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274 Flint's iTLtueal history. [Book lY. a colony founded by Augustus, with its famous temple of Apollo and the free city of Nicopolis^ Passing out of the Ambracian Gulf into the Ionian Sea, we come to the coast of Leucadia, with the Promontory of Leucate^ and then the Gulf and the peninsula of Leucadia^ which last was formerly called ]S'eritis By the exertions of the inhabitants it was once cut oft' from the mainland, but was again joined to it by the vast bodies of sand accumulated through the action of the winds. This spot is called Dioryctos^, and is three stadia in length : on the peninsula is the town of Leucas, formerly called Neritus^ We next come to Alyzia, Stra- tos*, and Argos^, surnamed Amphilochian, cities of the Acarnanians : the river Acheloiis^" flows from the heights of Pindus, and, after separating Acarnania from ^tolia, is fast adding the island of Artemita'^ to the mainland by the continual deposits of earth which it brings down its stream. 1 " The city of Yictory." Founded by Augustus on the spot where he had pitched his camp before the battle of Actium. 2 Now called Capo Ducato or Capo tis Kiras. It is situate at the ex- tremity of the island of Leucas, and opposite to CephaUenia, Sappho is said to have leapt from this rock on finding her love for Phaon unre- quited : the story however is devoid of all historical truth. 3 Now the island of Santa Maura. It was originally a peninsula, and Homer speaks of it as such ; but the Cormtliians cut a canal through the isthmus and converted it into an island. After the canal had been choked up for some time with sand, the Romans reopened it. It is at present dry in some parts. 4 Probably from its town Nericus, mentioned by Homer. 5 From the Greek word diopvKTo?, a "foss" or "trench." 6 It probably had this name from the circumstance of the inhabitants of Nericiis being removed thither by the Corinthians imder Cypselus. The remains of Leucas, which was ravaged by the Eomans B.C. 197, are stiU to be seen. 7 Its remains are still to be seen in the valley of Kandili, south of Vonitza. 8 PouqueviUe says that very extensive and perfect ruins of this place are to be seen near the village of Lepenou. 9 Tliis famous city was deserted on the foundation of Nicopolis by Augustus. The place of its site has been a subject of much dispute, but it is considered most probable that Leake has rightly suggested that the ruins in the plain of VHkha, at the village of Neokhori, are those of this city. ^'^ Now the Aspropotamo. i"^ One of the group of the Ecliinades ; small islands off the coast of Acarnania, which are mentioned by Phny, in C. 19 of the present Book. It is now quite united to the mainland.