Abae
Abae (rabai), is a town in the N.E. corner of
Phocis, in
Greece, famous in early times for its
oracle of
Apollo, one of those consulted by
Croesus (Herod. i. 46). It was rich in treasures (Herod. viii. 33), but was sacked by the
Persians, and the
temple remained in a ruined state. The oracle was, however, still consulted, e.g. by the
Thebans before
Leuctra (Paus. iv. 32. 5). The temple seems to have been burnt again during the
Sacred War, and was in a very dilapidated state when seen by
Pausanias (x. 35), though some restoration, as well as the building of a new temple, was undertaken by
Hadrian. The sanctity of the shrine ensured certain privileges to the people of Abac (Bull. Corresp. Hell. vi. 171), and these were confirmed by the Romans. The
polygonal walls of the acropolis may still be seen in a fair state of preservation on a circular hill standing about 500 ft. above the little plain of Exarcho; one gateway remains, and there are also traces of town walls below. The temple site was on a low spur of the hill, below the town. An early terrace wall supports a precinct in which are a
stoa and some remains of temples; these were excavated by the British School at
Athens in
1894, but very little was found.
