The historical name of Sparta is Lacedaemon. It was the ancient capital of the Laconia district of the southeastern Peloponnese, Greece. Along with the surrounding area, it forms the perifereiakí enótita (regional unit) of Laconia (Modern Greek: Lakonía) within the Peloponnese (Pelopónnisos) periféreia (region). The city lies on the right bank of the Evrótas Potamós (river).