ACTIAN GAMES, in Roman antiquity, were solemn games instituted by Augustus, in memory of his victory over Marc Anthony at Actium, held every fifth year, and celebrated in honour of Apollo, since called Actius. Hence Actian Years, an æra commencing from the battle of Actium, called the Æra of Augustus.
Virgil insinuates them to have been instituted by Æneas; from that passage Æn. III. v. 280.
Actique liacis celebramus littora ludis.
Æn. iii. 250.
But this he only does by way of compliment to Augustus; attributing that to the hero from whom he descended, which was done by the emperor himself: as is observed by Servius.