Both Uses of
ancient Sparta
in
A Midsummer Night's Dream
- HIPPOLYTA I was with Hercules and Cadmus once When in a wood of Crete they bay'd the bear With hounds of Sparta: never did I hear Such gallant chiding; for, besides the groves, The skies, the fountains, every region near Seem'd all one mutual cry: I never heard So musical a discord, such sweet thunder.†
Scene 4.1Sparta = ancient Greek city famous for military prowess
- A cry more tuneable Was never holla'd to, nor cheer'd with horn, In Crete, in Sparta, nor in Thessaly.†
Scene 4.1 *
Definitions:
-
(1)
(ancient Sparta) an ancient Greek city famous for military prowess; the dominant city of the Peloponnesus prior to the 4th century BC
-
(2)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) meaning too rare to warrant focus:
Less commonly, Sparta can refer to the modern town in Greece that is in the same location, or to any number or American cities with the same name. Similarly, many sports teams are called Spartans.