Ambracia
Encyclopedia
Ambracia, occasionally Ampracia , was an ancient Corinthian colony, situated about 7 miles from the Ambracian Gulf
in Greece
, on a bend of the navigable river Arachthos
(or Aratthus), in the midst of a fertile wooded plain.
, at which time its economy was based on farmlands, fishing, timber for shipbuilding, and the exportation of the produce of Epirus. After the expulsion of Gorgus's son Periander
its government developed into a strong democracy. The early policy of Ambracia was determined by its loyalty to Corinth (for which it probably served as an entrepot in the Epirus
trade), its consequent aversion to Corcyra (as Ambracia participated on the Corinthian side at the Battle of Sybota
, which took place in 433 BC between the rebellous corinthian colony of Corcyra (modern Corfu) and Corinth
).
Ambraciot politics featured many frontier disputes with the Amphilochians and Acarnanians. Hence it took a prominent part in the Peloponnesian War
until the crushing defeat at Idomene (426) which crippled its resources.
In the 4th century BC it continued its traditional policy, but in 338 was besieged by Philip II of Macedon
. With the assistance of Corinth and Athens, it escaped complete domination at Philip's hands, but was nevertheless forced to accept a Macedonian garrison. In 294 BC
, after forty-three years of semi-autonomy under Macedon
ian suzerainty, Ambracia was given by the son of Cassander
to Pyrrhus
, king of Epirus
, who made it his capital, and adorned it with palace, temples and theatres. In the wars of Philip V of Macedon
and the Epirotes against the Aetolia
n league (220–205) Ambracia passed from one alliance to the other, but ultimately joined the latter confederacy. During the struggle of the Aetolians against Rome
, it stood a stubborn siege
, including the first known use of poison gas against the Romans' siege tunnels
.
Ambracia was captured and plundered by M. Fulvius Nobilior in 189 BC
, after which it was declared by Rome a "free city", and gradually fell into insignificance. The foundation by Augustus of Nicopolis
, into which the remaining inhabitants were drafted, left the site desolate. In Byzantine
times a new settlement took its place under the name of Arta
. Some fragmentary walls of large, well-dressed blocks near this latter town indicate the early prosperity of Ambracia.
Ambracian Gulf
The Ambracian Gulf, also known as the Gulf of Arta or the Gulf of Actium, and in some official documents as the Amvrakikos Gulf , is a gulf of the Ionian Sea in northwestern Greece. About long and wide, it is one of the largest enclosed gulfs in Greece...
in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, on a bend of the navigable river Arachthos
Arachthos River
The Arachthos is a river in eastern Epirus in Greece that flows from the Pindus mountains and begins in the area southeast of Metsovo in the Ioannina Prefecture near the Trikala Prefecture and flows by numerous village including Elliniko...
(or Aratthus), in the midst of a fertile wooded plain.
History
It was founded between 650 and 625 BC by Gorgus, son of the Corinthian tyrant CypselusCypselus
Cypselus was the first tyrant of Corinth in the 7th century BC.With increased wealth and more complicated trade relations and social structures, Greek city-states tended to overthrow their traditional hereditary priest-kings; Corinth, the richest archaic polis, led the way...
, at which time its economy was based on farmlands, fishing, timber for shipbuilding, and the exportation of the produce of Epirus. After the expulsion of Gorgus's son Periander
Periander
Periander was the second tyrant of Corinth, Greece in the 7th century BC. He was the son of the first tyrant, Cypselus. Periander succeeded his father in 627 BC. He died in 585 BC....
its government developed into a strong democracy. The early policy of Ambracia was determined by its loyalty to Corinth (for which it probably served as an entrepot in the Epirus
Epirus
The name Epirus, from the Greek "Ήπειρος" meaning continent may refer to:-Geographical:* Epirus - a historical and geographical region of the southwestern Balkans, straddling modern Greece and Albania...
trade), its consequent aversion to Corcyra (as Ambracia participated on the Corinthian side at the Battle of Sybota
Battle of Sybota
The Battle of Sybota took place in 433 BC between Corcyra and Corinth, and was, according to Thucydides, the largest naval battle between Greek city states until that time. It was one of the immediate catalysts for the Peloponnesian War....
, which took place in 433 BC between the rebellous corinthian colony of Corcyra (modern Corfu) and Corinth
Corinth
Corinth is a city and former municipality in Corinthia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Corinth, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit...
).
Ambraciot politics featured many frontier disputes with the Amphilochians and Acarnanians. Hence it took a prominent part in the Peloponnesian War
Peloponnesian War
The Peloponnesian War, 431 to 404 BC, was an ancient Greek war fought by Athens and its empire against the Peloponnesian League led by Sparta. Historians have traditionally divided the war into three phases...
until the crushing defeat at Idomene (426) which crippled its resources.
In the 4th century BC it continued its traditional policy, but in 338 was besieged by Philip II of Macedon
Philip II of Macedon
Philip II of Macedon "friend" + ἵππος "horse" — transliterated ; 382 – 336 BC), was a king of Macedon from 359 BC until his assassination in 336 BC. He was the father of Alexander the Great and Philip III.-Biography:...
. With the assistance of Corinth and Athens, it escaped complete domination at Philip's hands, but was nevertheless forced to accept a Macedonian garrison. In 294 BC
294 BC
Year 294 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Megellus and Regulus...
, after forty-three years of semi-autonomy under Macedon
Macedon
Macedonia or Macedon was an ancient kingdom, centered in the northeastern part of the Greek peninsula, bordered by Epirus to the west, Paeonia to the north, the region of Thrace to the east and Thessaly to the south....
ian suzerainty, Ambracia was given by the son of Cassander
Cassander
Cassander , King of Macedonia , was a son of Antipater, and founder of the Antipatrid dynasty...
to Pyrrhus
Pyrrhus of Epirus
Pyrrhus or Pyrrhos was a Greek general and statesman of the Hellenistic era. He was king of the Greek tribe of Molossians, of the royal Aeacid house , and later he became king of Epirus and Macedon . He was one of the strongest opponents of early Rome...
, king of Epirus
Epirus (ancient state)
Epirus was an ancient Greek state, located in the geographical region of Epirus, in the western Balkans. The homeland of the ancient Epirotes was bordered by the Aetolian League to the south, Thessalia and Macedonia to the east and Illyrian tribes to the north...
, who made it his capital, and adorned it with palace, temples and theatres. In the wars of Philip V of Macedon
Philip V of Macedon
Philip V was King of Macedon from 221 BC to 179 BC. Philip's reign was principally marked by an unsuccessful struggle with the emerging power of Rome. Philip was attractive and charismatic as a young man...
and the Epirotes against the Aetolia
Aetolia
Aetolia is a mountainous region of Greece on the north coast of the Gulf of Corinth, forming the eastern part of the modern prefecture of Aetolia-Acarnania.-Geography:...
n league (220–205) Ambracia passed from one alliance to the other, but ultimately joined the latter confederacy. During the struggle of the Aetolians against Rome
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
, it stood a stubborn siege
Siege
A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit". Generally speaking, siege warfare is a form of constant, low intensity conflict characterized by one party holding a strong, static...
, including the first known use of poison gas against the Romans' siege tunnels
Tunnel warfare
Tunnel warfare is a type of warfare that occurs in tunnels.It can be sometimes linked with urban warfare, as tunnels are often found in urban area and cities, although urban warfare as a whole usually dominates any tunnel considerations...
.
Ambracia was captured and plundered by M. Fulvius Nobilior in 189 BC
189 BC
Year 189 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Nobilior and Vulso...
, after which it was declared by Rome a "free city", and gradually fell into insignificance. The foundation by Augustus of Nicopolis
Nicopolis
Nicopolis — or Actia Nicopolis — was an ancient city of Epirus, founded 31 BC by Octavian in memory of his victory over Antony and Cleopatra at Actium the previous year. It was later the capital of Epirus Vetus...
, into which the remaining inhabitants were drafted, left the site desolate. In Byzantine
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
times a new settlement took its place under the name of Arta
Arta, Greece
Arta is a city with a rich history in northwestern Greece, capital of the peripheral unit of Arta, which is part of Epirus region. The city was known in ancient times as Ambracia . Arta is famous for its old bridge located over the Arachthos River, situated west of downtown...
. Some fragmentary walls of large, well-dressed blocks near this latter town indicate the early prosperity of Ambracia.
Artists
- Epigonus of AmbraciaEpigonus of AmbraciaEpigonus of Ambracia was a Greek musician from Ambracia in South Epirus, who was admitted to a citizenship at Sicyon, where he lived, performed and taught. The Epigonion was invented, or at least introduced in Greece by Epigonus. He was a contemporary of Lasus of Hermione.-References:*Athenaeus...
, 6th BC musician - Nicocles, auletesAuletesIn some accounts, Auletes, , was the father or brother of Ocnus, founder of Felsina....
- Hippasus, tragic actor
- Epicrates of AmbraciaEpicrates of AmbraciaEpicrates of Ambracia , was an Ambraciote who lived in Athens, a comic poet of the Middle Comedy, according to the testimony of Athenaeus , confirmed by extant fragments of his plays, in which he ridicules Plato and his disciples, Speusippus and Menedemus, and in which he refers to the courtesan...
, c. 4th BC comic poet http://books.google.com/books?id=HrPd7zRmDu0C&pg=PA204&dq=Epicrates+comic+poet
Athletes
- Sophron, StadionStadionStadion or stade , was an ancient running event, part of the Olympic Games and the other Panhellenic Games. It was one of the five major Pentathlon events. It was the premier event of the gymnikos agon...
Olympics 432 BC - Tlasimachus, TethripponChariot racingChariot racing was one of the most popular ancient Greek, Roman and Byzantine sports. Chariot racing was often dangerous to both driver and horse as they frequently suffered serious injury and even death, but generated strong spectator enthusiasm...
and Synoris Olympics 296 BC - Andromachus, Stadion Olympics 60 BC
Various
- Silanus of AmbraciaSilanus of AmbraciaSilanus of Ambracia was a soothsayer in Xenophon's Anabasis. In 401 BC, he accompanied Cyrus the Younger in an expedition against Artaxerxes. When Silanus provided Cyrus with a successful prediction, he was rewarded with 3000 darics ....
, 5th BC seer - Cleombrotus of Ambracia, student of PlatoPlatoPlato , was a Classical Greek philosopher, mathematician, student of Socrates, writer of philosophical dialogues, and founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. Along with his mentor, Socrates, and his student, Aristotle, Plato helped to lay the...
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Cleombrotus+of+Ambracia+Agathias+Callimachus+Plato&btnG=Search