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