Ancient country, central Peloponnese , Greece.
Mountainous and landlocked, it was not overrun by the Dorian s during their occupation of Greece (1100–1000 BC). Its isolation and its pastoral character partly explain why it was represented as a paradise in Greek and Roman bucolic poetry. It was the scene of conflict during the War of Greek Independence (1821–29). The modern Greek department of Arkadhía is nearly coextensive with the ancient country.