Laconia the southwest of Laconia. Laconia has a Mediterranean climate with warm winters and hot summers. Snow is rare on the coast throughout the winter but is very common in the mountains. Evidence of Neolithic settlement in southern Laconia has been found during excavations of the Alepotrypa cave site. In ancient Greece, this was the principal region of the Spartan state. For much of classical antiquity the Spartan sphere of influence expanded to Messenia, whose inhabitants (the Helots) were enslaved. Significant archaeological recovery exists at the Vaphio-tomb site in Laconia. Found here is advanced Bronze Age art as well as evidence
Marius (Laconia) Marius (Laconia) Marius or Marios () was a town of ancient Laconia, belonging in the time of Pausanias (2nd century) to the Eleuthero-Lacones; it was situated 100 stadia east of Geronthrae. It contained a sanctuary of all the gods and, one of Artemis, and in each there were copious springs of water. It is represented by Mari, which stands on the road from Geraki (Geronthrae) over the mountains to Kremasti. There are ruins of the ancient town about a mile and a half (2.5 km) to the south of the modern village, and the place is still characterised by its