AMBRACIA (more correctly Ampracia), an ancient Corin thian colony in Epirus about 7m. from the Ambracian gulf, on the navigable river Aracthus, in a fertile wooded plain. It was founded between 65o and 625 B.C. by Gorgus, son of the Corinthian tyrant Cypselus. After expulsion of Gorgus's son Periander its Government developed into a strong democracy. Early features were loyalty to Corinth, consequent aversion to Corcyra, and frontier disputes with Amphilochians and Acarnan ians. Hence it took a prominent part in the Peloponnesian War until the defeat at Idomene (426). In 338 it surrendered to Philip of Macedon. After forty-three years of autonomy under Mace donian suzerainty it became the capital of Pyrrhus, king of Epirus, who adorned it with a palace, temples and theatres. In the wars of Philip V. of Macedon and the Epirotes against the Aetolian league (220-205), Ambracia ultimately joined the Aetolians, and during their struggle against Rome it stood a stubborn siege. After its capture in 189, it fell into insignificance. The foundation by Augustus of Nicopolis (q.v.), 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 (q.v.).
BIBLIOGRAPHY.--Thucydides ii. 68—iii. I 14 ; Aristotle, Politics, I,3o3a Bibliography.--Thucydides ii. 68—iii. I 14 ; Aristotle, Politics, I,3o3a sqq.; Strabo p. 325 ; Polybius xxii. 9-13 ; Livy xxxviii. 3-9 ; G. Wolfe, Journal of Geographical Society, iii. (1833) PP. 77-94 ; E. Oberhum mer, Akarnanien, Ambrakien, etc., im Altertum (Munich, 1887) .