Arcadia

Throughout ancient Greek and Roman mythology, Arcadia stood as a hidden paradise nestled in the mountains of central Greece. This remote region was sacred to Pan, the wild-horned god who watched over woods, meadows, and shepherds' flocks. Protected by its rugged terrain, Arcadia's people lived in peaceful isolation, maintaining their pastoral traditions of farming and herding untouched by outside influences, until Roman conquest eventually led to its decline.

The dream of Arcadia - this unspoiled realm of rustic innocence - has captivated artists and writers across centuries. Classical poets like Theocritus and Virgil celebrated its idyllic nature, while Renaissance writers such as Sanazaro and Edmund Spenser wove Arcadian themes into their pastoral works. Yet not all embraced this romantic vision - the English poet William Cowper criticized the use of Arcadia as an idealized fantasy that ignored the harsh realities faced by rural workers.