Arcadia

1694. The great historical, geographical and poetical dictionary by Louis Moreri.

Arcadia, a Province of Peloponnesus, now call'd Traconia, bounded with the Country of Argos to the East, Elis to the West, Achaia Propria to the North, and Messenia to the South. It was first call'd Pelasgria from Pelasgus K. of the Country, afterwards Arcadia from Areas Son of Jupiter and Calisto It's chief Towns are Megalopolis, Mantimee, famous for the Battel fought by the Thebeans commanded by Epaminondas, against the Lacedemonians, which last kill'd 10000 Arcadians, about the 386th of Rome, without the loss of one Man of their side, and sometime after they drew all Greece upon 'em for their Sacrilege in plundering the Temple of Jupiter Olympicus. This Country has been these 280 years under the Turks, till of late it was regain'd by the Venetians, with the rest of the Peloponesus. This Country was govern'd by Kings until about A. M. 3210, when Aristocrates their K. being engaged in a bloody War with the Lacedemonians, kill'd himself at his Daughters Tomb. The Country is Mountanous and Woody, but fruitful in Corn and Pasturage, and abounds with Springs, Lakes, Pools, and Rivers; the People are valiant and Warlike. Polybius. Pausanias.