Nicopolis means “city of victory”. It was built by Octavian to commemorate his famous victory over Mark Antony in the Battle of Actium in 31 BC. He chose this strategic position on the Ambracian peninsula, fortified it with walls and embellished it with numerous public buildings, theatres and temples. The city was crowded with residents moved there from other towns in the area. Nicopolis was inhabited until the Byzantine period. Excavations uncovered a number of buildings and findings from the Roman and Byzantine city. The ruins and excavated findings of Nicopolis are spread across a large area, among fields and modern roads. The city walls of the early Christian era survive, while of Octavian’s Roman wall, only a few parts are preserved. Outside the wall, in the outer city, where the famous new Actian Games took place, stand the stadium, the theatre, the gymnasium, and the hot baths for the athletes. To the north, on the hilltop with the temple of Apollo, there are remains of the majestic monumental trophy commemorating Octavian’s victory. The best-preserved building is the Roman odeon, in a central location in the ancient city, where performances to this day take place. Important churches of early Christian times (5th and 6th century AD) have been discovered in the centre of the city and are decorated with fine mosaic floors. These are the five-aisled church of Bishop Alkisonas, the basilica of Bishop Doumetios, and other religious buildings. A luxurious private residence, the Roman house of Antoninos, is also well-worth seeing. The movable finds from the ancient and Byzantine cities are displayed in the new archaeological museum of Nicopolis.