What Is The Ancient Site Of Sparta?

Sparta was a prominent city-state in ancient Greece known as Lacedaemon. The name Sparta referred to its main settlement on the banks of the Eurotas River in Laconia, in south-eastern Peloponnese.

The valley of the Eurotas is a natural fortress, bordered to the west by Mount Taygetus and to the east by Mount Parnon. To the north, Laconia is separated from Arcadia by hilly uplands. It rose to become the dominant military land-power in ancient Greece around 650 BC.

Sparta was recognized as the leading force of the unified Greek military during the Greco-Persian Wars, in conflict with the rising naval power of Athens. Sparta won the Peloponnesian War between 431 and 404 BC against Athens.

However, the defeat by Thebes in the Battle of Leuctra in 371 BC ended its prominent role, though it maintained its political independence until the Roman conquest of Greece in 146 BC. It then underwent a long period of decline and many Spartans moved to Mystras during the Middle Ages.

Today, modern Sparta is the capital of the Greek region of Laconia and a centre for processing citrus and olives.

History

The earliest evidence of human settlement in the region of Sparta consists of pottery dating from the Middle Neolithic period, found in the vicinity of Kouphovouno southwest of Sparta.

Sparta seems to have fallen into decline by the late Bronze Age when Macedonian tribes, referred to as the Dorians, marched into the Peloponnese and crushing the local tribes. They fought against various other tribes and nations but because of the topography of Sparta it was never fortified. With the Second Messenian War, Sparta proved itself as a local power in Greece.

In 480 BC a small force led by King Leonidas with Spartans, Thespians and Thebans made a last stand at the Battle of Thermopylae against the massive Persian army and were defeated. A year later Sparta assembled its full strength and led a Greek alliance against the Persians at the battle of Plataea. This put an end to Persian ambitions to expand into Europe.

At the peak of Spartan power in the early 4^th century BC, it inhibited many of the Greek states and invaded the Persian provinces in Anatolia. After many years of fighting the Peace of Antalcidas was signed in 387 BC where all Greek cities was returned to Persia and the Asian border of Persia free of the Spartan threat.

Sparta entered its long-term deterioration after a severe military defeat to Epaminondas of Thebes at the Battle of Leuctra. This was the first time that the Spartan army lost a land battle. Although Sparta never fully recovered from its losses it continued as a regional power for two more centuries.

During the Punic Wars, Sparta was an ally of the Romans. Spartan’s independence was put to an end when it was forced into the Achaean League after its defeat in the Laconian War by a coalition of other Greek city-states and Rome, and the resultant overthrow of its final king Nabis.

Sparta played no role in the Achaean War in 146 BC and when the Romans defeated the Achaean League, Sparta became a free city under Roman rule.

Sparta was sacked by Visigoths under Alaric I in 396 AD and inhabitants sold into slavery. During the Middle Ages, many residents moved to Mystras and Sparta was all but forgotten.

Modern Sparti was found in 1834 by a decree of King Otto of Greece.

Archaeological Remains

Until the early 20th century, the main ancient buildings at Sparta were the theatre, the so-called Tomb of Leonidas, a quadrangular building, the foundation of an ancient bridge over the Eurotas, the ruins of a circular structure, some remains of late Roman fortifications, several brick buildings and mosaic pavements.

The rest consist of inscriptions, sculptures, and other objects collected in the local museum. Partial excavation of the round building was undertaken in 1892 and 1893 by the American School at Athens. The structure has been since found to be a semi-circular retaining wall of Hellenic origin that was partly restored during the Roman period.

An ancient theatre at the south of the acropolis was constructed after 200 AD around the altar and in front of the temple of Artemis Orthia. It would have been were musical and gymnastic contests took place as well as the famous flogging ordeal. It preserves the orchestra, the retaining walls of the cavea with inscriptions of the rulers of Sparta during Roman times and part of the cavea of the large theatre.

The Temple of Athena was located on the acropolis immediately above the theatre, and the site has produced the longest extant archaic inscription of Laconia, numerous bronze nails and plates, and several votive offerings.

The temple, which can be dated to the 2nd century BC, rests on the foundation of an older temple of the 6th century. Close beside it was found the remains of an even earlier temple, dating from the 9th or even the 10th century. The votive offerings in clay, amber, bronze, ivory and lead found in great profusion within the precinct range, dating from the 9th to the 4th centuries BC, supply invaluable evidence for early Spartan art.

Parts of the Greek city-wall, built in successive stages from the 4th to the 2nd century, was also excavated.

The Menelaion, a shrine related with Menelaus, was located east of Sparta. Built early 8th century BC the Spartans believed it was the home of Menelaus. The remains of two Mycenaean mansions were found in 1907 as well as the first offerings dedicated to Helen and Menelaus. These mansions were destroyed by earthquake and fire.

Excavations made from the early 1990s to the present suggest that the area around Menelaion seems to have been the centre of Mycenaean Laconia. The settlement was triangular, with its apex pointed towards the north. Nothing but ruined foundations and broken potsherds were left of this area.

Interest for Today

Sparta is one of the most controversial tourist destinations on the Peloponnese Peninsula. Due to movies made of this ancient period there is an increased attention to the Spartans, but there is not much but a few ruins to see today. Despite this is it one of the most famous places among all the cities of Ancient Greece.

The Spartathlon takes place every September since 1983 which is an ultramarathon starting in Athens and finishing in Sparta at the statue of Leonidas.  The local football club is Sparta FC.

Location

Address: Τ.Κ. 23100, Sparti (Prefecture of Lakonia).

Tourist Information

The site is open daily from 08:00 – 16:00. Closed on Tuesdays.

Tickets in 2020 are €2.

Contact information:

• Telephone: +30 27310 28575
• Fax: +30 27310 21516
• Email: efalak@culture.gr