Sparta, ancient and modern in Laconia Prefecture Page Three

Sparta

modern sparti town Called Sparti in Greek, its ancient remains and modern city can be approached from the north (from Tripoli), and from the west (from Kalamata). From the north, the view from the top of the pass in the Parnon range is magnificent, with the lush Evrotas valley spread out below, flanked by the Tagetos mountains to the west. Approaching, alternatively, from Kalamata, the road descends through wooded gorges, the best known of which is Megali Langadha (see the Mani). Trypi is at 600meters/1968feet, with many streams and beautiful views. The Kaiadas ravine into which the ancient Spartans cast weak or sick children (deemed unfit for the rigors of this austere militaristic culture) is near here. The road then forks southwest to Mystras and north to Aghia Irini and Longaniko, (straight ahead to Sparti), at the crossroads known as the Magoulas.

Sparti dates back to Neolithic times (3000 BC). There are various theories for the derivation of its name: the mythical daughter of Evrotas, a king with the name Sparton, the fertility of the lush plain (the Greek verb 'sperno' meaning 'to sow'; 'sparmeno' meaning 'sown'). The ancient town was comprised of five scattered settlements separated by cultivated land, which were later joined and called Lakedaimon. During Mycenaean times, Sparta was part of the kingdom of Menelaos, (who was the husband of Helen, for whom the Trojan War was fought). Remains from this period were found at Amykles to the south of Sparti, where there was a sanctuary to Apollo, and nearby, beehive tombs were found with the golden horn shaped vessels known as rhytons (Athens museum).

The city occupied six low hills in a vast triangular area on the banks of the Evrotas, and was never walled during the period of its greatest power (9th to 4th centuries BC) both because of its naturally protected location and the fierceness of its soldiers, who were deemed sufficient protection. The remains of the ancient city are sparse, and it never had the grand public buildings that characterize other famous ancient Greek cities . The modern town was laid out in 1834, just after the establishment of the Greek nation after the War of Independence. Though not a beautiful town, the buildings are low enough to not spoil the beautiful views of surrounding mountains, and the plains are planted with orange and olive orchards.