Sparta

Archaeologists working at a dig near Sparta, in the southeastern Peloponnese, announced the discovery of a Mycenaean-era palatial complex dating to the 17th and 16th century BC.
Another highlight was the discovery of several tablets that feature writings in Linear B.

Inspired by the international success of the Spartan-clad warriors on London’s tube for the promotion of “300: Rise of an Empire”, Spartan warriors stormed through the streets of Beijing for a publicity stunt aimed at promoting salad eating. Unfortunately, they got more than they bargained for as police detained at least two of the dozens of foreign men dressed as Spartans.

A very, very laconic — pun intended – answer by the ancient Spartans to a threat by Phillip of Macedon to topped a list of the 15 best-known responses in history — a list that includes the likes of Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, Mahatma Gandhi, Liz Taylor and even … Eminem.

Here’s the Spartan reply:

Police in Sparta, in the Peloponnese, have arrested two Roma couples after DNA tests confirmed they were not the biological parents of their two children, a boy and a girl, both aged 4.

Early reports said the two children were not of Roma origin.

They also said the Athens-based charity Smile of the Child had assumed the care of the two children.

Police are investigating what caused a truck to crash into the living room of a house in Sparta, in the Peloponnese, on Friday.

The 23-year-old driver and two passengers, aged 20 and 60 years old, were slightly injured in the accident, which occurred shortly after midnight on Thursday.