Nicopolis

NICOPOLIS, or the 'city of victory,' was founded by Augustus in 31 BC, on the spot where he had had his camp before the battle of Actium. It was made a Roman colony, and was peopled by citizens drawn from various places in Acarnania and Aetolia.

In Tit.3.12 St. Paul writes, 'Do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.' It may be taken as certain that this means Nicopolis in Epirus, from which doubtless Paul hoped to begin the evangelization of that province. No other city of the name was in such a position, or so important as to claim six months of the Apostle's time.

The importance of Nicopolis depended partly on the 'Actian games,' partly on some commerce and fisheries. It was destroyed by the Goths, and, though restored by Justinian, it was supplanted in the Middle Ages by Prevesa, which grew up a little farther south. There are extensive ruins on its site.

[Article: Dictionary of the Bible, J.Hastings, 2nd Ed., T&T.Clark, 1963 - A.E.H.]