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very place. At Lacedemon indeed, as appears from Pausanias, there was no Acropolis or citadel, and they only called the highest point or eminence in the city by that name; from its answering probably the same purpose to them, as the Acropolis did to the other cities of Greece, it being more difficult of access to an enemy, and admitting of an easier defence.Λακεαιμονίοις δὲ ἡ ἀκρόπολις μέν ες ὕψος περιφάνες ἐξιοχούσα οὐκ ἔστι, καθὰ δη Θηζαίοις τε ἡ Καδμεία, καὶ ἡ Λάρισσα Αργείοις, ὄντων δὲ ἐν ῇ πὸλει λόφον καὶ ἄλλων τὸ μάλιστα ἐς μετέωρον ἀνήκον ὀνομάζουςιν ἀκρόπολιν, ἐνταῦθα Αθῆνας ἵερον πεποιῆται Pausan. lib. iii. cap. 17. The Lacedemonians have no citadel built upon a high place, like Cadmaea of the Thebans, or Larissa of the Argives. But as there are in the city many hills, they give the most elevated of them the name of the citadel. Upon this hill is a temple to Minerva.' And Livy, speaking of its being besieged by Flaminius, observes nearly the same thing: 'Altiora loca et difficiliora aditu stationibus armatorum, pro munimento objectis tutabantur. lib. xxxiv. cap. 38. The higher places, and those more difficult of access, were defended by detachments of soldiers which served instead of fortifications.'
