Arcadia

Arcadia, region of ancient Greece

Arcadia (ärkā`dēə), region of ancient Greece, in the middle of the Peloponnesus, without a seaboard, and surrounded and dissected by mountains. The Arcadians, relatively isolated from the rest of the world, lived a proverbially simple and natural life. By far the largest city was megalopolis, founded by Epaminondas. It had some political power, especially in the Arcadian League, but Arcadia as a whole was of little political significance. The independent mountaineers periodically fought against Spartan power, but did not cooperate well. Other cities were Mantinea, Tegea, Orchomenus, and Heraea.

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Arcadia, city, United States

Arcadia, city (1990 pop. 48,290), Los Angeles co., S Calif., a residential suburb of Los Angeles, at the foot of the San Gabriel Mts.; inc. 1903. Manufactures include electronic equipment, fabricated metal products, pharmaceuticals, furniture, motors, and machinery. The Santa Anita racetrack and an arboretum are there.

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Arcadia

Ancient country, central Peloponnese, Greece. Mountainous and landlocked, it was not overrun by the Dorians during their occupation of Greece (1100–1000 BC). Its isolation and its pastoral character partly explain why it was represented as a paradise in Greek and Roman bucolic poetry. It was the scene of conflict during the War of Greek Independence (1821–29). The modern Greek department of Arkadhía is nearly coextensive with the ancient country.

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Arcadia

mountainous region of ancient Greece; legendary for pastoral innocence of people. [Gk. Hist.: NCE, 136; Rom. Lit.: Eclogues; Span. Lit.: Arcadia]

See : Pastoralism