ACARNANIA, the first country of Free Greece, or Greece Proper, bounded on the west by the Sinus Ambracius, and separated from Ætolia by the river Achelous on the east, and by the Sinus Ambracius from Epirus. The people were called Acarnanæ, denoting persons unshorn; other Ætolians, to the east of the Achelous, being called Curetes (Homer) from being shorn. According to Lucian, they were noted for effeminacy and incontinence; hence the proverb Porcellus Acarnanius. This country was famous for an excellent breed of horses; so that Acarnanæ horses, is a proverbial saying for a thing excellent in its kind. It is now called la Carnia and il Despotato.