Abderus was mostly known for his tragic role inHeracles' Eighth Labor. Along with others, he helped Heracles capture the four savage mares ofDiomedes the king of the ThracianBistones. Heracles overpowered the grooms and drove theMares 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 was heartbroken upon Abderus's death, weeping, hugging and wailing over what remained of his lover.[8] Heracles buried Abderus in a cermonial tomb, with a bowl containing akalos inscription of affection.[9] Heracles then founded the city of Abdera near Abderus's tomb, whereagones (Greek:ἀγῶνες), athletic games consisting ofboxing,pancratium andwrestling were held in his honor (but chariot races were banned in respect of how he died).[8]
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.[10][11]
^Conner, Randy P. (1997). "Abderus".Cassell's Encyclopedia of Queer Myth, Symbol, and Spirit: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Lore.London,United Kingdom:Cassell. p. 40.ISBN978-0-304-33760-6.
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.
