The great decisive engagement, which was a naval one, was fought near Ac'tium,[16] a city of Epi'rus, at the entrance of the gulf of Ambra'cia.

Antony ranged his ships before the mouth of the gulf; and Augustus drew up his fleet in opposition.

Neither general assumed any fixed station to command in, but went about from ship to ship, wherever his presence was necessary.

In the mean time the two land armies, on the opposite sides of the gulf, were drawn up, only as spectators of the engagement, and couraged the fleets, by their shouts, to engage.20.The battle began on both sides after a manner not practised upon former occasions.

The prows of their vessels were armed with brazen beaks, with which it was usual to drive furiously against each other; but Antony's ships being large, unwieldy, and badly manned, were incapable of the necessary swiftness, while those of Augustus, from the lightness of their construction, were fearful of the rude encounter: the battle, therefore, rather resembled a land fight, the ships being brought alongside each other.