| Wednesday afternoon, July 26, we departed the Gulf of Amvrakia and headed south. In 31 BC, just outside the entrance to this gulf, the naval battle of Actium between Octavian (later known as Emperor Augustus) and the combined fleets of Mark Anthony and Cleopatra occurred. This naval victory by Octavian determined the future direction of the Roman empire and the official end of the republic. After leaving this area and traveling 6 nautical miles south we passed through the Levkas Canal. This canal was first dug by the Corinthians around the 7th century BC. Now, once an hour, the floating bridge connecting the mainland to the island of Levkas (Lefkada) rotated so boats could pass through. |
