Description of the attraction
One of the most famous archaeological sites in Greece is undoubtedly the legendary ancient Greek polis - Sparta. The ruins of ancient Sparta lie in the southern part of the Peloponnese (in the history of ancient Greece, this region is well known as Laconica) in the vicinity of the modern city of Sparta and are one of its main and most popular attractions.
Most historians believe that Sparta was founded after the conquest of the Peloponnese by the Dorians around the 11th century BC. The formation of Sparta as one of the most powerful cities of Ancient Greece began during the time of the legendary Spartan legislator Lycurgus and the Messenian Wars. The military power of Sparta was well known far beyond the borders of today's Greece, and in founded in the 6th century BC. Hegemony belonged to the Peloponnesian Union. In the Greco-Persian Wars (499-449 BC) Sparta played one of the key roles and thoroughly strengthened its position after the victory over Athens in the Peloponnesian War (431-404 BC), becoming the most influential polis Greece.
However, no hegemony can last forever, and the Boeotian War (378-362 BC) was in fact the beginning of the end of the power of Sparta. Several crushing defeats, including the Battle of Levcatrah in 371 BC, as well as internal conflicts, have weakened her strength. The further history of Sparta is a confrontation with Macedonia and the Achaean Union, unsuccessful attempts at reforms, etc. Sparta was never able to recover and regain its former influence, and in 146 BC. like the rest of Greece, the legendary city became part of the Roman Empire. Sparta was supposedly abandoned in the Middle Ages, by that time neighboring Mystra had become the political and cultural center of Laconica.
Unfortunately, only fragments of some buildings dating back to the 7th century BC have remained from the once powerful city to this day. - 2nd century AD, including the ruins of a Roman theater and the remains of ancient sanctuaries. Unique artifacts (excellent Roman mosaics, bas-reliefs depicting snakes from the sanctuary of Apollo, etc.) found during archaeological excavations of the ancient city are now presented in the Archaeological Museum of Sparta.
