Some time in the 4th century BCE, atop a hill that guarded the passage from the Ambracian Gulf to central Epirus, appeared a small settlement. It consisted of a hundred houses all in all, and was inhabited by farmers and shepherds who were also experienced warriors. This is Orraon, a fortified town with strong walls reinforced with towers. The roads were narrow, there were no public areas, but the town had an impressive cistern to collect rainwater and ensure the town’s supply in case of siege. Out of seventy towns that fought against the Romans in 168 BCE, only Orraon survived intact, even though it had to demolish its walls. The final decline came after the forced relocation of its citizens to Nicopolis in the late 1st century BCE.