Abderus
Beloved companion of Heracles who was devoured by the man-eating mares of Diomedes.
The Legend of Abderus
Abderus was a young companion of Heracles, said by some sources to be the son of Hermes and by others to be from Opus in Locris. When Heracles captured the flesh-eating mares of the Thracian king Diomedes, he left Abderus in charge of the terrifying horses while he dealt with Diomedes. The mares, bred on human flesh and notoriously savage, turned on the boy and tore him apart. Grief-stricken, Heracles buried Abderus on the site and founded the city of Abdera in Thrace in his honor. The city later became famous as the birthplace of the philosopher Democritus. Heracles, having lost his ward, subsequently fed Diomedes himself to the mares as a poetic retribution.
Parents
Hermes (divine father); mortal mother unnamed
Symbols
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