View source for Abderus

{{Short description|Son of the god Hermes}}
In [[Greek mythology]], '''Abderus''' or '''Abderos''' ([[Ancient Greek]]: Ἄβδηρος) 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
 | url-status=dead
 }}</ref><ref name=":0">[[Pseudo-Scymnus|Pseudo-Scymnos]], ''Circuit de la terre'' 646 ff.</ref>

== 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 devoured Abderus.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">[[Philostratus of Lemnos]], ''[[Imagines (work by Philostratus)|Eikones]]'' [https://topostext.org/work/225#2.25.1 2.25]</ref> In revenge, Heracles fed Diomedes alive to his own mares.

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" />

=== Enemy variation ===
In some very different traditions, instead of helping Heracles with his Eighth Labor, Abderus (or Abdertis) was a servant of Diomedes, and was killed by Heracles together with his master and his four men-devouring horses.<ref>[[Gaius Julius Hyginus|Hyginus]], [https://topostext.org/work/206#30 ''Fabulae'' 30]</ref><ref>[[Philostratus|Philostratus the Athenian]], ''Heroicus'' [https://topostext.org/work/222#696 696] & [https://topostext.org/work/222#730 730]</ref>

==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]]'', Heroica,'' translation by Jennifer K. Berenson Maclean and Ellen Bradshaw Aitken, Flavius Philostratus: On Heroes, WGRW 3 (Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2002), XX. Harvard University's Center for Hellenic Studies. [https://topostext.org/work/222 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:LGBTQ themes in Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Children of Hermes]]
[[Category:Mythological Locrians]]
[[Category:Mythology of Heracles]]
[[Category:Greek mythology of Thrace]]