ABDERA  , a

town on the coast of Thrace near the mouth of the Nestos, and almost opposite Thasos . Its mythical foundation was attributed to Heracles, its historical to a colony from Clazomenae in the 7th century B.C . But its prosperity dates from 544 B.C., when the majority of the people of Teos migrated to Abdera after the Ionian revolt to escape the Persian yoke (Herod. i . 168); the chief coin type, a gryphon, is identical with that of Teos; the coinage is noted for the beauty and variety of its reverse types . The town seems to have declined in importance after the middle of the 4th century . The air of Abdera was proverbial as causing stupidity; but among its citizens was the philosopher Democritus . The ruins of the town may still b9 seen on Cape Balastra; they cover seven small hills, and extend from an eastern to a western harbour; on the S.W. hills are the remains of the medieval settlement of Polystylon . Miuheil. d. deutsch . Inst . Athens, xii . (1887), p . 161 (Regel) ; Mem. de l'Acad. des Inscriptions, icxxix .

211; K . F .

Hermann, Ges . Abh . 90-III, 370 if .