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Arcadia is a concept originating in Greek Mythology of a land of outstanding natural beauty unspoiled by human civilisation, free of war & pain and offering boundless pleasures both spiritual and physical. In this way, it can be referred to as a utopia. It is also sometimes referred to in poetry as Arcady.
The Historical Arcadia
According to Greek mythology, Arcadia 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. It was a version of paradise, though only in the sense of being the abode of supernatural entities, not an afterlife for deceased mortals.
Dream of Arcadia, Thomas Cole
Happy Arcadia, Konstantin Makovsky
Arcadia has remained a popular artistic subject since antiquity, both in visual arts and literature. Images of beautiful nymphs frolicking in lush forests have been a frequent source of inspiration for painters and sculptors. 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). 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. The play A Midsummer's Night Dream by William Shakespeare is set within an Arcadian realm ruled by a fairy king and queen. In the 1590s Sir Philip Sidney circulated copies of his poem The Countess of Pembroke’s Arcadia, establishing Arcadia as an icon of the Renaissance.
Et in Arcadia ego by Nicolas Poussin
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Even in Arcadia, there am I... These words, issuing from the tomb, sadden their faces, and the smiles die upon their lips. |
Shepherds in Arcadia, Thomas Kirk
"Modern" usage
The concept of Arcadia 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.) However this phrase can be an anagram of I Tego Arcana Dei (Begone! I know the secrets of God). For more on this see Et in Arcadia ego (For the painting) and to a certain degree The Da Vinci Code.
See also : Greek Mythology. Paintings, Drawings
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