Nicopolis (ancient town)
Nicopolis, also known as Actia Nicopolis, is an ancient town located in Epirus, northwest Greece, on a hilly isthmus overlooking the Ambracian Gulf. Founded by Octavian in 31 BC to commemorate his victory over Antony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium, the city was established through the forced resettlement of populations from nearby regions and the repurposing of statues and decorations from those areas. Nicopolis became a significant cultural and commercial hub, hosting the Actian Games in honor of Apollo and gaining the status of a free and federated community.
The city played a pivotal role in Roman governance, serving as the capital of Epirus and attracting notable figures such as St. Paul and the philosopher Epictetus. Although many of its ancient structures have not survived, remnants of a theater, an unusually shaped stadium, and an aqueduct can still be found. Nicopolis continued to issue coins until the late 3rd century and saw a revival under Emperor Julian in the 4th century, despite the rise of Christianity and the destruction brought by the Visigoths in the early 5th century. Today, it stands as a testament to the rich historical layers and cultural exchanges that shaped the region throughout antiquity.
Subject Terms
Nicopolis (ancient town)
Nikopolis, `Victory City’ (Paleopreveza) in Epirus (northwest Greece), on the hilly isthmus of a promontory closing the Ambracian Gulf (Gulf of Arta) from the north
The town, sometimes also known as Actia Nicopolis, was founded by Octavian (the future Augustus) in 31 BC to celebrate his decisive naval victory over Antony and Cleopatra VII of Egypt off Actium at the entrance to the Gulf. By means of the largest of such amalgamations (synoecisms) ever recorded, Nicopolis was forcibly settled by people brought in from the decaying towns and villages of Ambracia, Amphilochia, Acarnania, Leucas (just outside the Gulf) and Aetolia, and statues and marble decorations were also removed from these places to embellish the new city.
The place where his headquarters had stood during the battle was consecrated by Octavian to Apollo and Mars, according to Strabo and Dio Cassius, but in Suetonius' version, the selected deity was Neptune, to whom a fragmentary inscription refers; and Octavian also dedicated rostra (the beaks of Antony's captured ships) and set them in a wall, which has now been cleaned and studied. In addition, Nicopolis was the location of the emperor's Actian Games in honor of Apollo, which are frequently mentioned on the city's coinage. It describes him as Leucates (on the Roman series he is called Actian Apollo), and the city pronounces itself, on subsequent local coinage, as nauarchis, mistress of the fleet; it enjoyed the rights of a free and federated community.
Situated on the main sea route between Rome and its eastern provinces, Nicopolis possessed harbors on either side of the isthmus and developed plentiful fisheries; for two centuries it was the principal city of western Greece. In the time of Nero (?) it became the capital of the new province of Epirus. St. Paul spent a winter there, during which he wrote his Epistle to Titus, inviting him to stay. The stoic philosopher Epictetus, expelled from Rome by Domitian (AD 89), established his residence at Nicopolis, attracting a great number of followers. A coin describes Trajan (98–117) as `Savior of the City,’ owing to some benefaction. Another piece, from the reign of Hadrian (117–38), who is named as `Pan-Hellenic,’ depicts a handsome fountain; and an issue in memory of Antoninus Pius' wife Faustina the Elder (c 141) illustrates a two-storeyed hero's shrine (heroon).
These buildings have not survived, and only fragments of Neptune's temple are visible, but remains of other ancient buildings are spread over a very extensive area. They include an unusually shaped stadium, rounded at both ends—in which the Games were held—in addition to a fairly well-preserved theater, a small theater (Odeum)—which was originally of Augustan date, later underwent alterations, and has now been largely restored—and an aqueduct traversing the isthmus. Part of the paved road leading to the city's western port on the Ionian Sea (Komato) has also been recently unearthed, and excavations have revealed a rectangular burial enclosure.
Nicopolis continued to coin until the time of Gallienus (253–68). In the later empire it was the capital of the province of Old Epirus (Epirus Vetus). The emperor Julian the Apostate (361–63), inspired by pagan fervor, renovated the city and revived the Actian festival; however, Christianity was strongly established, and a number of early churches are to be seen. During the first decade of the fifth century the passage of Alaric and his Visigoths left a trail of destruction, but the place was refortified in the course of the sixth century, although with a smaller perimeter.