Abydos (Hellespont)

Abydos ( Ἄβυδος ) was located in a restricted military area in ancient times, a major port city in Asia Minor at the narrowest point of the Dardanelles on the Asian side, today, 5 km north of Çanakkale on the headland Cape Nagara or Nara.

Due to its strategic location, its safe harbor and the revenue from customs, fishing and mineral resources Abydos was the most important Greek city on the Hellespont.

It was founded as a colony of the Milesians in the first half of the 7th century BC and was in 514 or 496 BC Persian. In 480 BC, Xerxes I was here two pontoon bridges across the Hellespont from Asia to Europe to beat. 334 BC Alexander the Great took the opposite approach from Sestos to Abydos. The city had been 480/79 BC Member of the Attic Seebunds until 411 BC rebelled and formed an alliance with Sparta entered. With the King's Peace 387/6 BC it came under Persian rule. After 281 BC the city was part of the Seleucid Empire. 200 BC it was destroyed by vain resistance of Philip V. After 188 BC Abydos was Pergamonian possession; with the transition of Pergamum kingdom to Rome in 133 BC, the city became Roman. During the Byzantine period it is occupied as a customs station and bishopric.

In the Middle Ages Abydos was abandoned by the Turks, of which the city of Çanakkale built near a fortress to protect the Dardanelles. Near the town is a hill was discovered from the Bronze Age.

In Greek mythology, Hero and Leander in Sestos and Abydos are located.

Today insignificant residues can only be obtained, the town is located in a restricted military area.