Irlandos at 16:19, March 9, 2006

2006-03-09T16:19:28Z

Irlandos at 16:18, March 9, 2006

2006-03-09T16:18:08Z

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Aetolia is a mountainous region of ancient Greece on the north coast of the Gulf of Corinth.

==Geography==

The river [[Achelous]] separates Aetolia from [[Acarnania]] to the west; on the north it had boundaries with [[Epirus]] and [[Thessaly]]; on the east with the Ozolian [[Locris | Locrians]]; and on the south the entrance to the [[Corinthian Gulf]] defined the limits of Aetolia.

In classical times Aetolia comprised two parts: '''Old Aetolia''' in the west, from the Achelous to the [[Evenus]] and [[Calydon]]; and '''New Aetolia''' or Acquired Aetolia in the east, from the Evenus and Calydon to the Ozolian Locrians. The country has a level and fruitful coastal region, but an unproductive and mountainous interior. The mountains contained many wild beasts, and acquired fame in [[Greek mythology]] as the scene of the hunt for the [[Calydonian Boar]].

==History==
The peoples known as the [[Curetes]] and the [[Leleges]] originally inhabited the country, but at an early period Greeks from [[Elis]], led by the mythical [[Aetolus]], set up colonies. The Aetolians took part in the [[Trojan War]], under their king [[Thoas]].

The Aetolians set up a united league in early times, it soon became a powerful military confederation, it had originally been organized during the reign of Philip II by the cities of Aetolia for their mutual benefit and protection, and became a formidable rival to the [[Macedon|Macedonian]] monarchs and the [[Achaean League]]. The League was one of the more effective political institutions that was produced in its time.

Unlike Achaea, there was a division between full members of the League and allies over which Aetolia maintained a hegemony. This did however allow Aetolia to maintain a much more genuine democracy and the bi-annual meetings of the League assembly coincided with games so that a far higher proportion of the citizens would have attended in person. The Aetolians took the side of [[Antiochus III the Great|Antiochus III]] against the Roman Republic, and on the defeat of that monarch in [[189 BC]], they became virtually the subjects of Rome. Following the conquest of the Achaeans by [[Mummius]] in [[146 BC]], Aetolia became part of the Roman province of [[Achaea]].

Aetolia's reputation has suffered from a rather hostile treatment in the sources. [[Polybius]] is considered now to have a heavy anti Aetolian bias due to him having relied on Aetolia's opponent [[Aratus]] of Achaea.

During the Middle Ages, Aetolia was part of the [[Byzantine Empire]] and later passed to the Turks: after a relatively unsuccessful attempt at colonization they took a token amount of slaves and resources from the region, then departed. Aetolia became part of Greece after the [[Greek Revolution]] of [[1821]]. Today Aetolia is the eastern part of the [[Central Greece]] [[prefecture]] of [[Aitoloakarnania]].

==Sources==
(This article incorporates material from Harry Thurston Peck's ''Harper's Dictionary of Classical Antiquities (1898)''.)

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Aetolia - Revision history

Irlandos at 16:19, March 9, 2006

Irlandos at 16:18, March 9, 2006