the city of Sestos on the European side. These two cities are famous not only for marking the narrowest crossing of the Dardanelles (slightly over a mile) but also for the celebrated myth of Hero and Leander.
View of Cape Nagara in Turkey
The Myth of Hero and Leander
Abydos is perhaps best known for the romantic and tragic legend of Hero and Leander, immortalized by ancient the Roman poet Ovid and the Greek writer Musaeus. This myth centers on the forbidden love between Hero, a virgin priestess of Aphrodite in Sestos, and Leander, a young man from Abydos. The two met during the festival of Adonis and instantly fell in love, despite being separated by the sea, Leander swam across the Dardanelles each night, guided by a light his beloved Hero would kindle as his beacon.
As winter arrived, the journey became increasingly perilous. One fateful night, during a violent storm, the wind extinguished Hero's guiding light, leaving Leander lost in the dark waters. He drowned, and his body washed ashore, where Hero found him the next morning. Heartbroken and unable to live without him, Hero threw herself from a tower, joining her lover in death.
This tragic story captivated artists, poets, and musicians for centuries, inspiring works by figures like Bernardo Tasso, Christopher Marlowe, and even Lord Byron, who famously attempted to swim across the Hellespont to test the legend. Musical compositions by composers such as Franz Liszt and Robert Schumann were also inspired by the myth, bringing Hero and Leander’s tale into the realms of literature, art, and music.
A cup with the myth of Hero and Leander, made by Guido Merlini’s or Lanfranco's workshop (1540 - 1560) - Ducal Palace of Urbino (PU), Italy
Abydos in the Trojan War and Persian Empire
Abydos was not just a setting for mythical love stories; it was a significant city even during the time of the Trojan War. Homer’s Iliad references Abydos in its list of Trojan allies, attributing control of the city to Asius, the young king of Arisbe. Originally, the city may have been Thracian in origin, according to the geographer Strabo, but it later became a Greek colony founded by Miletus around the 7th century BCE during the reign of the Lydian king Gyges.
In 514 BCE, the city fell under Persian control and served as a critical point during the expansion of the Persian Empire. Darius I burned the city as part of his campaign in 512 BCE, and later, Abydos played a key role in the infamous crossing of Xerxes I into Europe in 480 BCE. Xerxes had a bridge of boats constructed across the Hellespont at Abydos, which allowed his massive army to cross and invade Greece. This event highlighted the strategic importance of the city, positioned at the narrowest point of the Dardanelles.
Combat between Athenians and other Greeks. Bas-relief, marble, late 5th century BCE from the western frieze of the temple of Athena Nike.
Rituals and Symbolism: Xerxes’ Punishment of the Hellespont
An unusual event associated with Abydos was Xerxes’ ritual “whipping of the Hellespont,” a punishment inflicted upon the waters themselves after storms disrupted his preparations for the Greek invasion. In a dramatic and symbolic gesture, Xerxes ordered his men to lash the sea with whips, as though reprimanding the water for obstructing his grand plans. This act illustrates both the mythical and historical weight that the Hellespont held as a frontier of power, religion, and mythology.
The Peloponnesian War and the Battle of Abydos
Abydos continued to play a prominent role in Greek history, particularly during the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta. The city was initially allied with Athens as part of the Delian League but switched allegiance to Sparta in 411 BCE. This betrayal set the stage for the famous Battle of Abydos in the late autumn of 411 BCE.
In this naval clash, Dorieus, a Spartan admiral, sought to support his compatriot Mindarus, who had recently suffered defeat. As Dorieus attempted to navigate the Hellespont with a fleet of 14 ships, he encountered the Athenian navy, who forced him to seek refuge along the Asian coast. The Athenians, under Alcibiades’ command, ultimately emerged victorious in the battle after a prolonged struggle, capturing 10 Spartan ships and marking a significant victory for Athens.
Abydos Under Sparta, Athens, and Macedon
In the years following the Peloponnesian War, Abydos established alliances with Sparta, serving as a loyal ally until the early 4th century BCE. King Agesilaus II of Sparta even used Abydos as a transit point during his campaigns against the satrap Pharnabazus, aiming to protect the Ionian Greek cities.
After the Peloponnesian War, Abydos gained brief periods of independence, notably in 397 BCE when it defended itself against Persian forces with the help of the Spartan general Dercylidas. However, its alliances were fluid, and by 341 BCE, Abydos once again allied itself with Athens against the rising threat of Philip II of Macedonia. Despite its resistance, Philip II ultimately conquered the city, and it later fell under the rule of Lysimachus, one of Alexander the Great’s generals, after the Macedonian conquest of Asia Minor.
Abydos’ strategic importance persisted, and it withstood a fierce siege by Philip V of Macedonia in 201 BCE. This valorous resistance highlighted the city’s resilience, as Abydos once again found itself caught in the web of larger regional powers.
Ancient coin which is in the category of Stater, which was struck in the ancient city of Troas Abydos. The front percentage is the name of the ancient city around the Eagle. Back type Gorgoneion.
Roman Influence and Decline
Abydos entered a new phase under Roman rule, initially resisting but eventually succumbing to the Roman general Lucius Cornelius Scipio Asiaticus in 190 BCE. Under Roman administration, Abydos became a free city and experienced a period of prosperity that lasted well into the later stages of the Roman Empire. Its strategic position made it a crucial point for commerce and navigation, and Abydos enjoyed economic stability and independence, even minting its own coins featuring symbols like eagles and depictions of Artemis and Apollo.
The city’s prominence gradually waned during the Byzantine Empire. As trade and military focus shifted, Abydos lost its strategic relevance, though it remained a customs station up to the mid-14th century. The city’s decline accelerated after it came under Ottoman control in the 15th century, and by the reign of Sultan Mehmed II, the center of gravity had shifted decisively towards the Dardanelles, leading to Abydos’ eventual decline.
Last update: October 28, 2024
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