AMBRACIA, a city of Thespotia, in Epirus. It was built on the river Aractus, and from its vicinity to the gulf of Arta, that inlet was called the Sinus Ambracit: No traces of this city remain zt precent: hut the gt1J graphical por,ition of Arba in Upper Albania, seems to correspond best Nvith the description of it, which may he gathered from Livy. The modern name of the Arac tus is Spagmagnutrisi. The early history of Ambracia is not marked by any interesting occurrences. Like many other cities of Greece, it was at first under the direction of magistrates, who were chosen by the people; it was next conquered by the descendants of the Alacidx, who made it the place of their residence ; the /Etolians occupied it till the year 189, A. C. and at that time it fell into the hands of the Romans, after a vigorous and gallant resistance. The strength of the fortifications, and the natural advantages of the place, together with the determined resolution of the inhabitants, seemed for a while to baffle all the skill and valour of Fulvius, who at the head of a numerous army, sat down before it. The Roman general formed two camps in the neigh bourhood of the city ; then drew lines of circumvallation and contravallation around the place ; and erected a wooden tower opposite the citadel. On the other hand, the YEtolians were not inactive. They watched the mo tions of the consul with the utmost care ; and before his lines were completed, they had the address to throw about 1000 men into the place. The besieged made a vigorous defence. They lessened the force of the bat tering rams by interrupting them in their progress to wards the walls ; and they diminished the power of the scythes and other instruments, which the Romans used for dilapidating the works, by catching them with horses, and pulling them into the city. In the mean time they were reinforced by a detachment of 500 men, whom Ni eander, the 2Etolian praetor, had sent under the orders of Nicodamus to their assistance.. This aid was joy fully received. And Nicodamus having agreed with the prxtor to sally forth upon the Romans, while he attacked them with the chief strength of his troops from with out, the Ambracians yet entertained the hope of being able to repel the besiegers, and of delivering their city from the power of Rome. Nicodamus, punctual to his
engagement, advanced from the walls at the proper time ; and though the praetor declined to support him, he gave considerable alarm to the enemy, made a pro digious slaughter of the legionaries, and collecting the garrison, withdrew into the citadel. After this attempt, the inhabitants continued to defend themselves with astonishing vigour. If a breach was made, it was in stantly repaired. If any part of the wall was thrown down, a new one was immediately raised behind it. The besieged were night and day upon the battlements, and appeared to set all the art and valour of Rome at defi ance. The consul, therefore, determined to change his plan of operation. Instead of endeavouring to carry the place by attack, he resolved to undermine the wall, and advance into the city before the inhabitants could have time to build a new one. For a while he concealed his purpose from the townsmen. But perceiving an unusual quantity of earth thrown up, they suspected his design, and instantly set themselves to counteract it. The mea sure which they adopted with this view, was both inge nious and effectual. They began to form a mine in their turn ; and having dug a trench of the same depth as they supposed that of the enemy to be, they carried it along towards the wall, and immediately opposite the place where they heard the noise of Roman pickaxes, The workmen of both parties met, and a battle ensued. But the Ambracians, more at case than their antagonists, prevented them from advancing, and employing an en gine of an unusual construction, to throw smoke in their faces, they drove them from the mine.
Fulvius the consul being disappointed in this attempt, had recourse to negociation; and by the influence of Amynander, king of the Athamanens, he persuaded the Arnbracians to surrender. He was then admitted within the walls, and presented with a crown of gold, together with ntcary pictures and statues, with which Pyrrhus had adorned the city. From this time the Ambracians made no figure in history.--See Adams's Geogranh. Index, Art. ./Imbracia. Lioy, book xxxviii. cap. 3. and 9. and 43. and 44. (h)