Ἄβδηρα

Abdera: two cities. One is in Thrace, named after Abderos, son of Hermes and beloved of Herakles, whom the horses of Diomedes tore apart, as per Hellanikos and others. Demokritos the philosopher is also from this city. The second is a city in Iberia near Gadeira, as per Artemidoros in book 2 of his Geography. A citizen is an 'Abderites'; for from Diolkos too comes 'Diolkites', and from Oxyrynchos 'Oxyrynchites'. Ephoros says that the city is also 'Abderon' [from which comes 'Abdera']. It is also found from neuters in α, as 'Gabalites' from Gabala. Eudoxos mentions 'Abderites' in book 4 of his Periodoi, and Pausanias in book 6 of his Periegesis, and Herodotos in book 7, and in many places Hekataios and many others. Very many 'Abderitai' are recorded by the catalogue-writers: Nikaenetos the epic poet, and Protagoras, of whom Eudoxos records that he produced the weaker and stronger argument and taught his students to criticise and praise the same thing. This Protagoras, then, and Demokritos are 'Abderitai'.