Crossword Genius

City to fight with the Athenians, primarily (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

sparta

'city' is the definition.
(Sparta is an example)

'fight with the athenians primarily' is the wordplay.
'fight' becomes 'spar' (sparring is a kind of fighting**).
'with' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'primarily' says to take the initial letters.
The first letters of 'the athenians' is 'ta'.
'spar'+'ta'='SPARTA'

'to' is the link.

(Other definitions for sparta that I've seen before include "Ancient Greek city whose citizens were famed for toughness" , "place of austerity" , "austere place" , "Ancient Greek city, capital of Laconia" , "Rival of Athens during the Peloponnesian Wars" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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