Geography

​Abydus is a foundation of the Milesians, Gyges the king of the Lydians having permitted it; for those places and the whole Troas were subject to him, and a certain promontory near Dardanus is also named Gygas. It lies at the mouth of the Propontis and the Hellespont, and is at an equal distance from Lampsacus and Ilium, about one hundred and seventy stadia. And here is the seven-stadium strait which Xerxes bridged, that which divides Europe and Asia. And the promontory of Europe is called Chersonesus because of its shape, which forms the narrows at the bridge; and the bridge lies opposite to Abydus. Sestus is the best of the cities in the Chersonesus; and because of its proximity it also was placed under the same ruler, since the people of that time did not yet define their governments by continents. Now Abydus and Sestus are distant from each other about thirty stadia from harbor to harbor; but the bridge is a little away from the cities, for one who deviates from Abydus towards the Propontis, and from Sestus in the opposite direction; and a place near Sestus is named Apobathra, where the raft-bridge was joined. Sestus lies further in towards the Propontis, to the upper side of the current flowing out of it; wherefore they cross over more easily from Sestus by sailing along the coast a little to the tower of Hero, and from there letting the vessels go, with the current cooperating for the crossing; but those who cross from Abydus must sail along the coast in the opposite direction about eight stadia to a certain tower opposite Sestus, and then cross obliquely, and not have the current completely against them. And Thracians inhabited Abydus after the Trojan War, and then Milesians. And when the cities along the Propontis were burned by Darius, the father of Xerxes, Abydus also shared in the same misfortune; for he burned them on learning, after his return from the Scythians, that the nomads were preparing to cross over against him to avenge what they had suffered, fearing lest the cities should provide passage for the army. And this, in addition to the other changes and to time, also happened to be a cause of the confusion of these places. But concerning Sestus and the whole Chersonesus, we have already spoken in the passages concerning Thrace. And Theopompus says that Sestus is small but well-fortified, and is connected to the harbor by a double-plethron wall, and therefore, and on account of the current, is mistress of the passages.

​And above the territory of the Abydenes in the Troas lies Astyra, which now belongs to the Abydenes, a ruined city, but formerly was independent, having gold mines which now are scarce, being exhausted, just like those in Tmolus near the Pactolus. And from Abydus to the Aesepus they say it is about seven hundred stadia, but less by a direct voyage.

​Outside of Abydus are the places around Ilium, both the coastal parts as far as Lectum, and those in the Trojan plain, and the foothills of Ida which were under Aeneas. And the poet names these in a double way, sometimes speaking thus: “Then the brave son of Anchises led the Dardanians,” calling them Dardanians, and sometimes Dardani: “Trojans and Lycians and Dardani who fight hand to hand.” And it is probable that the Dardania spoken of by the poet was anciently established here: “First cloud-gathering Zeus begat Dardanus, and he founded Dardania.” For now not even a trace of a city is preserved there.