ACTIUM (mod. Punta)

This article appears in Volume V01, Page 159 of the Encyclopedia Britannica.

Encyclopedia Britannica - Main :: A10-ADA

ACTIUM (mod. Punta) , the ancient name of a promontory in the north of Acarnania (Greece) at the mouth of the Sinus Ambracius (Gulf of Arta) opposite Nicopolis, built by

Augustus

AUGUSTUS (a name 1 derived from Lat. augeo, increase, i.e. venerable, majestic, Gr. Ee0avr6s)

on the north side of the strait. On the promontory was hn ancient temple of Apollo Actius, which was enlarged by

Augustus

AUGUSTUS (a name 1 derived from Lat. augeo, increase, i.e. venerable, majestic, Gr. Ee0avr6s)

, who also, in memory of the battle, instituted or renewed the quinquennial games called Actia or Ludi Actiaci. Actiaca Aera was a computation of time from the battle of Actium. There was on the promontory a small town, or rather

village

VILLAGE

, also called Actium.
History.Actium belonged originally to the Corinthian colonists of Anactorium, who probably founded the

worship

WORSHIP (i.e. " worth-ship," O. Eng. weor8scipe)

of Apollo Actius and the Actia games; in the 3rd century it fell to the Acarnanians, who subsequently held their synods there. Actium is chiefly famous as the site of Octavian's decisive victory over Mark Antony (2nd of September 31 B.C.). This battle ended a long

series

SERIES (a Latin word from serere, to join)

of ineffectual operations. The final conflict was provoked by Antony, who is said to have been persuaded by Cleopatra to retire to Egypt and give battle to mask his

retreat

RETREAT (O. Fr. retrete, mod. retraite, from Lat. retrahere, to draw back)

; but lack of provisions and the growing demoralization of his army would sufficiently account for his decision. The fleets met outside the gulf, each over 200 strong (the totals given by ancient authorities are very conflicting). Antony's heavy battleships endeavoured to dose and crush the enemy with their artillery; Octavian's light and mobile craft made skilful use of skirmishing tactics. During the engagement Cleopatra suddenly withdrew her

squadron

SQUADRON

and Antony slipped away behind her. His flight escaped notice, and the conflict remained undecided, until Antony's

fleet

FLEET

was set on fire and thus annihilated.
AUTHORITIESDie

Cassius

, 50.12-51.3 ; Plutarch, Antonius, 62-68 ; Velleius Paterculus, ii. 84-85. C. Merivale, History of the Romans under the Empire, iii. pp. 313-325 (London, 1851); V. Gardthausen, Augustus and seine Zeit, i. pp. 369-386, ii. pp. 189-201 (

Leipzig

LEIPZIG

, 1891) : G. Ferrero in the Revue de Paris, Mar. 15, 1906, pp. 225-243; J. Kromayer, in Hermes, xxxiv. (1899), pp. 1-54. (M. O. B. C.)

End of Article: ACTIUM (mod. Punta)

If you wish, you can link directly to this article.

<a href="http://jcsm.org/StudyCenter/Encyclopedia/A10_ADA/ACTIUM_mod_Punta_.html">
ACTIUM (mod. Punta)
</a>

(Previous)
ACTION

(Next)
ACTON

JCSM was founded in 1997 and exists to help the community and bring people into a life-changing and productive relationship with Jesus Christ. JCSM offers over 200,000 free web pages, including its weekly inspirational emails that were sent continuously for over a decade.

Jesus Christ Saves Ministries
P.O. Box 9297
San Diego, CA 92169
1-888-887-0417 or Email