Arcadia in the ancient sources

Ancient Sources / Figures / Arcadia

41 passages from 10 ancient authors that tell of Arcadia, in the original with English translation, author by author in the order the Greeks read them. Arcadia is the name of a region in modern-day Greece, but it was also a place of reference in ancient Greek mythology. It was located in the Peloponne... For the story in one place, read our article on Arcadia.

Hesiod (1)

Hesiod, Fragments 1.30–49Arcadia and the voyage of the ArgonautsThe first fragments name Pelasgus and Lycaon and the Arcadian sons of Lycaon. Most of the section concerns the Argo, with Phrixus and the ram, Phineus blinded for revealing the future, the Harpies, and the Argonauts' journey through Ocean and Libya.

Apollodorus (2)

Apollodorus, The Library (Bibliotheca), with the Epitome 1.8.1–6Oeneus, Meleager and the Calydonian boarOeneus of Calydon is the first to receive a vine from Dionysus, and the Fates declare that his son Meleager will die when the brand on the hearth is burnt out, so Althaea hides it. When Oeneus forgets Artemis in his sacrifices she sends a boar, and a company of heroes is gathered; Atalanta wounds it first and Meleager kills it and gives her the hide. He kills his mother's brothers, the sons of Thestius, who took it from her, and Althaea burns the brand; a second version has him fall in a war against the Curetes. The section ends with Oeneus's later marriage, Tydeus (father of Diomedes) and the revenge of Diomedes on the sons of Agrius.
Apollodorus, The Library (Bibliotheca), with the Epitome 2.5.1–6The Labours of Heracles (1-6): the Nemean Lion to the Stymphalian BirdsHeracles goes to Tiryns and serves Eurystheus, who sets him labours. He strangles the Nemean lion, kills the Lernaean hydra with Iolaus's help, takes the Cerynitian hind alive, and captures the Erymanthian boar after the fight with the centaurs at Pholus's cave, in which Chiron is wounded. He then cleans the stables of Augeas by diverting two rivers, and scares off the Stymphalian birds with Athena's castanets. Eurystheus refuses to count the hydra and the stables, because Iolaus helped and Augeas paid a wage.

Pindar (1)

Pindar, Olympian Odes 6.1–105Olympian 6: for Hagesias — Iamus, son of ApolloPindar likens the opening of his ode to the building of a hall on golden pillars and praises Hagesias of Syracuse, an Iamid and victor with the mule-car, recalling Adrastus' lament for Amphiaraüs. He tells how Euadne, loved by Apollo, hid her child Iamus among the violets, where bees' honey fed him, and how Apollo later gave him the gift of prophecy and an oracle at Olympia. He closes by sending Aeneas to praise Hera and Stymphalus, and with a prayer to Poseidon.

Aeschylus (1)

Aeschylus, Seven against Thebes 457–562Second episode: Eteoclus, Hippomedon and Parthenopaeus at the next three gatesThe Scout reports Eteoclus at the third gate, Hippomedon, who spins his huge shield, at the fourth, and Parthenopaeus of Arcadia at the fifth. For each, Eteocles names a Theban to meet him, Megareus, Hyperbius and Actor, and he says that the signs on the enemies' shields tell of their own doom.

Euripides (1)

Euripides, Trojan Women 1–47Prologue: Poseidon bids farewell to ruined TroyPoseidon, who with Phoebus built the walls of Troy, says that he has come from the Aegean to a city that lies in ruins, with its temples forsaken and Priam dead at the altar, while the Greeks carry off the spoils. He tells how the captive women are being allotted, some to Arcadia, some to Thessaly, some to the sons of Theseus, while the rest wait in the tents, and says that he bids farewell to the city, which would still stand if Pallas had not decreed its ruin. He sees Hecuba lying at the gate, and learns that Polyxena has died and that Cassandra has been taken by Agamemnon.

Apollonius Rhodius (1)

Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 1.122–233The catalogue of the Argonauts, continuedHeracles leaves the Erymanthian boar at Mycenae and joins the expedition with Hylas. The catalogue goes on with Nauplius, Idmon, Castor and Polydeuces, Idas and Lynceus, Euphemus, Meleager, and Zetes and Calais, the winged sons of Boreas, and ends with Acastus and Argus. The poet adds that the whole company was called the Minyae.

Callimachus (1)

Callimachus, Hymns 1.1–96Hymn to ZeusThe poet asks where Zeus was born, on Ida in Crete or in Arcadia, and calls the Cretans liars for building his tomb. He tells how Rhea bore Zeus in Parrhasia and washed in a spring she struck from the mountain, how the nymph Neda carried him to Crete and how the Dictaean Meliae and Adrasteia reared him on the milk of the goat Amaltheia. The hymn praises Zeus as the god who took kings for his portion, and ends with a prayer for goodness and prosperity.

Diodorus Siculus (3)

Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, Books 4 to 6 (the Greek myths) 4.34.1–4.35.4Deianeira, Meleager and the Calydonian boarHeracles settles at Calydon and marries Deïaneira, daughter of Oeneus. The chapters tell of Meleager and the Calydonian boar: his love for Atalanta, his killing of Althaea's brothers, and his mother's curse, with Oeneus's remarriage to Periboea and the birth of Tydeus.
Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, Books 4 to 6 (the Greek myths) 4.11.1–4.13.4Heracles' labours I: the first sevenHera sends a frenzy on Heracles, and in it he shoots his children by Megara; when he recovers he goes to serve Eurystheus. The chapters give the labours of the Nemean lion, the Lernaean hydra, the Erymanthian boar (with the fight against the Centaurs at the cave of Pholus), the golden-horned hind, the Stymphalian birds, the stables of Augeas, and the Cretan bull.
Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, Books 4 to 6 (the Greek myths) 4.31.1–4.33.12Heracles: servitude, Troy, Elis and SpartaAfter his labours Heracles gives Megara to Iolaüs and asks for Iole, daughter of Eurytus; he is refused, falls ill, and is told by Apollo to be sold as a slave to pay the sons of Iphitus. He then makes war on Laomedon at Troy and gives the kingdom to Priam, fights Augeas and the Eleans, and defeats the sons of Hippocoön at Sparta, restoring Tyndareüs. The section ends with Augê's secret child.

Ovid (2)

Ovid, Metamorphoses 2.401–526Callisto and ZeusZeus (Jupiter), having repaired the harm done by the fire, sees Callisto, a nymph of Arcadia who follows Artemis (Diana), and takes her by force, disguised as Artemis. When Artemis discovers her pregnancy at the bath, she drives her out, and Callisto bears a son, Arcas, and is turned into a bear by Hera (Juno). Years later Arcas meets his mother in the woods and is about to kill her with his spear when Zeus sets them both among the stars. Hera, furious, begs the sea gods not to let the Bear sink into the ocean.
Ovid, Metamorphoses 1.163–252Lycaon and the council of the godsZeus (Jupiter, 'Jove' in More's translation), grieved at the wickedness of the earth, calls a council of the gods and tells how he went to the house of Lycaon in Arcadia and found a savage king. Lycaon mocked the god, set before him human flesh and plotted to kill him in his sleep, and Zeus burned his house and turned him into a wolf. The gods approve of his plan to destroy mankind, and Zeus promises them a new race to people the earth.

Pausanias (28)

Pausanias, Description of Greece 6.21.1–11Olympia and Pisa: Demeter Chamyne, Phrixa and the suitors of HippodamiaPausanias describes the sanctuary of Demeter Chamyne opposite the hippodrome, the gymnasium and the grave of Oenomaus across the Cladeus. He then follows the boundary between Arcadia and the land of Pisa, noting the tomb of Saurus, a ruined temple of Aesculapius, and the ruined city of Phrixa with its temple of Cydonian Athena. He also mentions the grave of the horses of Marmax and the ruins of Harpina, and ends with the mound of the suitors of Hippodamia killed by Oenomaus, with the list of their names given in the Great Eoeae.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 8.1.1–6Arcadia: the land and Pelasgus, the first kingPausanias begins the account of Arcadia with the geography of the Peloponnese, in which Arcadia is the only region cut off from the sea. According to the Arcadians the first man to live in the land was Pelasgus, who became king because of his stature, valour and judgment. He is said to have taught men to build huts, to wear pigskin shirts and to eat acorns of the phegos oak, so that the Pythian priestess could call the Arcadians acorn-eaters. The country was then called Pelasgia.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 8.5.1–13Arcadia: the kings from Echemus to the stoning of AristocratesPausanias gives the succession of Arcadian kings after Lycurgus, beginning with Echemus, who killed Hyllus in single combat. Agapenor led the Arcadians to Troy and founded Paphos in Cyprus. Pausanias traces Hippothus, Aepytus and Cypselus, during whose reign the Dorians returned, and then Pompus, Aeginetes, Polymestor and Aechmis. Aristocrates violated the priestess of Artemis Hymnia and was stoned, and his grandson of the same name was stoned for taking bribes from Sparta, which ended the line of Cypselus.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 8.35.1–10Megalopolis: roads to Messenia and Lacedaemon and the ruined towns of the interiorPausanias describes the road from Megalopolis to Carnasium in Messenia, the Hermaeum 'at the Mistress' on the border, and the road to Lacedaemon, with a remark on the disputed town of Belemina. He then lists the roads into the interior and the ruined towns founded by the sons of Lycaon: Charisiae, Tricoloni with its sanctuary of Poseidon, Zoetia, Paroria, Thyraeum, Hypsus and Phalanthus. He also mentions the grave of Callisto with its sanctuary of Artemis Calliste, and the plain of Polus and Schoenus, which he links to the race-courses of Atalanta.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 8.4.1–10Arcadia: Arcas and the early kings, and AugePausanias tells how Arcas, son of Callisto, succeeded Nyctimus, introduced corn, bread-making and weaving, and gave Arcadia its name. His sons Azas, Aphidas and Elatus divided the country, and later kings include Clitor, Aepytus, who was killed by a seps, and Aleus, who built the old sanctuary of Athena Alea at Tegea. Aleus' daughter Auge had a child by Hercules, was cast adrift in a chest and married Teuthras, with her tomb at Pergamus. Aleus' son Lycurgus murdered Areithous and outlived his sons Ancaeus and Epochus.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 8.6.1–6Arcadia: military history, the mountain passes and Black AphroditePausanias summarises the Arcadians' collective history: the Trojan war, aid to the Messenians against Sparta, Plataea, reluctant service with Sparta and the move to the Theban side after Leuctra. He says they did not fight against Philip or Antipater, and were hindered from joining the stand against the Gauls by fear of Sparta. He then describes the passes into Arcadia from Argolis, the Ladder, the fountain of the Meliasts with the hall of Dionysus and the sanctuary of Black Aphrodite, and the springs of the Inachus on Mount Artemisius.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 8.17.1–6Mount Cyllene: the temple of Hermes and the white blackbirdsPausanias describes Mount Cyllene, the highest in Arcadia, with a ruined temple of Cyllenian Hermes whose image of juniper wood he judged to be about eight feet high. He lists the woods used for old images, and says the blackbirds on Cyllene are white, citing other white animals he has seen. He also mentions Mount Chelydorea, where Hermes made the first lyre from a tortoise shell, the road west from Pheneus to Clitor and Nonacris, and the cliff there called the water of the Styx.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 2.24.1–7Argos: the acropolis Larisa, Zeus with three eyes and the road to TegeaPausanias describes the acropolis Larisa and its sanctuaries of Hera, Apollo Diradiotes with his woman oracle, Athena the Sharp-sighted, and Larisian Zeus. The wooden Zeus with three eyes, once Priam’s, prompts his explanation that one Zeus rules heaven, sea and the underworld. He then follows the road to Tegea past Mount Lycone and the sanctuary of Artemis, the springs of the Erasinus on Mount Chaon, Cenchreae with its war graves, and the ruins of Hysiae.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 3.20.1–11Laconia: Therapne, Alesiae, Mount Taygetus and the road to ArcadiaPausanias describes the fountain Messeis, the Phoebaeum and the sanctuary of Earth-holding Poseidon, then Alesiae, Pharis, Bryseae, Mount Taletum and the sanctuary of Eleusinian Demeter. He explains how Helos gave its name to the Helots and mentions Lapithaeum, Dereum and Harplea. On the road to Arcadia he notes the image of Athena Parea, the Horse’s Tomb and the image of Modesty, set up by Icarius.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 4.14.1–8Between the Messenian wars: the Spartan settlement and the youth of AristomenesPausanias describes the aftermath of the first war: Ithome razed, tripods dedicated at Amyclae, land given to the Asinaeans and Androcles’ descendants, and the Messenians forced to swear submission, pay half their produce and mourn at Spartan funerals, as the verses of Tyrtaeus recall. Seeking freedom, the youth of Andania, led by Aristomenes, whose divine birth is reported, plot revolt and send word to Argos and Arcadia.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 4.23.1–10The Messenian exiles: Cyllene, Anaxilas and the conquest of ZancleAfter the fall of Ira the surviving Messenians are made Helots or flee to Cyllene, where they ask Aristomenes to lead them to a new home. He declines and sends Gorgus and Manticlus instead, while Euergetidas dies in a last raid. After a debate on Zacynthus and Sardinia, the exiles accept Anaxilas’ invitation to Italy, capture Zancle and, at the request of their leaders, spare its people, renaming the city Messene.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 4.29.1–13Messene against Demetrius, the Achaean League and the capture of PhilopoemenDemetrius son of Philip enters Messene before dawn over the wall by Ithome, but is driven out by the Messenians and the garrison, many Macedonians dying on the crags. Pausanias explains why Messene joined the Achaean League late, and reviews the Messenians’ part in aiding Megalopolis against Cleomenes, resisting Nabis, and taking Philopoemen prisoner after the Achaean invasion, a deed for which they were punished.

16 more passages of Pausanias that name Arcadia