Entrance

The first Greek colonists arrived, to this Thracian corner, during the middle of the 7th century BC. Their origin was from Klazomenes, a city which existed on the coast of the land of Minor Asia and located opposite of the island of Chios. This colonization attempt failed and after a 70 year period of time, new colonists arrived in the same area. This time these people were coming from Teo, a city located near the ancient Klazomenes and a little further south. This effort was successful and so there is the begging of a brilliant historical period for the Thracian region. They founded the city, in order to honour Hercules’ friend Avdiros who was eaten alive by the wild horses of the Thracian king Diomedes.

Abdera was built on a hilly, area of the coast and the city quickly developed into an important trading and cultural centre. The silver coins of Abdera, which were minted at the local mint had the Griffin as a symbol on them. Today these coins could be found throughout the whole known world of this historical period. From the coast of the Black Sea to Egypt, and from Mesopotamia and Phoenicia, to Cyrenaica peninsula. At Abdera were born and lived very important poets and philosophers for both the Greek as well as the world culture. The excavations in the region started in the 1950s and are still ongoing, and a lot of things about the private and public life of the people of Abdera came to light. The findings are exhibited at the Archaeological museum of the today’s Abdera town.