View source for Abderus

{{Short description|Son of the god Hermes}}
In [[Greek mythology]], '''Abderus''' or '''Abderos''' ({{Langx|grc|Ἄβδηρος|Ábdēros}}) was a [[Greek hero|divine hero]], reputed by some to be one of [[Heracles]]' lovers ([[Eromenos|eromenoi]]), and reputedly a son of [[Hermes]] by some accounts, and [[eponym]] of [[Abdera, Thrace]].<ref name="DGRBM">{{Citation
 | last=Schmitz
 | first=Leonhard
 | author-link=
 | contribution=Abderus
 | editor-last=Smith
 | editor-first=William
 | title=[[Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology]]
 | volume=1
 | pages=2
 | publisher=
 | place=
 | year=1867
 | contribution-url=http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/0011.html
 | access-date=2007-08-20
 | archive-date=2005-07-28
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050728143337/http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/0011.html
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== Family ==
Some sources say he was the son of the god Hermes and a native of [[Opuntian Locris|Opus]] in [[Locris]],<ref>[[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]], [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Apollod.+2.5.8&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0022 2.5.8]</ref> and according to other writers, he was the son of [[Thromius]] the [[Locrians|Locrian]].<ref>[[Strabo]], [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0198%3Abook%3D7%3Achapter%3Dfragments%3Asection%3D43 7.8.43 p. 331] & [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0198%3Abook%3D7%3Achapter%3Dfragments%3Asection%3D46 7.8.46]</ref> [[Pindar]] makes Abderus a son of [[Poseidon]] and [[Thronia]],<ref>[[Pindar]], [https://www.loebclassics.com/view/pindar-fragments/1997/pb_LCL485.251.xml fr. 52b Race].</ref> while [[Photius]] writes that he was brother of [[Patroclus]],<ref>[http://remacle.org/bloodwolf/erudits/photius/ptolemee.htm Photius, Bibliotheca excerpts, §190.39]</ref> and according to [[Hellanicus of Lesbos|Hellanicus]] (who considers him the son of Hermes), he was [[Heracles]]' lover.<ref>Gantz, p. 396; Fowler, p. 287; ''[[FGrHist]]'' 4 F105.</ref>

== Mythology ==
Abderus was mostly known for his tragic role in [[Labours of Hercules#Eighth: Mares of Diomedes|Heracles' Eighth Labor]]. Along with others, he helped Heracles capture the four savage mares of [[Diomedes (Thracian king)|Diomedes]] the king of the Thracian [[Bistoni|Bistones]]. Heracles overpowered the grooms and drove the [[Mares of Diomedes]] into the sea and left them in the care of Abderus. However, while Heracles was away the horses killed Abderus, either by dragging him behind them after he lost control of them,<ref>[[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]] [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0548.tlg001.perseus-eng1:2.5 2.5.8].</ref> or by devouring him.<ref name=":1">[[Philostratus of Lemnos]], ''[[Imagines (work by Philostratus)|Eikones]]'' [https://topostext.org/work/225#2.25.1 2.25]</ref><ref>Strabo, ''[[Geographica]]'', [https://topostext.org/work/144#7.8.46 7.8.46]</ref>

Heracles was heartbroken upon Abderus's death, weeping, hugging and wailing over what remained of his lover.<ref name=":1" />  Heracles buried Abderus in a cermonial tomb, with a bowl containing a [[kalos inscription]] of affection.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Abderus |encyclopedia=Cassell's Encyclopedia of Queer Myth, Symbol, and Spirit: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Lore |publisher=[[Cassell (publisher)|Cassell]] |location=[[London]], [[United Kingdom]] |last=Conner |first=Randy P. |date=1997 |pages=40 |isbn=978-0-304-33760-6}}</ref> Heracles then founded the city of Abdera near Abderus's tomb, where ''agones'' (Greek: {{lang|grc|ἀγῶνες}}), athletic games consisting of [[boxing]], [[Pankration|pancratium]] and [[wrestling]] were held in his honor (but chariot races were banned in respect of how he died).<ref name=":1" />

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
*[[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]], ''Apollodorus, The Library, with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. in 2 Volumes.'' Cambridge, Massachusetts, [[Harvard University Press]]; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1921. [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0548.tlg001.perseus-eng1 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library].
* [[Robert Fowler (academic)|Fowler, R. L.]], ''Early Greek Mythography: Volume 2: Commentary'', Oxford University Press, 2013. {{ISBN|978-0-198-14741-1}}. [https://books.google.com/books?id=scd8AQAAQBAJ Google Books].
* [[Timothy Gantz|Gantz, Timothy]], ''Early Greek Myth: A Guide to Literary and Artistic Sources'', Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996, Two volumes: {{ISBN|978-0-8018-5360-9}} (Vol. 1), {{ISBN|978-0-8018-5362-3}} (Vol. 2).
*[[Gaius Julius Hyginus|Hyginus]], ''Fabulae from The Myths of Hyginus'' translated and edited by Mary Grant. University of Kansas Publications in Humanistic Studies. [https://topostext.org/work/206 Online version at the Topos Text Project.]
*[[Philostratus of Lemnos|Philostratus the Elder]]. ''Imagines,'' translated by Arthur Fairbanks (1864-1944). Loeb Classical Library Volume 256. London: William Heinemann, 1931. [https://topostext.org/work/225 Online version at the Topos Text Project.]
* [[Pindar]], ''Nemean Odes. Isthmian Odes. Fragments'', edited and translated by William H. Race, [[Loeb Classical Library]] No. 485, Cambridge, Massachusetts, [[Harvard University Press]], 1997. {{ISBN|978-0-674-99534-5}}. [https://www.loebclassics.com/view/LCL485/1997/volume.xml Online version at Harvard University Press].
*[[William Smith (lexicographer)|Smith, William]]; ''[[Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology]]'', London (1873). [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0104%3Aalphabetic+letter%3DA%3Aentry+group%3D1%3Aentry%3Dabderus-bio-1 "Abde'rus"]
*[[Strabo]], ''The Geography of Strabo.'' Edition by H.L. Jones. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann, Ltd. 1924. [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0198%3Abook%3D6%3Achapter%3D1%3Asection%3D1 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.]
*On the ''agones'': Philostratus II 25.

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[[Category:Greek mythological heroes]]
[[Category:Male lovers of Heracles]]
[[Category:Children of Hermes]]
[[Category:Mythological Locrians]]
[[Category:Mythology of Heracles]]
[[Category:Greek mythology of Thrace]]