- This page is about the proverbial land of Arcadia; for the province in modern Greece, see Arcadia; for other uses see arcadia (disambiguation)
Arcadia (Greek: Ἀρκαδία) refers to a Utopian vision of pastoralism and harmony with nature. Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly Utopia is a name for an ideal community taken from the title of a book written in 1516 by Sir Thomas More describing a fictional Island in the Pastoralism or pastoral farming is the branch of Agriculture concerned with the raising of Livestock. Nature, in the broadest sense is equivalent to the natural world, physical universe, material world or material universe. The term is derived from the Greek province of the same name which dates to antiquity; the province's mountainous topography and sparse population of pastoralists later caused the word Arcadia to develop into a poetic byword for an idyllic vision of unspoiled wilderness. The term ancient Greece refers to the period of Greek history lasting from the Greek Dark Ages ca The Utopian vision, Arcadia, is associated with bountiful natural splendor, harmony, and is often inhabited by shepherds. A shepherd is a person who tends to feeds or guards Sheep, especially in flocks The concept also figures in Renaissance mythology. The word mythology (from the Greek grc μυθολογία mythología, meaning "a story-telling a legendary lore"
The inhabitants were often regarded as having continued to live after the manner of the Golden Age, without the pride and avarice that corrupted other regions. The term Golden age is best known from Greek mythology and legend but can also be found in other ancient cultures (see below [1] It is also sometimes referred to in English poetry as Arcady. The inhabitants of this region bear an obvious connection to the figure of the Noble savage, both being regarded as living close to nature, uncorrupted by civilization, and virtuous. In the eighteenth-century cult of " Primitivism " the noble savage, uncorrupted by the influences of civilization was considered more worthy more authentically noble
Arcadia is now the name of many cities in the United States.
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Arcadia in antiquity
According to Greek mythology, Arcadia of Peloponnesus was the domain of Pan, the virgin wilderness home of the god of the forest and his court of dryads, nymphs and other spirits of nature. Arcadia or Arkadía ( Greek Αρκαδία is a region of Greece in the Peloponnesus. The Peloponnese or Peloponnesus ( Greek: Πελοπόννησος Pelopónnisos; see also List of Greek place names) is a large Peninsula Pan ( Greek, Genitive) is the Greek god of shepherds and flocks of mountain wilds hunting and rustic music paein means to pasture It was a version of paradise, though only in the sense of being the abode of supernatural entities, not an afterlife for deceased mortals. Paradise is a word of Persian origin ( Persian: پردیس Pardìs) that is generally identified with the Garden of Eden or with Heaven.
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Arcadia has remained a popular artistic subject since antiquity, both in visual arts and literature. Thomas Cowperthwait Eakins ( July 25, 1844 – June 25, 1916) was a realist painter, Photographer, sculptor Images of beautiful nymphs frolicking in lush forests have been a frequent source of inspiration for painters and sculptors. Greek mythology inspired the Roman poet Virgil to write his Eclogues, a series of poems set in Arcadia. Publius Vergilius Maro ( October 15, 70 BCE &ndash September 21, 19 BCE later called Virgilius, and known in English as Virgil or An eclogue is a Poem in a classical style on a Pastoral subject As a result of the influence of Virgil in medieval European literature (see, for example, The Divine Comedy), Arcadia became a symbol of pastoral simplicity. The Divine Comedy Pastoral, as an adjective refers to the lifestyle of Shepherds and Pastoralists moving livestock around larger areas of land according to seasons and availability European Renaissance writers (for instance, the Spanish poet Garcilaso de la Vega) often revisited the theme, and the name came to apply to any idyllic location or paradise. The Renaissance (from French Renaissance, meaning "rebirth" Italian: Rinascimento, from re- "again" and nascere For the Peruvian writer Garcilaso de la Vega see Inca Garcilaso de la Vega Garcilaso de la Vega (c Unlike the word "utopia" (named for Thomas More's book, Utopia), "Arcadia" does not carry the connotation of a human civilization; Arcadia is presented as the spontaneous result of life lived naturally, uncorrupted by civilization. Utopia is a name for an ideal community taken from the title of a book written in 1516 by Sir Thomas More describing a fictional Island in the Sir Thomas More (7 February 1478 – 6 July 1535 from 1935 Saint Thomas More, was an English Lawyer, author and statesman who in his lifetime gained De Optimo Republicae Statu deque Nova Insula Utopia (translated On the Best State of a Republic and on the New Island of Utopia) or more simply
Of particular note is Et in Arcadia ego by Nicholas Poussin, which has become famous both in its own right and because of its (possible) connection with the gnostic histories of the Rosicrucians (see below). "Et in Arcadia ego" is a Latin phrase that most famously appears as the title of two paintings by Nicolas Poussin ( 1594 &ndash 1665) Nicolas Poussin (15 June 1594 – 19 November 1665 was a French painter in the classical style Pseudohistory is a term applied to texts which purport to be historical in nature but which depart from standard historiographical conventions in a way which undermines The term Rosicrucian (symbol the Rose Cross) describes a secret society of mystics allegedly formed in late mediaeval Germany, holding a doctrine "built on In 1502 Jacopo Sannazaro published his long poem Arcadia that fixed the Early Modern perception of Arcadia as a lost world of idyllic bliss, remembered in regretful dirges. In the 1590s Sir Philip Sidney circulated copies of his influential heroic romance poem The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia establishing Arcadia as an icon of the Renaissance; although the story is plentifully supplied with shepherds and other pastoral figures, the central characters of the plot are all royalty visiting the countryside. Sir Philip Sidney ( November 30, 1554 &ndash October 17, 1586) became one of the Elizabethan Age's most prominent figures The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia, also known simply as The Arcadia is by far Sir Philip Sidney 's most ambitious work The Renaissance (from French Renaissance, meaning "rebirth" Italian: Rinascimento, from re- "again" and nascere
- [. . . ] Does not the pleasantness of this place carry in itself sufficient reward for any time lost in it, or for any such danger that might ensue? Do you not see how everything conspires together to make this place a heavenly dwelling? Do you not see the grass, how in color they excel the emeralds [. . . ]? Do not these stately trees seem to maintain their flourishing old age, with the only happiness of their seat being clothed with a continual spring, because no beauty here should ever fade? Doth not the air breathe health which the birds (both delightful both to the ear and eye) do daily solemnize with the sweet consent of their voices? Is not every echo here a perfect music? And these fresh and delightful brooks, how slowly they slide away, as, loath to leave the company of so many things united in perfection, and with how sweet a murmur they lament their forced departure. Certainly, certainly, cousin, it must needs be, that some goddess this desert belongs unto, who is the soul of this soil, for neither is any less than a goddess worthy to be shrined in such a heap of pleasures, nor any less than a goddess could have made it so perfect a model of the heavenly dwellings. [. . . ]
Though depicted as contemporary, this pastoral form is often connected with the Golden Age. It may be suggested that its inhabitants have merely continued to live as people did in the Golden Age, and all other nations have less pleasant lives because they have allowed themselves to depart from the original simplicity.
Modern usage
In 1945, Evelyn Waugh titled the first part of his novel Brideshead Revisited with the phrase 'Et in Arcadia ego', referring to his protagonist's blissful and innocent interbellum years as an undergraduate student at Oxford University at the height of the British Empire and his new-found friendship with an eccentric aristocratic family. Arthur Evelyn St John Waugh (ˈiːvlɪn ˈwɔː (28 October 1903 &ndash 10 April 1966 was an English Writer, best known for such darkly humorous and Brideshead Revisited The Sacred & Profane Memories of Captain Charles Ryder is a Novel by the English writer Evelyn Waugh, first published in 1945 "Et in Arcadia ego" is a Latin phrase that most famously appears as the title of two paintings by Nicolas Poussin ( 1594 &ndash 1665) The University of Oxford (informally "Oxford University" or simply "Oxford" located in the city of Oxford, Oxfordshire, England is the
In 1993, Tom Stoppard wrote an acclaimed play with this title, referring to the sense of classical beauty and order associated with Arcadia. Sir Tom Stoppard OM, CBE (born 3 July 1937 is a British Screenwriter playwright Arcadia is a 1993 play by Tom Stoppard concerning the relationship between past and present and between order and disorder and the certainty of knowledge
In recent literature, especially fantasy, Arcadia has been used for a magical realm, respective to the fictional universe the story occurs. A fictional universe is a self-consistent fictional setting with unique background elements such as an imaginary history or geography and possibly fantasy or science A number of role-playing games have also adopted the idea, either using it as a separate realm within the multiverse (a la the Arcadia of the Dungeons & Dragons universe), or even using it as the central focus of an entire game system (as was the case with White Wolf's Changeling: The Dreaming game). A role-playing game ( RPG; often roleplaying game) is a Game in which the participants assume the roles of Fictional characters. In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy Role-playing game, Arcadia or more fully the Peaceable Kingdoms of Arcadia, is a lawful neutral Dungeons & Dragons (abbreviated as D&D or DnD) is a Fantasy Role-playing game (RPG originally designed by Changeling The Dreaming was part of White Wolf Game Studio 's original " World of Darkness " Role playing game line It is even included in the newly released BioShock as the name of one of the areas, a man-made tree farm and source of oxygen for an underwater city. BioShock is a video game by 2K Boston/2K Australia —previously known as Irrational Games
According to the best-selling PC-game The Longest Journey, Arcadia was divided from the primordial original world, and represents fantasy, dreams and magic, while our world, Stark, is the world of science and technology. The Longest Journey ( Den lengste reisen) is a point-and-click Adventure game developed by Norwegian Studio Funcom The computer adventure game The Longest Journey and its sequel Dreamfall, are set in the worlds of Arcadia and Stark governed by a Balance The computer adventure game The Longest Journey and its sequel Dreamfall, are set in the worlds of Arcadia and Stark governed by a Balance 'Arkadia' was also a subterranean world in the French cartoon series Spartakus and the Sun Beneath the Sea. Note In some cases the names of characters places and things were changed for the English version
The name has recently been popularized by its connection to the pseudohistory of the Freemasons - in particular the Latin motto "Et in Arcadia ego" (even here, I [Death] exist. Pseudohistory is a term applied to texts which purport to be historical in nature but which depart from standard historiographical conventions in a way which undermines Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. A motto (from the Italian word motto, meaning witticism sentence is a phrase meant to formally describe the general motivation or intention of a social group "Et in Arcadia ego" is a Latin phrase that most famously appears as the title of two paintings by Nicolas Poussin ( 1594 &ndash 1665) ) The phrase is used frequently in conspiracy fiction and lore, such as the pseudohistorical work Holy Blood, Holy Grail and the novel The Da Vinci Code, where it is interpreted as an anagram of I! Tego Arcana Dei (Begone! I know the secrets of God). A conspiracy theory attributes the ultimate cause of an event or chain of events (usually Political, Social or Historical events or the concealment The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail (retitled Holy Blood Holy Grail in the United States) is a controversial book by Michael Baigent The Da Vinci Code is a controversial mystery / detective Novel by US author Dan Brown, published in 2003 by Doubleday
The Libertines, especially Pete Doherty and Carl Barât, use Arcadia as the destination their ship Albion is sailing towards. The Libertines were an English Indie rock band Formed in London in 1997 by frontmen Pete Doherty (vocals/rhythm guitar and Carl Barât (vocals/lead Carl Ashley Raphael Barât (born June 6, 1978) is an English musician It is thought of as a place without rules or authority, where cigarettes grow on trees and park benches are covered in denim, and it is evenly populated by Cockney Rudeboys and Dickensian Gentlemen. The American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers refer to Arcadia in their album title "Stadium Arcadium". Red Hot Chili Peppers are Stadium Arcadium is the ninth studio album by the Rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, released on May 5, 2006 via Warner Bros
Dragonhaven, a young adult fantasy by Robin McKinley, ends with the phrase "Arcadiae vias peregrinentur," which the author has stated roughly translates to "May they walk in Arcadia"*[1], though a more strict translation would be "They will wander the streets of Arcadia. Dragonhaven is a Fantasy novel written by Robin McKinley, published by Putnam in 2007. Young-adult fiction (often abbreviated as YA fiction, or simply YA) is Fiction written for published for or marketed to adolescents roughly between the Fantasy is a Genre that uses magic and other Supernatural forms as a primary element of plot, theme, and/or setting Robin McKinley (born November 16, 1952 as Jennifer Carolyn Robin Turrell McKinley) is a Fantasy Author especially known for her "
See also
- Arcadia
- Acadia
- Golden Age
- Millennialism
- Et in Arcadia ego (painting)
- Utopia
- Neverland
References
- ^ Bridget Ann Henish, The Medieval Calendar Year, p96, ISBN 0-271-01904-2
External links
- Net in Arcadia Virtual Museum of Contemporary Classicism
- Livejournal.com Days in the Life: Robin McKinley's Journal
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