The title references the English saying "Beware Greeks bearing gifts". That is based in a sentence from Publius Vergilius Maro's Aeneid, in which Laocoön says "Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes", meaning "I fear Greeks even bearing gifts". In the episode, it's Xena who says the saying.
The Spartans in this episode have a Southern US accent. While obviously untrue from a historical perspective, portraying Spartans with a Southern accent is a longstanding tradition in American re-enactments of ancient Greek plays.
First appearance of Scott Garrison as Gabrielle's ex-fiance, Perdicas. The role was played in Sins of the Past (1995) by Anton Bentley.