Home1797 Edition

ACTIUM

Volume 1 · 100 words · 1797 Edition

(anc. geogr.), a town situated on the coast of Acaania, in itself inconsiderable, but famous for a temple of Apollo, a safe harbour, and an adjoining promontory of the same name, in the mouth of the Sinus Ambracius, over against Nicopolis, on the other side of the bay: it afterwards became more famous on account of Augustus's victory over Antony and Cleopatra; and for quinquennial games instituted there, called Altia or Ludi Actiaci. Hence the epithet Actius, given to Apollo (Virgil). Atticae ara, a computation of time from the battle of Actium. The promontory is now called Capo di Figalo.