Crossword Genius

Special statuary, say, set above a Greek city (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

sparta

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'greek city' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'special statuary say set above a' is the wordplay.
'special statuary say set' becomes 'spart' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'above' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'spart'+'a'='SPARTA'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for sparta that I've seen before include "Ancient Greek city where great self-denial was practised" , "Old Greek city state, famous for its citizens' austere lifestyle" , "Ancient country" , "Rival of Athens during the Peloponnesian Wars" , "found in Ancient Greek location" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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