ACARNANIA (region)
Historical region in West Greece
- Kind of place
- Region
- Where
- 38.75° N, 21.08° E
The river Achelous flows through the region of Acarnania. Herodotus 2.10.3 The region was divided into a mountainous part and a tract of plains. Strabo 10.2.22 Alcmaeon conquered the region after delivering Aetolia to Diomede. Strabo 10.2.25
Described in the sources
The Curetes, a group of people who shared a name with mythological figures, retreated into Acarnania after being defeated in various battles by Aetolus. Strabo 10.3.2 +2 The cities of Palerus and Alyzia are located within the region of Acarnania. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 4.2 ¶1 +1 Thucydides and others state that Amphilochus lived in Acarnania after returning from Troy and succeeded his brother's dynasty in the area. Strabo 10.2.26 +1 Cephallenia is located opposite to Acarnania. Strabo 10.2.15 Truffles are found in the region of Acarnania. Athenaeus 2.60 Leucas is located within the region of Acarnania. Strabo 10.2.7 The region was known by the ancient name Curetis. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 4.2 ¶1 Actium is a coastal colony established by Augustus. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 4.2 ¶1 Alyzia is situated fifteen stadia away from the sea. Strabo 10.2.21 Crocyleia is located within the region of Acarnania. Strabo 8.6.17
Stories and history
No pearls of value are found in this specific region. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 9.56 ¶2 The region was submerged by the waters of the Ambracian gulf. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 2.92 ¶1 Their names are absent from the Aetolian Catalogue and the poem. Strabo 10.2.25 Acarnania sends infantry forces to participate in the war effort. Statius, Achilleid 1.417-444 ¶1 Ephorus claims Acarnania was subject to Alcmeon before the Trojan War. Strabo 10.2.26 Settlers were gathered in Epirus to establish a colony in this region. Apollodorus 3.7.7 The Corinthians changed the name of the place from Leucatas to Leucas. Strabo 10.2.8 The Corinthians cut through the isthmus to convert Leucas into an island. Strabo 10.2.8 The inhabitants were the only Greeks who did not join the Trojan expedition. Strabo 10.2.25 Acarnania's horse-breeding suitability is compared favorably to that of Thessaly. Strabo 8.8.1
Myths set at Acarnania
- The Conquest of Acarnania. Laertes, claiming leadership of the Cephallenians, sets out to conquer the region of Acarnania. He successfully captures several cities and occupies the land with his people. Odyssey 24 ¶25 +3 Laertes
- The Migration to Acarnania. Amphilochus migrated to the land of the Acarnanians, where he established his presence. He founded a city named after himself and succeeded his brother's dynasty, leading to the people being named after him. Pausanias 2.18.5 +2 Amphilochus