Laconia#Ancient history

File:Eurotas.JPG outside the city of Sparti]]

Laconia is bordered by Messenia to the west and Arcadia to the north and is surrounded by the Myrtoan Sea to the east and by the Laconian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea to the south. It encompasses Cape Malea and Cape Tainaron and a large part of the Mani Peninsula. The Mani Peninsula is in the west region of Laconia.{{Cite web |url=http://www.thegreektravel.com/lakonia/ |title=Lakonia Greece, Mani, Monamvassia, Sparti, Gytheio, Mystras, Elafonissos, Gytheio, Hotels in lakonia, activities, travel greece |last=www.thegreektravel.com |website=www.thegreektravel.com |language=en |access-date=26 September 2017 |archive-date=27 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927000212/http://www.thegreektravel.com/lakonia/ |url-status=live }} The islands of Kythira and Antikythera lie to the south, but they administratively belong to the Attica regional unit of islands. The island, Elafonisos, situated between the Laconian mainland and Kythira, is part of Laconia.

The Evrotas is the longest river in the prefecture. The Evrotas Valley is predominantly an agricultural region that contains many citrus groves, olive groves, and pasture lands. It is the location of the largest orange production in the Peloponnese and probably in all of Greece. Lakonia, a brand of orange juice, is based in Amykles.

The main mountain ranges are the Taygetus {{cvt|2,407|m|ft}} in the west and the Parnon {{cvt|1,961|m|ft}} in the northeast. Taygetus, known as Pentadaktylos (five-fingers) throughout the Middle Ages, is west of Sparta and the Evrotas Valley. It is the highest mountain in Laconia and the Peloponnese and is mostly covered with pine trees. Two roads join the Messenia and Laconia prefectures: one is a tortuous mountain pass through Taygetus and the other bypasses the mountain via the Mani district to the south.

The stalactite cave, Dirou, a major tourist attraction, is located south of Areopolis in the southwest of Laconia.

The city of Sparta enjoys a sunny and warm Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csa). January highs are around {{cvt|14|°C|0}} while July and August highs are around {{cvt|36|°C|0}} in the city proper. Sparta records the highest summer average maximum temperatures in Greece. In July 2012 the city registered an average maximum temperature of {{cvt|38.3|°C|1}}, making it Greece's second highest monthly average maximum temperature to date after the {{cvt|38.6|°C|1}} recorded in Stylida in July 2023.{{cite web |url=https://penteli.meteo.gr/stations/stylida/NOAAYR.TXT |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230804061751/https://penteli.meteo.gr/stations/stylida/NOAAYR.TXT |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 August 2023 |title=Stylida NOA |access-date=4 August 2023 }}{{cite web |title=N.O.A July 2012 bulletin |url=http://cirrus.meteo.noa.gr/forecast/deltio_noa072012.pdf |access-date=20 January 2013 |archive-date=28 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130228152658/http://cirrus.meteo.noa.gr/forecast/deltio_noa072012.pdf |url-status=dead }} The highest temperature ever recorded in Sparta is {{cvt|45.7|°C|1}} in August 2021.[http://stratus.meteo.noa.gr/data/bulletins/deltio_noa082021.pdf?CFID=b2058680-727c-4a51-97e0-9d555c66de14&CFTOKEN=0 Deltio data] On average, Sparta records 5 days per year with temperatures of over {{cvt|40.0|°C|1}}.{{cite web |url=https://www.meteo.gr/Monthly_Bulletins.cfm |title=Meteo.gr - Προγνώσεις καιρού για όλη την Ελλάδα |access-date=28 November 2023 |archive-date=2 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202121511/https://meteo.gr/Monthly_Bulletins.cfm |url-status=live }}

{{Weather box

|location=Sparta (2009–2024)

|metric first=yes

|single line=yes

|Jan high C=14.4

|Feb high C=16.1

|Mar high C=18.4

|Apr high C=22.8

|May high C=27.8

|Jun high C=32.5

|Jul high C=36.0

|Aug high C=35.9

|Sep high C=31.3

|Oct high C=25.3

|Nov high C=20.2

|Dec high C=16.1

|Jan mean C=8.8

|Feb mean C=10.0

|Mar mean C=12.0

|Apr mean C=15.4

|May mean C=20.0

|Jun mean C=24.6

|Jul mean C=27.7

|Aug mean C=27.7

|Sep mean C=23.8

|Oct mean C=18.5

|Nov mean C=14.1

|Dec mean C=10.2

|Jan low C=3.1

|Feb low C=4.0

|Mar low C=5.6

|Apr low C=8.0

|May low C=12.2

|Jun low C=16.7

|Jul low C=19.5

|Aug low C=19.6

|Sep low C=16.4

|Oct low C=11.8

|Nov low C=7.9

|Dec low C=4.4

|rain colour=green

|Jan rain mm=122.6

|Feb rain mm=82.3

|Mar rain mm=62.4

|Apr rain mm=33.1

|May rain mm=24.8

|Jun rain mm=35.3

|Jul rain mm=11.9

|Aug rain mm=19.0

|Sep rain mm=52.2

|Oct rain mm=61.5

|Nov rain mm=88.1

|Dec rain mm=92.0

| Jan record high C=23.5

| Feb record high C=26.4

| Mar record high C=27.2

| Apr record high C=34.1

| May record high C=40.7

| Jun record high C=44.4

| Jul record high C=44.2

| Aug record high C=45.7

| Sep record high C=40.3

| Oct record high C=36.4

| Nov record high C=30.8

| Dec record high C=23.5

| Jan record low C=-5.3

| Feb record low C=-4.2

| Mar record low C=-4.6

| Apr record low C=-0.7

| May record low C=6.2

| Jun record low C=9.4

| Jul record low C=14.2

| Aug record low C=13.1

| Sep record low C=9.1

| Oct record low C=1.5

| Nov record low C=-1.7

| Dec record low C=-5.2

|source=National Observatory of Athens (Feb 2009 - Feb 2024),{{cite web |url=https://www.meteo.gr/climate/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220927081043/https://meteo.gr/climate/ |archive-date=27 September 2022 |title=Climate |publisher=National Observatory of Athens |language=el }}{{cite web |url=https://www.meteo.gr/Monthly_Bulletins.cfm |title=N.O.A Monthly Bulletins |access-date=28 November 2023 |archive-date=2 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202121511/https://meteo.gr/Monthly_Bulletins.cfm |url-status=live }}
Sparta N.O.A station,{{cite web |url=https://penteli.meteo.gr/stations/sparti/ |title=Latest Conditions in Sparta }} World Meteorological Organization{{cite web |url=https://oscar.wmo.int/surface/#/search/station/stationReportDetails/0-300-1-sparti |title=World Meteorological Organization |access-date=14 July 2023 |archive-date=12 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230712151921/https://oscar.wmo.int/surface/#/search/station/stationReportDetails/0-300-1-sparti |url-status=live }}

}}

{{Weather box

|collapsed=y

|width=auto

|location=Sparta Air Base (HNMS ,1974–2004)

|metric first=yes

|single line=yes

|Jan high C=14.4

|Feb high C=15.1

|Mar high C=17.7

|Apr high C=21.3

|May high C=27.0

|Jun high C=32.2

|Jul high C=34.8

|Aug high C=34.3

|Sep high C=30.5

|Oct high C=25.7

|Nov high C=19.4

|Dec high C=15.2

|Jan mean C=9.6

|Feb mean C=10.2

|Mar mean C=12.4

|Apr mean C=15.8

|May mean C=21.2

|Jun mean C=26.2

|Jul mean C=28.5

|Aug mean C=27.8

|Sep mean C=24.2

|Oct mean C=19.6

|Nov mean C=14.2

|Dec mean C=10.8

|Jan low C=3.5

|Feb low C=3.8

|Mar low C=5.5

|Apr low C=7.6

|May low C=11.8

|Jun low C=15.9

|Jul low C=18.7

|Aug low C=18.0

|Sep low C=15.3

|Oct low C=12.3

|Nov low C=8.2

|Dec low C=5.1

|rain colour=green

|Jan rain mm=90.7

|Feb rain mm=84.6

|Mar rain mm=73.3

|Apr rain mm=66.0

|May rain mm=47.4

|Jun rain mm=14.6

|Jul rain mm=18.8

|Aug rain mm=26.4

|Sep rain mm=30.8

|Oct rain mm=54.6

|Nov rain mm=90.0

|Dec rain mm=107.9

|source 1=Meteoclub.gr{{cite web |url=http://www.meteoclub.gr/themata/egkyklopaideia/6125-sparti-h-yperdynami-ths-kalokairinhs-zesths-stin-ellada |script-title=el:Σπάρτη : H υπερδύναμη της καλοκαιρινής ζέστης στην Ελλάδα |publisher=Meteoclub |language=el |access-date=7 June 2016 |archive-date=5 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905053552/http://www.meteoclub.gr/themata/egkyklopaideia/6125-sparti-h-yperdynami-ths-kalokairinhs-zesths-stin-ellada |url-status=live }}

}}

{{Main|Sparta}}

File:Sparti in-river-Eurotas-valley flanked-by-Taygetos-mountains.jpg with modern Sparti and Taygetus in the background]]

Evidence of Neolithic settlement in southern Laconia has been found during excavations of the Alepotrypa cave site.{{Cite book |publisher=The Overlook Press |isbn=978-1-59020-837-3 |last=Cartledge |first=Paul |title=The Spartans |url=https://archive.org/details/spartansworldofw00cart |url-access=registration |date=26 May 2003 }} Significant archaeological recovery exists at the Vaphio-tomb site in Laconia. Found there is advanced Bronze Age art as well as evidence of cultural associations with the contemporaneous Minoan culture on Crete.C. Michael Hogan, [http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/10854/knossos.html#fieldnotes Knossos fieldnotes, Modern Antiquarian (2007)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711201424/http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/10854/knossos.html#fieldnotes |date=11 July 2018 }} At the end of the Mycenean period, the population of Laconia sharply declined.Sarah B. Pomeroy, Stanley M. Burstein and Walter Donlan (1998) Ancient Greece: A Political, Social, and Cultural History, 512 pages, Oxford University Press, {{ISBN|0-19-509742-4 }} In classical Greece, Laconia was Spartan territory but from the 4th century BC onward Sparta lost control of various ports, towns and areas.{{cite book |last1=Cartledge |first1=Paul |title=Sparta and Lakonia : a regional history, 1300-362 B.C. |date=2002 |publisher=Routledge |location=New York |isbn=0415262763 |pages=228-259, 273-277 |edition=2nd }}{{cite book |last1=Cartledge |first1=Paul |title=Hellenistic and Roman Sparta : a tale of two cities |date=2002 |publisher=Routledge |location=London |isbn=0415262771 |edition=2nd }} From the mid-2nd century BC until 395 AD, Laconia was a part of the Roman Empire.

File:Mystras palace.JPG]]

In the medieval period, Laconia formed part of the Byzantine Empire. In the 7th century, Slavic tribes settled in the Peloponnese. Two of them, the Melingoi and the Ezeritai, who settled in parts of Laconia, survived the subsequent Byzantine reconquest and re-Hellenization of the Peloponnese, and are attested until the late Middle Ages.

Following the Fourth Crusade, Laconia was gradually conquered by the Frankish Principality of Achaea. In the 1260s, the Byzantines recovered Mystras and other fortresses in the region and managed to evict the Franks from Laconia, which became the nucleus of a new Byzantine province. By the mid-14th century, this evolved into the Despotate of the Morea, held by the last Greek ruling dynasty, the Palaiologoi. The capital of the Despotate, Mystras, was a major site of the Palaiologan Renaissance, the last flowering of Byzantine culture. With the fall of the Despotate to the Ottomans in 1460, Laconia was conquered as well.

With the exception of a 30-year interval of Venetian rule, Laconia remained under Ottoman control until the outbreak of the Greek War of Independence of 1821. Following independence, Sparta was selected as the capital of the modern prefecture, and its economy and agriculture expanded. With the incorporation of the British-ruled Ionian Islands into Greece in 1864, Elafonissos became part of the prefecture. After World War II and the Greek Civil War, its population began to somewhat decline, as people moved from the villages toward the larger cities of Greece and abroad.

In 1992, a devastating fire ruined the finest olive crops in the northern part of the prefecture, and affected the area of Sellasia along with Oinountas and its surrounding areas. Firefighters, helicopters and planes battled for days to put out the horrific fire.

In early 2006, flooding ruined olive and citrus crops as well as properties and villages along the Eurotas river. In the summer 2006, a fire devastated a part of the Mani Peninsula, ruining forests, crops, and numerous villages.

File:Taygetos Ilias 1.jpg]]

File:20090729 parnonas06.jpg]]

File:Monemvassia1.jpg]]

File:GR-gythio-hafen.jpg, Mani peninsula]]

The regional unit, Laconia, is subdivided into five municipalities. These are (number as in the map in the infobox):{{Cite web |url=http://www.et.gr/idocs-nph/search/pdfViewerForm.html?args=5C7QrtC22wGYK2xFpSwMnXdtvSoClrL8-SrPzKAEPjjtIl9LGdkF53UIxsx942CdyqxSQYNuqAGCF0IfB9HI6hq6ZkZV96FIukI0UzcPsWCK0LpLhpa7rhiWB4R5ntTnoWw7U8E1Amg. |title=ΦΕΚ A 87/2010, Kallikratis reform law text |language=el |publisher=Government Gazette |access-date=7 September 2021 |archive-date=18 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100718094132/http://www.et.gr/idocs-nph/search/pdfViewerForm.html?args=5C7QrtC22wGYK2xFpSwMnXdtvSoClrL8-SrPzKAEPjjtIl9LGdkF53UIxsx942CdyqxSQYNuqAGCF0IfB9HI6hq6ZkZV96FIukI0UzcPsWCK0LpLhpa7rhiWB4R5ntTnoWw7U8E1Amg. |url-status=live }}

• East Mani (Anatoliki Mani, 2)
• Elafonisos (3)
• Eurotas (4)
• Monemvasia (5)
• Sparta (1)

As a part of the 2011 Kallikratis government reform, regional unit Laconia was created out of the former prefecture Laconia ({{langx|el|Νομός Λακωνίας}}). The prefecture had the same territory as the present regional unit. At the same time, the municipalities were reorganised, according to the table below.

• Epidavros Limira Province – Molaoi
• Gytheio Province – Gytheio
• Lacedaemonia Province – Sparti
• Oitylo Province – Areopoli

Note: Provinces no longer hold any legal status in Greece.

{{Historical populations

|align=none

|1907| 87,106

|1991{{cite web |title=Απογραφές πληθυσμού 1991,2001,2011 σύμφωνα με την κωδικοποίηση της Απογραφής 2011 |url=https://www.statistics.gr/documents/20181/1210503/Kallikratis_me_plithismous_1991_2011.xls |publisher=Hellenic Statistical Authority |lang=el |access-date=17 April 2024 }}|90600

|2001|92811

|2011|89138

|2021|84337

}}

The main cities and towns of Laconia are (ranked by 2021 census population):

• Sparta 16,782
• Gytheio 4,070
• Molaoi 2,850
• Skala 2,813
• Neapoli 2,715

• Greek National Road 39, Tripoli – Sparti – Gytheio
• Greek National Road 82, Pylos – Kalamata – Sparti
• Greek National Road 86, Gytheio – Monemvasia
• Molaoi to Leonidi Road, E, NE

• FLY FM 89,7 (Sparta).
• POLITIA 90,7 – ΠΟΛΙΤΕΙΑ 90.7 (Sparta)
• Radio Sparti – 92.7 FM (Sparta)
• Radiofonias Notias Lakonias (Southern Laconia Radio) – 93.5 (Gytheio)
• Star FM – 94.7

• Ellada TV – UHF 43, Sparta
• TV Notias Lakonias – Molaoi

• Λακωνικός Τύπος
• Ελεύθερη Άποψη
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080318101036/http://www.lakonia.org/gr/gr_nea_sparth.htm Νέα Σπάρτη]
• Παρατηρητής της Λακωνίας

• List of settlements in Laconia
• List of traditional Greek place names
• Laconic phrase
• Laconian (dog)

{{Reflist}}

{{Kallikratis-Peloponnese}}

{{Prefectures of Greece}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Prefectures of Greece

Category:1833 establishments in Greece

Category:Regional units of Peloponnese (region)