Page:Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography Volume II.djvu/185

 LEUCAS. and modflleJ both by the Turks and Venetians. (Plan, B.) The fort was connected with the island by an aqueduct, serving also as a causeway, 1300 yards in length, and with 260 arches. (Plan, 5.) It was originally built by the Turks, but was ruined by an earthquake in 1825, and has not since been repaired. It was formerly the residence of the Vene- tian governor and the chief men of the island, who kept here their magazines and the cars (afj.a^ai') on which they carried down their oil and wine from the inland districts, at the nearest point of the island. The congregation of buildings thus formed, and to which the inhabitants of the fortress gradually re- tired as the seas became moi-e fiee from corsairs, arose by degrees to be the capital and seat of govern- ment, and is called, in memory of its origin, Amaxichi (^Ana^ix^ov). (Plan, C.) Hence the fort alone is properly called &»<« J/awra, and the capital Amaxichi; while the island at large retains its an- cient name of Leucadia. The ruins of the ancient town of Leucas are situated a mile and a half to the SE. of Amaxichi. The site is called Kaligoni, and consists of irregular heights forming the last falls of the central ridge of the island, at the foot of which is a narrow plain between the heights and the lagoon. (Plan, D.) The ancient incUisure is almost en- tirely traceable, as well round the brow of the height on the northern, western, and southern sides, as from either end of the height across the plain to the lagoon, and along its shore. This, as Leake ob- .serves, illustrates Livy, who remarks (xxxiii. 17) that the lower piarts of Leucas were on a level close to the shore. The remains on the lower ground are of a more regular, and, therefore, more modern ma- sonry than on the heights above. The latter are probably the remains of Nericus, which continued to be the ancient acropolis, while the Corinthians gave the name of Leucas to the town which they erected on the shore below. This is, indeed, in op- position to Strabo, who not only asserts that the name was changed by the Corinthian colony, but also that Leucas was built on a different site from that of Neritus. (x. p. 452). But, on the other hand, the town continued to be called Nericus even as late as the Peloponnesian War (Thuc. iii. 7); and numerous instances occur in histoiy of different quarters of the same city being known by distinct names. Opposite to the middle of the ancient city are the remains of the bridge and causeway which liere crossed the lagoon. (Plan, 1.) The bridge was rendered necessary by a channel, which per- vades the whole length of the lagoon, and admits a passage to boats drawing 5 or 6 feet of water, while the other parts of the lagoon are not more than 2 feet in depth. The great squared blocks which formed the ancient causeway are still seen above the shallow water in several places on either side of the deep channel, but particularly towards the Acarnanian shore. The bridge seems to have been kept in repair at a late period of time, there teing a solid cubical fabric of masonry of more modem workmanship erected on the causeway on the western bank of the channel. Leake, from whom this description is taken, argues that Strabo could never have visited Leucadia, because he states that this isthmus, the ancient canal, the Pioman bridge, and the city of Leucas were all in the same place; whereas the isthmus and the canal, according to Leake, were near the modern fort Santa Maura, at the distance of 3 miles north of the city of Leucas. But K. 0. JIUller, who is followed by Bowen and others, believe LEUCAS, 1G9 that the isthmus and canal were a little south of the city of Leucas, that is, between Fort A lexander (Plan, 2) on the island, and Paleocaglia on the mainland (Plan, 3). The channel is narrowest at tliis point, not being more than 100 yards across; and it is probable that the old capital would have been built close to the isthmus connecting the peninsula with the mainland. It has been con- jectured that the long spit of sand, on which the foit Santa Maura has been built, probably did not exist in antiquity, and may have been thrown up at first by an earthquake. Between the fort Santa Jtfanra and the modern town Amaxichi, the Anglo-Ionian government have constructed a canal, with a towing-path, for boats drawing not more than 4 or 5 feet of water. (Plan, 4.) A ship-canal, 16 feet deep, has also been com- menced across the whole length of the lagoon from Fort Santa Maura to Fort Alexander. This work, if it is ever brought to a conclusion, will open a sheltered passage for large vessels along the Acar- nanian coast, and will increase and facilitate the commerce of the island. (Bowen, p. 78.) PLAN. A. Spit of sand, which Leake supposes to be the isthmus. 15. Fort Sa7i(a Maura. C. Ainaxichi. D. City of Leucas. E. Site of isthmus, according to K. O. Miiller. 1. Remains of Roman bridge. 2. Fort Alexander. 3. Paleocaglia. 4. NfW canal. 5. Turkish aqueduct and bridge. Of the history of the city of Leucas we have a few details. It sent three ships to the battle of Salamis (Herod, viii. 45) ; and as a colony of Corinth, it sided with the Lacedaemonians in the Peloponne- sian War, and was hence exposed to the hostility of Athens. (Thuc. iii. 7.) In the Macedonian period Leucas was the chief town of Acarnania, and the place in which the meetings of the Acarnanian con- federacy were held. In the war between Philip and the Eomans, it sided with the Macedonian monarch, and was taken by the Romans after a gallant defence, B.C. 197. (Liv. xxxiii. 17.) After the conquest of Perseus, Leucas was separated by the Romans from the Acarnanian confederacy.