SPARTA IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Sparta in Greek Mythology
Sparta was one of the most important cities of Ancient Greece, rivalling in prominence the other major poleis of Athens, Corinth and Thebes. In Greek mythology, there was a story that explained how the city of Sparta got its names, for there was an individual called Sparta
Sparta Daughter of Eurotas
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Sparta was the beautiful daughter of King Eurotas of Laconia and his wife Clete; Sparta had one sister, Tiasa.
Some call Sparta a Naiad nymph, for her father, Eurotas is called by these same people a River god, most though consider Eurotas a mortal king, born to King Myles; and thus, Sparta would be a mortal maiden. The River Eurotas was named after the king, for King Eurotas built this river canal to drain the swamplands of laconia. |
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Sparta and Lacedaemon
King Eurotas would wed his daughter Sparta to Lacedaemon, the son of Zeus and the Pleiad nymph Taygete. Eurotas had no sons to succeed him, and so Lacedaemon became the next king of Laconia.
Lacedaemon would rename the kingdom after himself, whilst Pausanius tells of Lacedaemon building a new city on the banks of the river Eurotas, which he then called Sparta after his wife.
The names of Lacedaemon and Sparta were thereafter used interchangeably for the city-state.
Lacedaemon would rename the kingdom after himself, whilst Pausanius tells of Lacedaemon building a new city on the banks of the river Eurotas, which he then called Sparta after his wife.
The names of Lacedaemon and Sparta were thereafter used interchangeably for the city-state.
Sparta as a Mother
Sparta, the wife of Lacedaemon, would become mother to two children; a son, Amyclas, a future king of Sparta (father of Hyacinth), and a daughter, Eurydice, the future wife of King Acrisius of Argos (mother of Danae).
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Colin Quartermain - Sparta - 7th December 2019