- Ambracia
Ambracia, occasionally "Ampracia" (Greek: ancient Ἀμπρακία; modern Αμβρακία), was an ancient Corinthian colony, situated about 7 miles from the
Ambracian Gulf inGreece , on a bend of the navigable river Arachthos (or Aratthus), in the midst of a fertile wooded plain.It was founded between 650 and625 BC byGorgus , son of the Corinthian tyrantCypselus . After the expulsion of Gorgus's sonPeriander 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 toCorcyra , and its frontier disputes with the Amphilochians and Acarnanians. Hence it took a prominent part in thePeloponnesian War until the crushing defeat atIdomene (426) crippled its resources.In the 4th century it continued its traditional policy, but in 338 surrendered to
Philip II of Macedon . After forty-three years of autonomy underMacedon ian suzerainty it became the capital of Pyrrhus, king of Epirus, who adorned it with palace, temples and theatres. In the wars ofPhilip V of Macedon and the Epirotes against theAetolia 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 stubbornsiege .After its capture and plunder by
M. Fulvius Nobilior in 189, it fell into insignificance. The foundation by Augustus ofNicopolis , 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.Ambraciotes
Artists
*
Epigonus of Ambracia , 6th c.BC musician
*Nicocles,auletes
*Hippasus, tragic actor
*Epicrates of Ambracia , 4th c.BC comic poet [http://books.google.com/books?id=HrPd7zRmDu0C&pg=PA204&dq=Epicrates+comic+poet]Athletes
*Sophron,
Stadion Olympics 432 BC [Chronicon (Eusebius) ,Diodorus -> [http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&q=Sophron+of+Ambracia+&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wp] ]
*Tlasimachus, Tethrippon andSynoris Olympics 296 BC [Phlegon of Tralles ,Olympiads-> [http://www.google.com/search?um=1&q=Tlasimachus+&sa=N&tab=pw] ]
*Andromachus, Stadion Olympics 60 BC [Chronicon (Eusebius) [http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=++180th+%5B60+B.C.%5D+-+Andromachus+of+Ambracia+&btnG=Search] ]Various
*
Silanus of Ambracia , 5th c.BC seer
*Cleombrotus of Ambracia, student ofPlato [http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Cleombrotus+of+Ambracia+Agathias+Callimachus+Plato&btnG=Search]References
*1911
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