Ambracia (now Arta), a town of ancient Greece, on the left bank of the Arachthus, N. of the Ambracian gulf (now gulf of Arta), which separated Epirus from Acarnania, though originally the town was included in the latter division. It was colonized by the Corinthians about 660 B. C, and early acquired importance. About the time of Alexander the Great it became subject to the kings of Epirus, of whom Pyrrhus made it his capital, and adorned it with public buildings. Having joined the Aetolian league, it was taken by the Roman conquerors in 189 and stripped of its works of art. At a later period its inhabitants were transported to the new city of Nicopolis, at the western extremity of the gulf, opposite Actium, founded by Augustus Caesar to commemorate his victory over Mark Antony off the last named place. (See Arta.)