Abdera, Spain facts for kids
 Location in Spain
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| Location |  Spain |
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| Region |  Andalusia |
| Coordinates | 36°45′N 3°01′W / 36.750°N 3.017°W |
Abdera was an ancient port city located on a hill in what is now southeastern Spain. It was an important place for both the Carthaginians and later the Romans. Today, the modern town of Adra stands near where Abdera once was. It was situated along the Mediterranean coast, between two other important ancient cities: Malaca (modern Málaga) and Carthago Nova (modern Cartagena).
What's in a Name?
The city of Abdera had a name that was also used for other ancient cities, like one in Thrace (modern Greece) and another in North Africa.
On its ancient coins, the name Abdera was written in the Punic language as ʾBDRT (Punic: 𐤏𐤁𐤃𐤓𐤕). The first part of the name seems to mean "servant" or "slave" in Punic. The second part of the name is a bit of a mystery. It appears in the names of other Phoenician cities like Gadir (modern Cadiz) and Cythera, but its exact meaning is not clear.
Ancient Greek writers also mentioned Abdera. They called it tà Ábdēra (Greek: τὰ Ἄβδηρα), Aúdēra (Αὔδηρα), Ábdara (Ἄβδαρα), and tò Ábdēron (τὸ Ἄβδηρον).
A Look Back at Abdera's History
Abdera was first established around 800 BCE by the Phoenicians. The Phoenicians were an ancient people known for their sea trade. They set up colonies, or settlements, in many places around the Mediterranean Sea.
Later, Abdera became a busy trading post for the Carthaginians. Carthage was a powerful city in North Africa that grew from a Phoenician colony. After a period of decline, Abdera became one of the most important towns in the Roman province of Hispania Baetica. This was a large area in what is now southern Spain, controlled by the Roman Empire.
The Roman Emperor Tiberius, who ruled from 14 to 37 CE, seems to have made Abdera a Roman colony. This meant it had special rights and privileges under Roman law.
Abdera's Ancient Coins
The oldest coins from Abdera show a picture of Melqart, a god worshipped by the Phoenicians and Carthaginians. These coins also feature a tuna fish, which was important for the city's economy.
Later coins, from the time of Emperor Tiberius, show the city's main temple. This temple had two tall tuna fish statues acting as its columns.
Early Roman coins from Abdera were bilingual, meaning they had two languages. On one side, they had Latin writing that showed the name of the emperor and the city. On the other side, they had Punic text that simply stated the city's name. These coins help us learn about the different cultures that influenced Abdera.
See also
In Spanish: Abdera (España) para niños
