Abydus

Abydus

(ABYDOS).

A titular see of Troas in Asia Minor, suffragan of Cyzicus in the Hellespontic province. It was situated at the narrowest point of the Hellespont, and was famous as the legendary spot where Leander swam over to Sestus to visit his mistress, Hero. Here, too, Xerxes built the famous bridge of boats (480 s.c.) on which he crossed with his troops to a promontory on the opposite European shore.

SMITH, Dict. of Greek and Roman Geogr. (London, 1878), I, 7 8; MAS LATRIE, Trésor de chronologie, etc. (Paris, 1887); I, 1978; LEQUIEN, Oriens Christianus, III, 1115-16.