Laconie

The Laconie (in Greek old Λακωνική / Lakônikê ) is the name of the area of the Peloponnese located at the extreme south-east, between the Messénie and the Argolide, whose capital is Sparte.

It is a long valley, surrounded by mountains (Taygète, Parnon) on three on its sides, and leading to the sea (gulf of Laconie) by the last. The river Eurotas runs all along the valley. Because of the relief, Laconie is difficult access. There exist only two master keys, in north, which make it possible to enter there. In the Antiquity, Hérodote reports that the Thébain Épaminondas hesitated to invade precisely Sparte for this reason.

The short manner to speak about its inhabitants generated the laconic word .

Names

Its old name is Lacédémone ( Λακεδαίμων / Lakedaimôn ), name that Homère gives indifferently to the area or its capital. The form continues to be used thereafter, but the name “Laconie” is that which employ the majority of the Greek authors, and the Romains after them. The free inhabitant of the area, whether he is citizen or Périèque, is called Lacon ( Λάκων / Lakôn ) or Lacédémonien ( Λακεδαιμόνιος / Lakedaimonios ).

These names come from Lacédémon, hero mythical founder of Sparte. Sometimes one brings them closer to λάκκος, “the cistern, the storeroom”, because the area is very boxed between the mountains.

History

The human presence in Laconie is attested with the Neolithic superior in the cave of Alepotrypa, on Eastern bank of the Golfe of Messénie, as on the hillock of Kouphovouno, near Sparte and of Amyclées. It develops with the Helladique and in recent Helladique (HR) II, Laconie seems divided into small principalities.

The influence mycénienne is felt starting from HRIIIA, that is to say it At the next century, the settlement laconien important and dense, is mainly concentrated on the valley of Eurotas, but with incursions into the mountainous areas. With the HRIIIC, civilization mycénienne of Laconie knows a decline characterized by a strong reduction in the settlement, but without knowing, it seems, of disaster comparable with those of Tirynthe, Pylos or Mycènes itself.

Nevertheless, the end of the era mycénienne leaves the territory in a vacuum which facilitates the arrival of the Doriens, in the search of grounds favorable to the Agriculture. The few inhabitants remained in the valley of Eurotas are controlled by the new arrivals and become Hilotes. At that time, Sparte starts to take its rise, and the history of Laconie merges then with that of the city-State.

See History of Sparte

Nowadays

At present, Laconie is a names cash Greek 94 916 inhabitants (2000). Its capital is Sparte, its principal cities Gythion, Malvoisie and Mistra.

Municipalities

See too

Sparte ;
Laconism.