Acarnania
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[[Image:Aetolia map.jpg|thumb|300px|right|The ancient Region of Acarnania, [[Greece]]]]
'''Acarnania''' is a region of west-central [[Greece]] that lies along the [[Ionian Sea]], west of [[Aetolia]], with the [[Achelous|Achelous River]] for a boundary, and north of the gulf of [[Calydon]], which is the entrance to the [[Gulf of Corinth]]. Today it forms the western part of the [[prefectures of Greece|prefecture]] of [[Aetolia-Acarnania]]. The capital and principal city in ancient times was [[Stratos, Greece|Stratos]].
Acarnania's foundation was traditionally ascribed to [[Acarnan]], son of [[Alcmaeon (mythology)|Alcmaeon]].
==History==
===Classical===
There is some evidence the region was used by [[Phoenicia]]n sailors for shelter on their journeys west, but there is otherwise little to indicate any large scale prehistorical settlement. In [[7th century BC]], Greek influence in the region becomes prominent when [[Corinth]] settled Anactorium, Sollium and [[Lefkada|Leucas]], and [[Kefalonia]] settled Astacus. Settlements in Alyzeia, Coronta, Limnaea, Medion, [[Oeniadae]], Palaerus, Phytia and [[Stratos, Greece|Stratus]] are also mentioned by [[Thucydides]], this latter city being the seat of a loose confederation of Acarnanian powers that was maintained until the late [[1st century BC]].
Because it is located strategically on the maritime route to Italy, Acarnania was enmired in many wars. In [[5th century BC]], the [[Corinth]]ians were forced out of their Acarnanian settlements by [[Athens]]. In [[4th century BC]], c. [[390 BC]], the cities of Acarnania surrendered to the [[Sparta]]ns under [[Agesilaus II|King Agesilaus]], and continued to be Spartan allies until joining the [[Second Athenian Empire]] in [[375 BC]]. The Acarnanians later sided with [[Boeotia]] in their fight against Sparta, and with Athens against [[Philip II of Macedon]] at [[Chaeronea]].
Acarnania thereafter came under Macedonian rule. In [[314 BC]], at the behest of Macedonian king [[Cassander]], the settlements of Acarnania lying near the [[Aetolia]]n border were conglomerated into fewer, larger settlements. Still, border conflicts with the Aetolians were frequent, and led to Acarnania's territory being partitioned between Aetolia and [[Epirus (region)|Epirus]], c. [[250 BC]]. After the fall of the king of Epirus, the Acarnanian territory that had been given to Epirus regained its independence, and gained [[Lefkada|Leucas]] from Epirus, which became the capital of the region.
Acarnania allied itself with [[Philip V of Macedon]] against Rome in [[200 BC]], although it lost [[Lefkada|Leucas]] because of this, and the city of Thyrreion was anointed the new capital.
In the [[1st century BC]], Acarnania suffered greatly at the hands of [[piracy|pirates]], and in [[Roman civil wars|Rome's civil wars]]. Afterwards, the towns and settlements of Acarnania fell under the rule of [[Nicopolis]].
===Modern===
When the [[Byzantine Empire]] broke up ([[1204]]), Acarnania passed to the [[Despotate of Epirus]] and in [[1480]] to the [[Ottoman Empire]]. Since [[1832]] it has been part of Greece.
==Geography==
Acarnania is composed of three main regions: 1) a rocky coastline, 2) a rugged strip of mountain range that follows the coastline, and 3) plains lying between these mountains and the [[Achelous|Achelous River]].
==List of Acarnanians==
*[[Carnus]], seer of Apollo.He established the cult of Apollo Carneus among the [[Dorians]]. See [[Carnea]] spartan festival
*[[Amphilytus]], seer of [[Peisistratos (Athens)]]
*[[Megistias]], seer at the battle of Thermopylae
*[[Lysimachus of Acarnania]] one of the tutors of Alexander the Great [http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/1978.html], (as distinct from the Macedonian general [[Lysimachus]])
*[[Philip of Acarnania]], one of the physicians of Alexander the Great [http://www.ancientlibrary.com/wcd/Philip,_physician_to_Alexander_the_Great]
*[[Machatas]],sculptor (possible Acarnanian,inscriptions with his names have been found in [[Anaktorio]])
*[[Aristomenes of Acarnania]], guardian and regent of [[Ptolemy III Euergetes]]
*[[Alexander of Acarnania]], general of [[Antiochus the Great]]
==Sources==
*{{cite encyclopedia
| last = Hornblower
| first = Simon
| authorlink =
| title = Acarnania
| encyclopedia = The Oxford Classical Dictionary
| volume =
| pages = 2-3
| publisher = Oxford University Press
| location = Oxford
| date = 1996
| url =
| accessdate = }}
==See also==
[[List of traditional Greek place names]].
[[Category:Acarnania| ]]
[[ca:Acarnània]]
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[[el:Ακαρνανία]]
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[[fr:Acarnanie]]
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[[la:Acarnania]]
[[no:Akarnania]]
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[[ru:Акарнания]]