ACTIA, in antiquity, Actian Games, Ludi Actiaci, solemn games, instituted, or according to some only restored, by Augustus, in memory of the victory over Antony at Actium. See GAME.
Some will have them held every third year, but the more common opinion is that they only returned every fifth, and were celebrated in honor of Apollo.
By the way, it is a gross oversight in some authors, to imagine that Virgil insinuates them to have been instituted by Aeneas; from that passage Aeneid III. v. 280.Actiaque Mavortis celebrantur littora ludis.It is true, the poet there alludes to the Actian Games;but he only does it by way of compliment to Augustus, to attribute that to the hero from whom he descended, which was done by the Emperor himself: As is observed by Servius.
Actian Years, Anni Actiaci, were a series of years, commencing from the era of the Battle of Actium, called the Era of Augustus. See YEAR and EPOCH.
