Ambracia

Ambracia (Greek Ἀμβρακία/Ambrakia) was a colony of Corinth, founded in the VII a. C. It was located on the north coast of the Gulf of Arta, on the left bank of the Árachthos river, practically opposite Lefkada, on the site of the current city of Arta.

History

It was founded between 650 and 625 B.C. C. by Gorgos, son of the Corinthian tyrant Cípselo. His son, Periander, was expelled by the citizens, who established a democracy. During the Peloponnesian War, Ambracia, like its metropolis, joined the Spartan side. He helped Corinth in his war against Corcyra, providing him with eight warships. He also disputed the control of the Gulf of Ambracia with the Acarnanians and the Amphilochians, allies of Athens. Acarnania finally obtained the support of Athens as a result of the destruction of Argos Amfilochia by the Spartans and the strategos Demosthenes defeated Ambracia in Olpas, in 426 BC. C.

In 396/395 B.C. C., Ambracia returned to the Athenian coalition (Athens, Argos, Corinth and Thebes) directed against Sparta. But Sparta's raid on Acarnania pushed Ambracia to join the Peloponnesian League in 388 BC. C.

Estatero de Ambracia (circa 340 BC)

In 338 B.C. C., Ambracia was occupied by the Macedonians of Philip II. In 295 B.C. C. Pirro de Epiro made it the capital of the kingdom of Epirus and decorated it with reliefs, statues and paintings. Ambracia next joined the Aetolian League in 230 BC. C. It was taken by the Romans of Marco Fulvio Nobilior in the spring of the year 189 a. C., and methodically sacked. Later, it was emptied of its inhabitants by Augustus, who deported them to Nicopolis, as Pausanias reports. The city was later renamed by the Christianization of the Byzantine Empire, and it is from this time that churches date such as the Panaghía Parigorítissa. The city was then known under the name of Narte (Νάρτη).

In the 11th century, after the destruction of Nicopolis by the Bulgars, the city of Arta developed on the place of the ancient city.