Arcadia (region)

Arcadia Ἀρκαδία
Historical region
Landscape of Arcadia
Ancient Arcadia in the center of the Peloponnese
Location	Peloponnese
Major cities	Mantineia, Tegea, Orchomenus
Dialects	Arcado-Cypriot
Key periods	4th century BC

Arcadia (Greek: Ἀρκαδία, romanized: Arkadía) is a region in the central Peloponnese. It takes its name from the mythological character Arcas, and in Greek mythology it was the home of the gods Hermes and Pan. In European Renaissance arts, Arcadia was celebrated as an unspoiled, harmonious wilderness; as such, it was referenced in popular culture.

The modern regional unit of the same name more or less overlaps with the historical region, but is slightly larger.