Leuctra or Leuktra (Ancient Greek: τὰ Λεῦκτρα)[1][2] or Leuctrum or Leuktron (τὸ Λεῦκτρον)[3] was a town of Aegytis on the confines of Arcadia and Laconia, described by Thucydides as on the confines of Laconia toward Mount Lycaeus,[1] and by Xenophon.[2] It was originally an Arcadian town, but was included in the territory of Laconia.[1] It commanded one of the passes leading into Laconia, by which a portion of the Theban army penetrated into the country on their first invasion under Epaminondas.[2] It was detached from Sparta by Epaminondas, and added to the territory of Megalopolis.[3] It appears to have stood on the direct road from Sparta to Megalopolis.

Leuctra's site is located near modern Leontari.[4][5]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c Thucydides. History of the Peloponnesian War. Vol. 5.54.
  2. ^ a b c Xenophon. Hellenica. Vol. 6.5.24.
  3. ^ a b Pausanias (1918). "27.4". Description of Greece. Vol. 8. Translated by W. H. S. Jones; H. A. Ormerod. Cambridge, Massachusetts; London: Harvard University Press; William Heinemann – via Perseus Digital Library.
  4. ^ Richard Talbert, ed. (2000). Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World. Princeton University Press. p. 58, and directory notes accompanying. ISBN 978-0-691-03169-9.
  5. ^ Lund University. Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire.

  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainSmith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Leuctra". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.

37°19′19″N 22°08′35″E / 37.322°N 22.143°E / 37.322; 22.143