ABAE, a town, Greece, in the northeastern corner of Phocis, famous in early times for its oracle of Apollo, one of those con sulted by Croesus (Herod. i. 46). Its rich treasures (Herod. viii. 33) were sacked by the Persians, and the temple remained ruin ous. The oracle was, however, still consulted, e.g., by the Thebans before Leuctra (Paus. iv. 3 2. 5). The temple, burnt again during the Sacred War, was very dilapidated when seen by Pausanias (x. 35) ; some restoration and the building of a new temple, was undertaken by Hadrian. Privileges due to the sanctity of the shrine (Bull. Corresp. Hell. vi. 171), were confirmed to the people of Abae by the Romans. The polygonal walls of the acrop olis may still be seen, with one gateway and traces of town walls below.
See W. M. Leake, Travels in Northern Greece, ii. p. 163 ; V. W. Yorke, Journal of Hellenic Studies, xvi. pp. 291-312.