History of Rome

​These things were decreed at Leucas. That was the capital of Acarnania, and all the states used to assemble there for the council.

​Therefore, when this sudden change of affairs had been reported at Corcyra to the lieutenant Flamininus, having immediately set out with his fleet, he brought his ships to land at Leucas near what they call Heraeum.

​From there, he approached the walls with every kind of artillery and engines with which cities are stormed, thinking that their minds might be shaken by the first terror.

​After nothing of a peaceful nature was shown, he then began to erect penthouses and towers and to bring the battering ram up to the walls.

​The whole of Acarnania, situated between Aetolia and Epirus, faces the setting sun and the Sicilian Sea.

​Leucadia is now an island, divided from Acarnania by a shallow strait which was excavated by hand; at that time it was a peninsula, connected to Acarnania in the western region by a narrow neck of land;

​that neck of land was about five hundred paces long, and not more than one hundred and twenty wide. In these narrows Leucas was situated, applied to a hill facing the east and Acarnania;

​the lowest parts of the city are flat, lying along the sea by which Leucadia is divided from Acarnania. From there, it is open to assault by land and sea; for both the shallows are more like a pool than a sea, and the plain is entirely earthy and easy for work.

​Therefore, in many places at the same time, the walls, either undermined or beaten down by the ram, were falling. But as accessible as the city itself was to the attackers, so invincible were the spirits of the enemy.

​Intent day and night, they repaired the shattered parts of the wall, blocked up what had been opened by the ruins, vigorously entered into battles, and protected the walls with weapons rather than protecting themselves with the fortifications;

​and they would have prolonged that siege beyond the expectation of the Romans, had not certain exiles of Italian race, living in Leucas, admitted the soldiers from the citadel.

​Nevertheless, when they ran down from the higher ground with great tumult, the Leucadians, with their line drawn up in the forum, withstood them for some time in a regular battle.

​Meanwhile, the fortifications were captured in many places by scaling ladders, and passage was made into the city over the heap of stones and ruins;

​and now the lieutenant himself with a large force had surrounded those who were fighting. Then some were slain in the midst, others threw down their arms and surrendered themselves to the victor.

​And a few days later, having heard of the battle which had been fought at Cynoscephalae, all the states of Acarnania came into the power of the lieutenant.