A-Z: General definitions: Arcadia

Definition

Wild centre of the Peloponnese. Became idealised as the perfect setting of pastoral poetry, as in Vergil. The pastoral ideal has been influential in poetry and painting. A well-known Latin tag is, 'Et in Arcadia ego.' This can mean, 'I too once lived in Arcady,' but is usually taken to be spoken by death: 'Death is found even in Arcady,' meaning death is universal.

Related Topics

Erymanthean