Description of the attraction
On the Thracian coast of the Aegean Sea, about 17 km from the mouth of the Nestos River (almost opposite the island of Thassos), near the modern town of Avdira, lie the ruins of the ancient Greek city of Abdera. According to legend, Abdera was founded by the legendary Hercules in memory of his friend Abdera.
It is believed that the first settlement appeared here in the middle of the 7th century and its first inhabitants were people from Clazomenes. In the middle of the 6th century, the inhabitants of the ancient Ionian city of Theos, among whom was the famous ancient Greek lyric poet Anacreon, moved to Abderu, fleeing from the Persians. Largely due to its favorable strategic position and well-established trade with the Thracians, the city developed and prospered, and also had its own coinage.
In the 5th century BC. Abdera was a member of the Athenian Maritime Union (also known as the Delian Union), in which she played an important role and had a great influence. At the beginning of the 4th century, already being an "independent" city-state, Abdera suffered greatly from the invasion of the Thracians and gradually lost its influence, and after the conquest by Philip II of Macedon lost its independence. The city continued to exist also during the Roman and Byzantine eras. Ancient Abdera was home to such famous ancient Greek philosophers as Democritus, Protagoras and Anaxarchs, as well as the historian and philosopher Hecateus of Abdera.
Today, the ruins of Abdera are one of the most significant archaeological sites in Greece and a popular tourist attraction (especially among archeology enthusiasts). The Abdera Archaeological Museum located in Avdir deserves special attention. The unique artifacts on display in the museum date back to the 7th century BC. - 13th century AD and perfectly illustrate the history and culture of this ancient city.
