Laconica, a country in the southern parts of Peloponnesus, having Argos and Arcadia on the north, Messenia on the west, the Mediterranean on the south, and the bay of Argos on the east. Its extent from north to south was about 50 miles. It was watered by the river Eurotas. The capital was called Sparta, or Lacedemon: (See Lacedemon and Sparta). The brevity with which the Laco-nians always expressed themselves is now become proverbial; and by the epithet of Laconic we understand whatever is concise, and is not loaded with unnecessary words.

Laconium, (whence our term laconic), a short pithy sententious speech, such as the Lacedemonians were remarkable for: Their way of delivering themselves was very concise, and much to the purpose. See the preceding article.