Abdera (ruin)

Abdera is a former Greek city in Thrace, located near the mouth of the Nestos River, about 10 mi. south-by-southeast of Xanthi. It was founded before the middle of the 7th century BC by Timesius of Clazomenae in Asia Minor. After the settlement had been destroyed by the native Thracians, it was revived in 543 BC by colonists from Teos, a town in Asia Minor not far from Clazomenae. Afterwards, Abdera became an important member of the Athenian Empire. After the downfall of Athens, the citizens of Abdera had to resist attacks from their neighbours, and in 376 BC they were defeated by the Thracian Triballi. Twenty-five years later the city was annexed into the Macedonian monarchy, losing it's economic independence so that it ceased to issue coins — which up to that time were among the finest in Greece. The city survived in Roman and Byzantine times, though it was used as a cemetery by the latter.

Abdera is most famous as the home of three philosophers, all belonging to the most prosperous period of the city's history, the 5th century BC. These include Leucippus and Democritus, and the great sophist Protagoras, after whom Plato named one of his dialogues.

See Ruins (range)