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.