Excavations At The Victory Monument Of Octavian Augustus At Nikopolis, Epiros - Konstantinos Zachos

Описание: Excavations At The Victory Monument Of Octavian Augustus At Nikopolis, Epiros: A Monument That Marks A Turning Point In The History Of The Ancient World
Second lecture in the UCLA Stavros Niarchos Foundation Center for the Study of Hellenic Culture and the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology series on Archaeology
October 10, 2020



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On September 2, 31 BC, Octavian’s forces defeated those of Mark Antony and the queen of Egypt Cleopatra off the west coast of Greece. Known as the Battle of Actium, from the peninsula of the same name, at the entrance of the Ambracian Gulf, on which was located an ancient sanctuary of Apollo. Few episodes from ancient history have been commented on more than the battle of Actium. It marked the beginning of a new world order and, above all, the beginning of Octavian’s “monarchy,” at which time he became Augustus, the first Emperor of Rome. After his victory, Augustus undertook a series of actions aimed at the economic and social reorganization of northwestern Greece, at the same time incorporating elements of political and religious propaganda. He founded a city which he named Nikopolis— Victory City—he renovated the sanctuary of Apollo at Actium and on a hill sacred to the god and, where he had encamped, he erected a Victory Monument. Excavations at this imposing, extravagant monument over the past few decades, have revealed a wealth of finds, some of astonishing artistic rendering.