Arcadia (regional unit)

Arcadia (Greek: Αρκαδία, romanized: Arkadía Modern Greek: [ɐr.kɐˈði.ɐ]) is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the administrative region of Peloponnese. It is in the central and eastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. It takes its name from the mythological figure Arcas. In Greek mythology, it was the home of the god Pan. In European Renaissance arts, Arcadia was celebrated as an unspoiled, harmonious wilderness.

This article is about the modern region of Greece. For the ancient one, see Arcadia (region). For other uses, see Arcadia (disambiguation) and Arkadia (disambiguation).
Arcadia
Περιφερειακή ενότητα
Αρκαδίας
Regional unit
Municipalities of Arcadia
Municipalities of Arcadia
Arcadia within Greece
Arcadia within Greece
Coordinates: 37°35′N 22°15′E
CountryGreece
RegionPeloponnese
CapitalTripoli
Area
 • Total4,419 km2 (1,706 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total86,685
 • Density20/km2 (51/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal codes
22x xx
Area codes2710, 275x0, 279x0
ISO 3166 codeGR-12
Car platesΤΡ
WebsiteOfficial website (archived)

Geography

Arcadia is a rural, mountainous regional unit comprising about 18% of the land area of the Peloponnese peninsula. It is the peninsula's largest regional unit. According to the 2011 census, it has about 86,000 inhabitants; its capital, Tripoli, has about 30,000 residents in the city proper, and about 47,500 total in the greater metropolitan area.[1]

Arcadia consists partly of farmland, and to a larger extent grassland and degenerated shrubland. It also has three mountain ranges, with forestation mainly at altitudes above 1000 meters: Mainalo, a winter ski resort, situated in the central north; Parnon in the central south; and Mount Lykaion, famous for the ancient history and myths associated with it, in the southwest.

Its climate features hot summers and mild winters in the east, the south, and those parts of the central area that are less than 1000 meters above sea level. Fall and winter are mostly rainy, except in the mountains to the west and north, Taygetus and Mainalo, which are snowy in winter.

Geology and Hydrogeology
Closed Basin Vlacherna/Hotoussa/Kandila
Temporary lake Argon Pedion, March 2019

Arcadia is almost totally mountainous and part of the "carbonate platform" (calcareous or limestone deposits) of the Peloponnese. The whole peninsula was formed by intense tectonics (faults, overthrusts and regional metamorphism).[2] In Arcadia's central part around the Tripoli region developed a special form of topography, a geologically fascinating phenomenon: There are several plains and "intra mountainous basins", even "closed basins": The 30 km long "Tripoli-Plateau", "Argon Pedion", Basin of Levidi, Basin of Vlacherna Arcadia/Hotoussa/Kandila.[3]

The peculiarity of the plains and basins is a result of intensive karstification: Water seeps into the underground, rather than eroding and draining the topography by surface waterways. All drainage runs through ponors (in Greek: καταβόθρες) and subterranean waterways.[4][5] The additional problem for rural activities in the basins: When winter rains are heavy, the ground is flooded or temporary lakes arise, even today, as drainage through katavothres is often too slow to start cultivation in due time.

History

Ancient history
Main article: Arcadia (ancient region)
"Les Bergers d’Arcadie" by Nicolas Poussin.
Landscape of Arcadia.

Medieval history

After the collapse of the Roman Empire in the west, Arcadia remained as part of the Greek-speaking Byzantine Empire. Arcadia remained a beautiful, secluded area, and its inhabitants became proverbial as herdsmen leading simple pastoral unsophisticated yet happy lives, to the point that Arcadia may refer to some imaginary idyllic paradise, immortalized by Virgil's Eclogues, and later by Jacopo Sannazaro in his pastoral masterpiece, Arcadia (1504); see also Arcadia (utopia).

After the Fourth Crusade, the area became a part of the Principality of Achaea, but was progressively recovered by the Byzantine Greeks of the Despotate of the Morea from the 1260s on, a process that was completed in 1320. The region fell into the hands of the Ottoman Turks along with the rest of the Despotate in 1460. With the exception of a period of Venetian rule in 1687–1715, the region remained under Turkish control until 1821.

The Latin phrase Et in Arcadia ego, which is usually interpreted to mean "Even in Arcadia there am I", is an example of memento mori, a cautionary reminder of the transitory nature of life and the inevitability of death. The phrase is most often associated with a 1647 painting by Nicolas Poussin, also known as "The Arcadian Shepherds". In the painting the phrase appears as an inscription on a tomb discovered by youthful figures in classical garb.

Modern history
Commander Panagiotis Kephalas raising the Maniot flag in Tripoli (Tripolitsa), the capital of Arcadia, after the successful siege.

Arcadia was one of the centres of the Greek War of Independence which saw victories in their battles including one in Tripoli. After a victorious revolutionary war, Arcadia was finally incorporated into the newly created Greek state. Arcadia saw economic growth and small emigration.

In the 20th century, Arcadia experienced extensive population loss through emigration, mostly to the Americas. Many Arcadian villages lost half their inhabitants, and fears arose that they would turn into ghost towns. Arcadia now has a smaller population than Corinthia. Demographers expected that its population would halve between 1951 and the early 21st century. The population has fallen to 87,000 in 2011.

An earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter magnitude scale shook Megalopoli and the surrounding area in 1965. Large numbers of buildings were destroyed, leaving people homeless. Within a couple of years, the buildings were rebuilt anti-seismically. This earthquake revealed an underground source of lignite in the area, and in 1967 construction began on the Megalopoli Power Plant, which began operating in 1970. The mining area south of the plant is the largest mining area in the peninsula and continues to the present day with one settlement moved.

In July and August 2007 forest fires caused damage in Arcadia, notably in the mountains.

In 2008, a theory proposed by classicist Christos Mergoupis suggested that the mummified remains of Alexander the Great (not his actual tomb), may in fact be located in Gortynia-Arkadia, in the Peloponnese of Greece. Since 2008, this research is ongoing and currently being conducted in Greece. The research was first mentioned on CNN International in May 2008.[6][7]

Language

When, during the Greek Dark Ages (c. 1200 BC–800 BC), Doric Greek was introduced to the Peloponnese, the older Arcadocypriot Greek language apparently survived in Arcadia. Arcadocypriot never became a literary dialect, but it is known from inscriptions. Tsan is a letter of the Greek alphabet occurring only in Arcadia, shaped like Cyrillic И; it represents an affricate that developed from labiovelars in context where they became t in other dialects.

The Tsakonian language, still spoken on the coast of modern Arcadia (but in the Classical period considered the southern Argolid coast immediately adjoining Arcadia), is a descendant of Doric Greek, and as such is an exceptional example of a surviving regional dialect of archaic Greek. The principal cities of Tsakonia are the Arcadian coastal towns of Leonidio and Tyros.

Administration
Megalopoli
Leonidio
Karytaina
Dimitsana
Ancient site of Orchomenus (Arcadia) and the Karst basin, in Pausanias' time (AD 110 – ca. 180) with a lake

The regional unit Arcadia is subdivided into five municipalities. (Numbered as on map in infobox):[8]

Prefecture

As a part of the 2011 Kallikratis government reform, the regional unit Arcadia was created out of the former prefecture Arcadia (Greek: Νομός Αρκαδίας). The prefecture had the same territory as the present regional unit. At the same time, the municipalities were reorganised, according to the table below.[8]

New municipalityOld municipalitiesSeat
GortyniaDimitsanaDimitsana
Vytina
Iraia
Kleitor
Kontovazaina
Langadia
Trikolonoi
Tropaia
MegalopoliMegalopoliMegalopoli
Gortyna
Falaisia
North Kynouria
(Voreia Kynouria)		North KynouriaAstros
South Kynouria
(Notia Kynouria)		LeonidioLeonidio
Kosmas
Tyros
TripoliTripoliTripoli
Valtetsi
Korythio
Levidi
Mantineia
Skiritida
Tegea
Falanthos

Provinces

Arcadia was divided into four provinces:

Note: Provinces no longer hold any legal status in Greece.

Ancient and modern towns and cities
See also: List of settlements in Arcadia

The main towns in modern Arcadia are Tripoli, Astros, Vytina, Dimitsana, Lagkadia, Tyros, Leonidio, Levidi, Megalopoli and Stemnitsa.

Ancient cities include Acacesium, Asea, Astros, Athinaio, Daseae, Falaisia (Phalesia), Gortys, Hypsus (Stemnitsa), Heraia, Lusi, Lykaio, Lycosura, Mantineia, Megalopolis, Orchomenus (Orchomenos), Tegea, Thoknia, Trapezus, Trikolonoi, Tropaia, Tripoli, Tyros, other cities includes Basilis, Caphyae, Charisia, Ellison, Enispe, Kaous, Karyes, Methydrio, Melangeia, Oryx, Paroria, Pelagos, Rhipe, Stratia, Teuthis and several more. Cities which once belonged in Arcadia include Alea (now in Argolis), Amilos (now in Achaia), and Phigalia (now in Elis).

Economy

A thermoelectric power station which produces electricity for most of southern Greece, operates to the south of Megalopolis, along with a coal mine.

In agriculture, potato farms (dominant in central and northcentral Arcadia), mixed farming, olive groves, and pasture dominate the plains of Arcadia, especially in the area around Megalopolis and between Tripoli and Levidi.

Transportation

The Moreas Motorway (A7, E65) highway connects Tripoli with Corinth and Athens. It is being extended further southwest to Megalopoli and Kalamata.

Arcadia has two tunnels. The Artemisio Tunnel opened first, followed by the tunnel east of Megalopolis; both serve traffic flowing between Messenia and Athens.

News
  • Arcadia Portal | The news site of Arcadia[9]
  • tyrostsakonia.gr[10]
  • leonidion.gr[11]

Television

Sports teams

Notable Arcadians

Mythology
  • Lycaon, a mythical King of Arcadia
  • Hermes, God of the gymnasium, public speaking, thievery, heralds and travellers.
  • Pan, God of the wild, shepherds and flocks, nature of mountain wilds, hunting and rustic music, and companion of the nymphs
  • Atalanta, a Greek mythic woman said to have been the daughter of the King of Arcadia

Ancient Arcadians

Ancient Olympic victors
  • Androsthenes of Maenalus, won in 420 and 416 BC
  • Euthymenes of Maenalus (wrestler), won in 400 and 392 BC

Greek War of Independence fighters

Politicians

Poets

Scientists, scholars, educators, academicians

Artists

Athletes

Other notable personalities
  • The word Arcadia has become a poetic idyllism meaning "utopia".
  • Sir Philip Sidney (1554–1586) wrote The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia, a combination of pastoral romance and poetry, for his sister, Mary Sidney. It was hugely popular for over a century.
  • In the science fiction show Doctor Who, Arcadia is the second city on The Doctor's home planet of Gallifrey
  • Arcadia is the name of a prize-winning play by Tom Stoppard (1993).
  • The Greek and Latin name Arcadius (Arkadios) was derived from "Arcadia" (see the Emperor Arcadius, the grammarian Arcadius of Antioch, the patriarch Arkadios II). From Greek it passed in Russian, Ukrainian, and other Slavic languages, where it is a common male name as Arkady or Arcady.
  • The area of the prefecture were featured in several ERT programs including documentaries on the Megalopoli Mine and Ladon Lake.
  • Marianas Trench refers to Arcadia, in their 2009–2010 song "Acadia", referring to it as a "unspoiled, harmonious wilderness".
  • The rescue boat from Resident Evil 4 - Afterlife that appears near the end of the movie is named "Arcadia" and broadcasts a recorded help message that the survivors in Los Angeles will receive. Reaching the Arcadia will become their main objective in order to avoid being attacked by more zombies.
  • The 2014 TV series Resurrection takes place in a real town, Arcadia, Missouri. The choice of setting likely is a reference to the Latin phrase Et in Arcadia ego, since the premise of the show deals with questions of life, death, and people being resurrected from the dead.
  • The Greek musician Demis Roussos released a song in 1978 titled "Lovely Lady of Arcadia".
  • The video game BioShock features a level and setting named Arcadia, which is a reference to the geography and landscape similarities.
  • The video game Life Is Strange takes place in the fictional Oregon town of Arcadia Bay.
  • On 9 August 2017 BBC 4 broadcast In search of Arcadia a television documentary featured a 12 miles (19 km) section of the River Thames.[13]
  • Tales of Arcadia is an animated trilogy series created by Guillermo del Toro[14]
  • Arkadia is one of the regions of Greece that can be conquered/defended by either Athens or Sparta in the 2018 video game Assassin's Creed Odyssey. The region is considered a principal Greek breadbasket during the ongoing Peloponnesian War.
  • Arcadia is the name of the space battleship of Captain Harlock.

See also

References
  1. 2011 Greek census
  2. Jaboshagen, V. (ed), Geologie von Griechenland… See Literature
  3. I. Mariolakos (Greek geologist) describes these special geological phenomena of Arcadia and relates them to local ancient myths. See "Literature" and "External Links"</
  4. Ford/Williams, Karst Hydrogeology…See Literature
  5. There are 45 kathavothres (! Morfis, Plate 9, 4.6.2, p. 186) in the above mentioned basins (some are inactive now)
  6. "Alexander the Great New Research: Are His Mummified Remains In Gortynia-Arkadia, Greece?". Ireport CNN. 2008-05-20. Retrieved 2013-01-06.
  7. "Alexander the Great Discovery-New Important Research Conducted in Greece". Ireport CNN. 2008-02-22. Retrieved 2013-01-06.
  8. "ΦΕΚ A 87/2010, Kallikratis reform law text" (in Greek). Government Gazette.
  9. Arcadia Portal | The news site of Arcadia
  10. tyrostsakonia.gr
  11. leonidion.gr
  12. "ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ". ΑΡΚΑΔΙΚΟΣ BC (in Greek). Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  13. "In search of Arcadia". BBC Media Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
  14. "DreamWorks Tales of Arcadia Trilogy Planned for Netflix with Trollhunters Spin-off Series". Collider. 7 November 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2018.

General and cited references
  • COST 621, Final Report, Groundwater Management of coastal karst aquifers, Brussels 2005.
  • Ford, D. C. and Williams, P., Karst Hydrogeology and Geomorphology, Chichester, 2007, 4th, rev. ed.
  • Jacobshagen, Volker (ed), Geologie von Griechenland, Beiträge zur regionalen Geologie der Erde, Stuttgart, 1986. in German/English
  • Mariolakos, Ilias. Geomythological Sites and Prehistoric geotechnical and hydraulic Works in Arkadia, 12th International Congress of the Geological Society of Greece, Field Trip Guide, Patras May 2010 in Greek
  • Morfis, A. (Athens), Zojer, H. (Graz). Karst Hydrogeology of the Central and Eastern Peloponnesus (Greece). Steirische Beiträge zur Hydrogeologie 37/38. 301 Seiten, Graz 1986.
  • Pausanias, Description of Greece, English Translation by W.H.S. Jones + H.A. Ormerod, London, 1918.
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