Early Sparta

Map of Sparta

Geography Facts

• Classical Sparta was the largest Greek city state in terms of territory (Laconia and Messenia)

• Valley of Eurotas, well watered.• 5 villages of Sparta: Kynosura, Mesoa, Limnai, Pitana,

Amyclae• Climate: Warm summers, cool winters, glorious spring

and fall colors• Mt. Taygetos in the west (2047 m. high), and Mt.

Parnon in the east and north east rise like natural walls enclosing the valley.

• Products: wine, olive-oil, grain, citrus-trees (later import)

Modern Sparta with mountains

Mount Taygetos

Mystras

Eurotas Valley

Sparta

Sparta Valley

Helen of Sparta/Troy

• Daughter of Leda and Zeus (who approached her as a swan)

• Married Menelaus• Eloped with Paris, with the

power of Aphrodite• Caused the Trojan War• Rehabilitated in later

Greek Literature• In Sparta there was a cult

of Helen and Menelaus• She was identified with a

fertility goddess.

Troy

Therapne, Mycenean Palace

Mycene

Pylos, Palace