For other uses see: Sparta (disambiguation).

Sparta (Doric: Σπάρτα, Attic: Σπάρτη) is a city in southern Greece. In antiquity it was a militarist state, whose territory included all Laconia and Messenia, and was the most powerful state in Peloponnesus. During Classical times Sparta had reached the status of a world power, calling itself "the natural protector of Greece". The modern town is situated some kilometres away from the ancient site. (Technically, Sparta was the name of the ancient town; Lacedaemon, Greek Λακεδαιμων, was the city-state. Sparta is now normally used for both.) The Spartans were believed to be children and descendants of Herakles.

The city of Sparta lies at the northern end of the central Laconian plain, on the right bank of the river Eurotas. The site was strategically located; guarded from three sides by mountains and controlling the routes by which invading armies could penetrate Laconia and the southern Peloponnesus via the Langhda Pass over Mt Taygetus. At the same time, its distance from the sea—Sparta is 27 miles from its seaport, Gythium—made it difficult to blockade.