SECTION XXI. ARCADIA. Origin and history of the Arcadians-Geographical features of their country-Its limits, population, and topography. WHILE every other part of the Peloponnesus was disturbed by various revolutions, which produced frequent changes among its inhabitants, the Arcadians had remained in quiet possession of the same country from time immemorial; hence their boast of being sprung from the earth, and their claim to an antiquity which exceeded that of the moon. ̓Αρκάδες, οἳ καὶ πρόσθε Σεληναίης ὑδέονται APOLL. RHOD. IV. 264. (Cf. Herod. VIII. 73. Thuc. I. 2. Xen. Hell. VII. 1. 12. Pausan. Arcad. 1. et 38. Strab. VIII. p. 388. Ovid. Fast. II. 290. Steph. Byz. v. 'Apkás. Schol. Apoll. Rh. ad loc. cit. Eustath. Dionys. Perieg. 414.) The earth-born Pelasgus was reported to have been the first sovereign of the Arcadians, a tradition which evidently connects them with the Pelasgic race. (Pausan. Arcad. 1. Herod. I. 146.) But as this chief was equally claimed by the Argives, the priority of the two nations is left undetermined. I am inclined, however, to give precedence to the Ar give Pelasgus, that is, provided we may understand by Argos Pelasgicum Thessaly, and not the Peloponnesian city. (Cf. Dion. Hal. Ant. Rom. I. 27. seq. Pausan. Arcad. 1.) I have elsewhere noticed the pretended Arcadian migrations into Italy, and concur with Heyne in supposing that this people, having preserved earlier traditions of the Pelasgic expeditions than the other tribes of that nation, referred to their own peculiar clan what in fact belonged to the parent race b. The Arcadians, though divided into a number of petty tribes and districts, appear to have been originally governed by one superior chief; since Homer has placed their warriors in the Trojan war under the sole command of Agapenor the son of Ancæus; and adds that they had been supplied with ships by Agamemnon: πολέες δ ̓ ἐν νηῒ ἑκάστῃ ̓Αρκάδες ἄνδρες ἔβαινον ἐπιστάμενοι πολέμοιο. IL. B. 610. Pausanias also gives a long list of the Arcadian kings, which he professes to have been the result of diligent researches made in the country. (Arcad. 5.) Arcadia presents but few features to the historian who is desirous of connecting the disjointed accounts which its records present. Some of the Arcadian states, such as Mantinea and Tegea, occupy a conspicuous place in the annals of Greece, and are often seq. a Anc. Italy, vol. II. p. 295. p. 250. Opusc. Academ. II. p. b Heyne ad Apollod. Observ. 312. mentioned both in the course of the Persian and Peloponnesian wars; but the great body of the nation seems to have taken no decided part in those contests: Thucydides indeed affirms, that in the famous Sicilian expedition the troops of this nation were to be found in the ranks of both armies. (VII. 57.) The poverty of their country, added to the greatness of its population, contributed in fact to render this hardy race of mountaineers soldiers of fortune, ready to offer their services to those who needed, and could reward them. It was not till after the battle of Leuctra that we find the Arcadians assuming some degree of political importance. Tegea and Mantinea, the two most considerable states of the nation, which the Spartans had so long held in subjection, were enabled by the successes of the Thebans to emancipate themselves from a foreign yoke, and finally to unite into one body the hitherto dismembered parts of the Arcadian commonwealth. A new city was now built in the south-western part of the province under the name of Megalopolis, where the general council of the nation was convened. This assembly was so numerous as to receive the appellation of of μúpio. It was deputed by μύριοι. the whole mass of the people, and possessed judicial and executive powers. (Xen. Hell. VII. I. 26. Pausan. Arcad. 32. Diod. Sic. XV. 496. Demosth. de Fals. Legat. p. 344. Cf. Harpocr. v. Múpio.) This important change in the constitution was chiefly effected by the influence of Epaminondas and the other Boeotian leaders, who sought by this means to diminish the power and influence of Sparta in the Peloponnesus. Nor was their expectation frustrated; for such was the spirit infused into the minds of the Arcadians by the exhortations and counsels of Lycomedes, a person of the highest rank and character amongst them, that they became the decided enemies of that power, and, as Xenophon reports, the bravest soldiers of their time. They successfully repulsed all the invasions of the Spartans, succoured the Argives, and obtained some important advantages in their incursions into Laconia. "Neither night, nor "storm, nor length of journey, nor mountains, how"ever impracticable," says the historian, "being able "to put a stop to their enterprises." (Hell. VII. 1, 12. seq. Diod. Sic. XV. c. 67.) They were also frequently engaged in hostilities with the Eleans on account of some Triphylian towns to which they laid claim, (Hell. VII. 4, 12.) and made many incursions into the enemy's country, which were generally attended with success. (Hell. VII. 4, 14. seq.) On one occasion, however, they sustained, in conjunction with the Argives, a severe defeat from the Lacedæmonians commanded by Archidamus; 10,000 of the allies having fallen in this action without the loss of a single life to their adversaries. From which circumstance that engagement acquired at Sparta the name of the tearless battle. (Hell. VII. 1, 18. seq. Plut. Ages. c. 33.) During the troubles that disturbed Greece after the death of Alexander many of the Arcadian cities fell into the hands of tyrants; but the Achæan league, having now, through the exertions of Aratus, acquired great stability and influence, they gladly joined the confederacy; and under its protection were enabled to maintain their liberties against the Lacedæmonian tyrants, the Etolians, and the Macedonian kings. After the death of Aratus, Megalopolis in fact became the leading city of the league, till its final dissolution by the Romans. (Pausan. Arcad. 6. 27. seq. Polyb. II. 44. seq. Plut. Philopom.) In Strabo's time the principal towns of Arcadia had fallen into decay, and the whole country was greatly impoverished, and almost deserted. The natural resources of this district consisted chiefly in its rich pastures, which fed a breed of horses equal to those of Argos and Epidaurus. (VIII. p. 388.) This province occupies the central portion of Peloponnesus, and is enclosed on all sides by lofty mountains, which form its natural boundaries. On the north it is separated from Achaia by the elevated summit of mount Cyllene, extending from the borders of Phliasia in Argolis to the chain of Erymanthus, Scollis and Pholoe on the confines of Elis. From this point another ridge forms the western boundary, dividing Arcadia from the latter province and Triphylia, and uniting on the right bank of the Neda and on the confines of Messenia with those mountains which form the southern belt of Arcadia; these, under the names of Lycæus, Cerausius, and Mænalus, run from east to west along the Messenian and Laconian frontiers as far as the borders of Argolis and Cynuria, where they join mount Parthenius. This last mountain, together with Artemisium, closes the periphery of the province on the eastern frontier by reuniting itself with the Stymphalian hills, and the more elevated range of Cyllene. Within this great quadrangular bason other secondary ridges branch off and intersect each other in various directions, forming several minor valleys, the waters of which, however, all finally discharge themselves into the Alpheus before it enters the Elean territory. Arcadia was next |