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walls of Nikopolis were repaired and
reinforced. In 540 A.D. the Byzantine
emperor Justinian financed one more
round of repairs. Of the 5 km long pe-
rimeter of the fortification, only some
parts on the north and south side are
maintained. There were five gates to
the city; the main entrance was in the
middle of the west side of the wall.
Key roads ended, crossed or started
from the gates to reach the harbours,
sanctuaries and public buildings.

THE MONUMENT OF AUGUSTUS
In the Proastion stands the Victory
Monument, the tropaeum of the Sea
Battle of Aktium and a symbol of the
new order and the emperor’s power. It
was built in 28 B.C. on the top of the
Mikhalitsi hill, where Octavian had
camped before the battle, and where
all the surviving soldiers of Antony
and Cleopatra swore their allegiance.
Many parts of the monument are
made of durable Roman concrete
(opus caementicium). Inside there
was an open sanctuary dedicated to
Apollo, Poseidon and Mars, the gods
protectors of Octavian. The monu-
ment was constructed on a terrace
and is open to the south. It stretched
even further above the terrace, by way
of a Π-shaped loggia. The wings of the loggia probably formed a
peristyle, which held the altar and three pedestals. Parts of the altar
decorations, thought to relate the triumph of Augustus, have been
preserved, along with part of a large dedicatory inscription.
THE THEATRE COMBINES
THE THEATRE ELEMENTS OF GREEK AND
The impressive theatre of Nikopolis is located in the Proastion,
and is kept in a satisfactory condition. It combines elements of ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
Greek and Roman architecture and offers panoramic views of the ΤΟ ΘΕΑΤΡΟ ΣΥΝΔΥΑΖΕΙ
area. It was erected in the years of Octavianus Augustus and, dur- ΣΤΟΙΧΕΙΑ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗΣ
ing the days of the New Aktia Games, it functioned as the ground
of competition for musicians, poets, sophists, tragedians, come- ΚΑΙ ΡΩΜΑΪΚΗΣ
dians, preachers, mimes etc. The theatre’s cavea was reinforced to ΑΡΧΙΤΕΚΤΟΝΙΚΗΣ
protect the building against earthquakes and the viewers used to
reach their stone seats by two staircases. In the stoa at the periph-
ery the viewers gathered in the event of a storm. The orchestra was
semi-circular, just like the cavea, and the stage was elevated.
THE ODEION
Also dating back to the years of Augustus, the Odeion is one of
the most well-preserved monuments of Nikopolis. It is located

144 GREC14N 2018