International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

SPARTA; SPARTANS

spar'-ta, spar'-tanz (Sparte (1 Maccabees 14:16), Spartiatai; Lacedaemonians (the King James Version 1 Maccabees 12:2, 5, 6, 10, 21; 14:20-23; 15:23; in 2 Maccabees 5:9, Greek Lakedaimonioi)): The passages in 1 Maccabees relate to a correspondence initiated by Jonathan, the priest, during the Maccabean revolt, and continued after his death with his brother Simon, between the Jews and the Lacedaemonians or Spartans, with a view to a friendly alliance. The proposals, curiously based on a claim to kindredship, were favorably received by the Lacedaemonians. See the letters (1 Maccabees 12:5;, 19;; 14:16;). The claim to blood-relationship (compare 1 Maccabees 12:21; 2 Maccabees 5:9) is of course absurd, but there is no good reason to doubt the genuineness of the transaction described.

See ARIUS; ASMONEANS; LACEDAEMONIANS; MACCABAEUS, etc.

James Orr