ARTA, GULF OF (anc. Sinus Ambracius), an inlet of the Ionian sea, 25m. long and 1 om. broad, on the west coast of Greece. Its only important affluent, besides the Arta, is the Luro (anc. Charadra). The gulf abounds with mullets, soles, and eels. Around its shores are numerous ruins of ancient cities: Actium at the entrance, where the famous battle was fought in 31 B.C. ; Nicopolis, Argos, Limnaea and Olpae.
The river ARTA (anc. Arachthus or Aratthus, in Livy xxxviii. 3, Aretho) is the chief river of Epirus, and is said to have been navigable in ancient times as far as Ambracia. Below this town it flows through a marshy plain, consisting mainly of its own alluvium; its total length is about 8o miles.