Ancient Sparta

Lacedaemon
Σπάρτα / Λακεδαίμων
900s–192 BC
Lambda was used by the Spartan army as a symbol of Lacedaemon
Territory of ancient Sparta
Capital		Sparta
Languages		Doric Greek
Religion		Greek polytheism
Government		Oligarchy
King		See list
Legislature		Gerousia
Historical era		Classical antiquity
•	Foundation	900s BC
•	Messenian War	685–668 BC
•	Battle of Thermopylae	480 BC
•	Peloponnesian War	431–404 BC
•	Battle of Mantinea	362 BC
•	Annexed by Achaea	192 BC
Preceded by Succeeded by Greek Dark Ages Achaean League Roman Republic

Coordinates: 37°4′55″N 22°25′25″E / 37.08194°N 22.42361°E / 37.08194; 22.42361

Lambda was used by the Spartan army as a symbol of Lacedaemon

Sparta (Doric Greek: Σπάρτα, Spártā; Attic Greek: , Spártē) was a prominent city-state in ancient Greece. In antiquity the city-state was known as Lacedaemon (/ˌlæsəˈdiːmən/; , Lakedaímōn), while the name Sparta referred to its main settlement on the banks of the Eurotas River in Laconia, in south-eastern Peloponnese. Around 650 BC, it rose to become the dominant military land-power in ancient Greece.