Sights in Sparta
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Sanctuary of Artemis Orthia
The history of the Sanctuary of Artemis Orthia, on the northeastern side of town, is more interesting than the site. Like most of the deities in Greek mythology, the goddess Artemis had many aspects, one of which was Artemis Orthia. In the earliest times this aspect of the goddess was honoured through human sacrifice. The Spartans gave this activity away for the slightly less gruesome business of flogging young boys in honour of the goddess.
The museum houses a collection of clay masks used during ritual dances. The sanctuary is signposted at the junction of Odos Ton 118 and Orthias Artemidos. One of the other remaining remnants of ancient Sparta is the sanctuary of Leoni…
reviewed
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Museum of the Olive & Greek Olive Oil
This stunningly designed Museum of the Olive & Greek Olive Oil shows and tells you everything you could want to know about the olive. The high-quality explanations in English trace the history of the olive from its first appearance in the Mediterranean to the modern day. There are some magnificent antique olive presses, as well as a series of working models that demonstrate changes in pressing technology. The downstairs café serves good coffee.
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A
archaeological museum
Sparta's archaeological museum sits in a beautiful park setting with a fountain and an orange grove. It holds a few dusty artefacts from Sparta's illustrious past, including votive sickles that Spartan boys dedicated to Artemis Orthia, heads and torsos of various deities, a statue of the great King Leonidas, masks and grave stelae. It also has photographs and finds from Mycenaean chamber graves at Pellana, thought to be the Sparta of King Menelaus.
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Byzantine Church of Christ the Saviour
The main cobbled path at Sparta's ruins leads north to the acropolis (some of which is fenced off), passing the Byzantine Church of Christ the Saviour on the way to the hill-top Sanctuary of Athena Halkioitou. Some of the most important finds in the town's archaeological museum were unearthed here. Alternatively, you can see and approach the theatre from here. There are impressive views of the snowcapped Taÿgetos Mountains.
reviewed
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B
King Leonidas Statue
A wander around ancient Sparta's meagre ruins bears testimony to the accuracy of Thucydides' prophecy. Head north along Paleologou to the King Leonidas statue , which stands belligerently in front of a soccer stadium. West of the stadium, signs point the way to the southern gate of the acropolis.
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C
Ancient Theatre
Signs point left (west) through olive groves to the 2nd- or 3rd-century-BC ancient theatre, the site's most discernible ruin. You'll find a reconstructed plan of the theatre at the Restaurant Elysse.
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D
John Coumantarios Art Gallery
While the permanent collection of 40 paintings in the John Coumantarios Art Gallery are being repaired, this quaint place houses temporary exhibitions from the National Art Galley of Athens.
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