Ambracia in the context of "Ambracian Gulf"

The Aetolian (or Aitolian) League (Ancient Greek: Κοινὸν τῶν Αἰτωλῶν) was a confederation of tribal communities and cities in ancient Greece centered in Aetolia in Central Greece. It was probably established during the late Classical or the early Hellenistic era. Two annual meetings were held at Thermon and Panaetolika. The league occupied Delphi and steadily gained territory after its victory there against the Gauls in 279 BC. By the end of the 3rd century BC, it controlled the whole of central Greece with the exception of Attica, Euboea, Boeotia and northwestern Acarnania. At its peak, the league's territory included Locris, Phocis, Doris, Malis, Dolopia, Achaia Phthiotis, Ainis, Oetaea, Ambracia and parts of Acarnania. In the latter part of its power, certain Greek city-states out of central Greece joined the Aetolian League such as the Arcadian cities of Mantineia, Tegea, Phigalia and Kydonia on Crete.

During the classical period the Aetolians were not highly regarded by other Greeks, who considered them to be semi-barbaric and reckless. However, during the Hellenistic period, they emerged as a dominant state in central Greece and expanded by annexing several Greek city-states to the League after their victory against the Gauls in 279 BC. Their League had a complex political and administrative structure. The Aetolian League fought against Macedon and the Achaean League in the Social War (220-217 BC), allied with Rome in the First Macedonian War and Second Macedonian War, but then fought against the Romans in an alliance with the Seleucid empire in the Aetolian War before losing its independence to Rome.

Arta (Greek: Άρτα) is a city in northwestern Greece and capital of the regional unit of Arta, which is part of Epirus region. The city was known in ancient times as Ambracia (Ancient Greek: Ἀμβρακία). Arta is known for the medieval bridge over the Arachthos River, as well as for its ancient sites from the era of Pyrrhus of Epirus and its well-preserved 13th-century castle. Arta's Byzantine history is reflected in its many Byzantine churches; perhaps the best known is the Panagia Paregoretissa (Mother of God the Consoling), built about 1290 by Despot Nikephoros I Komnenos Doukas.

In Greek mythology, Phorbas (/ˈfɔːrbəs/; Ancient Greek: Φόρβας Phórbās, gen. Φόρβαντος Phórbantos means 'giving pasture'), or Phorbaceus /fɔːrˈbeɪˌʃ(j)uːs/, may refer to:

• Phorbas, son of Lapithes and Orsinome, and a brother of Periphas.
• Phorbas, son of Triopas and Hiscilla, daughter of Myrmidon.
• Phorbas, king of Argos, father of a different Triopas who succeeded him as king. Triopas was the brother of Arestor
• Phorbas, a shepherd of King Laius, who found the infant Oedipus on the hillside and ensured his survival to fulfill his destiny. A number of sculptures, ranging from the 14th to the 19th century, memorialize Phorbas' rescue of Oedipus. He might be the same as Phorbas, attendant of Antigone.
• Phorbas, listed as a king or archon of Athens
• Phorbas of Lesbos, father of Diomede
• Phorbas of Troy, who was favored and made rich by Hermes. He had a son Ilioneus, who was killed by Peneleos.
• Phorbas, son of Metion of Syene, who fought on Phineus' side against Perseus
• Phorbas of Acarnania, son of Poseidon, who went to Eleusis together with Eumolpus to fight against Erechtheus, and was killed by the opponent.
• Phorbas, one of the twelve younger Panes
• Phorbas, son of Helios and father of Ambracia (eponym of the city of Ambracia). Ambracia could also have been daughter of Augeas, granddaughter of Phorbas of Thessaly.
• Phorbas, who is called father of Tiresias by the Cretans
• Phorbas, charioteer of Theseus
• Phorbas, father of Dexithea who, according to one version, was the mother of Romulus and Remus by Aeneas
• Phorbas, suitor of Megara, mother of Ixion in one source. Together with another suitor, Polymelos, they slain Megara and, in vengeance, were murdered by the latter’s son.

Dexamenus (/dɛkˈsæmɪnəs/; Ancient Greek: Δεξάμενος means "hospitable") was a name attributed to at least three characters in Greek mythology.

• Dexamenus, son of Oeceus, and a king of Olenus. The Centaur Eurytion forced him to betroth his daughter, Mnesimache, to him. Heracles rescued the girl, killing Eurytion when he showed up to claim his bride. In another version of the tale, the girl was instead Deianira, Heracles' future wife (elsewhere said to be a daughter of Oeneus or Dionysus and Althaea). Heracles violated her and promised her father that he would marry her. After his departure, Eurytion appeared, demanding Deianira as his bride. Her father, afraid, gave in, but Heracles reappeared just in time and slew the Centaur. In yet another variant, the daughter's name is Hippolyte and Eurytion threatens violence to her at her wedding feast (she having married Azan); Heracles, who is also attending the feast, kills him. Dexamenus' other children include Eurypylus and the twins Theronice and Theraephone, both also married another set of twins, the Molionides.
• Dexamenus, son of Heracles and father of Ambrax, king of Ambracia (a city in Epirus).
• Dexamenus, son of Mesolus and Ambracia, the daughter of Phorbas. After him a part of the region Ambracia was called Dexamenae.