[[Image:Schlacht bei Actium.svg|thumb|A map showing Actium.<br />''Text in German.'']]

'''Actium''' (modern name: Punta) was the ancient name of a promontory of western Greece in northwestern [[Acarnania]], at the mouth of the Sinus Ambracius ([[Gulf of Arta]]) opposite [[Nicopolis]], built by [[Caesar Augustus|Augustus]] on the north side of the strait.

On the promontory was an ancient temple of [[Apollo|Apollo Actius]], which was enlarged by Augustus, who, to memorialize the [[Battle of Actium]], instituted or renewed the quinquennial games known as Actia or Ludi Actiaci. Actiaca Aera was a computation of time from the battle. There was on the promontory a small town, or rather village, also called Actium.

==History==

Actium belonged originally to the [[Corinth]]ian [[colonists]] of Anactorium, who probably founded the [[worship]] of Apollo Actius and the Actia games; in the [[3rd century BC]] it fell to the [[Acarnanians]], who subsequently held their synods there. Actium is chiefly famous as the site of [[Caesar Augustus]]' decisive victory over [[Mark Antony]] ([[September 2]], [[31 BC]]). This battle ended a long series of ineffectual operations. The final conflict was provoked by Antony, who is said to have been persuaded by his wife, the queen [[Cleopatra VII|Cleopatra]] [[Ptolemaic Egypt|of Egypt]] for to retire to her land and give battle to mask his retreat; but lack of provisions and the growing demoralization of his [[army]] would eventually account for this decision. An ancient Roman festival, [[Actia]], was named after Actium.

==See also==

*[[Battle of Actium]]

[[Category:Archaeological sites in Greece]]
[[Category:Corinthian colonies]]
[[Category:Roman sites in Greece]]

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