ABYDOS, in Ancient Geography, anciently a town built by the Milesians in Asia, on the Hellespont, where it is scarce a mile over, opposite to Seitos on the European side. Now both are called the Dardanelles. Abydos lay midway between Lampascus and Ilium, famous for Xerxes's bridge, (Herodotus, Virgil); and for the loves of Leander and Hero, (Musa, Ovid); celebrated also for its oysters (Ennius, Virgil). The inhabitants were a soft effeminate people, given much to distraction; hence the proverb, Ne temere Abydum calcare, when we would caution against danger, (Stephanus).