The paternity of Abderus differs according to the sources. Some say he was the son of the god Hermes and a native of
Opus in
Locris,[3] but according to other writers, he was the son of
Thromius the
Locrian.[4]Pindar makes Abderus a son of
Poseidon and
Thronia,[5] while
Photius writes that he was brother of
Patroclus,[6] and according to
Hellanicus (who considers him the son of Hermes), he was
Heracles' lover.[7]
Mythology
Abderus was mostly known for his tragic role in
Heracles' Eighth Labor. Along with others, he helped Heracles capture the four savage mares of
Diomedes the king of the Thracian
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.[2][8] In revenge, Heracles fed Diomedes alive to his own mares. Heracles founded the city of Abdera near Abderus's tomb, where agones (Greek: ἀγῶνες), athletic games consisting of
boxing,
pancratium and
wrestling were held in his honor (but chariot races were banned in respect of how he died).
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.[9][10]
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.
Online version at the Topos Text Project.