Bible Encyclopedias
Sparta; Spartans

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

spar´ta , spar´tanz ( Σπάρτη , Spártē ( 1 Maccabees 14:16 ), Σπαρτιᾶται , Spartiátai ; Lacedaemonians (the King James Version 1 Maccabees 12:2,5 , 6,10 , 21; 14:20-23; 15:23; in 2 Maccabees 5:9 , Greek Lakedaimónioi )): The passages in 1 Macc 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 ff, 19 ff; 14:16 ff). 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; MACCABEANS , etc.