Arcadia
the classical name of middle Peloponnesus, now forming the modern province of Arkadia, in the Morea, Greece. It occupies a high tableland having on the N., Achaia, E., Argolis, W., Elis, and, on the S., Laconia and Messenia. Area 1,600 square miles. It is intersected by mountain ranges, some of which are very lofty, and contains plains of some extent. Its principal river is the Roufia (Alpheus), the largest in the Morea. Lake Stymphalus, of classic mention, is found here. The inhabitants still retain their primitive mode of life as shepherds, pursuing a migratory existence. Chief towns, Tripolitza, Londari, Karitena, etc. Many interesting ruins are seen here, among them the remains of the cities of Phigaleia, Megalopolis, and Pallantium. Pop. about 175,000. From its first inhabitants, the Pelasgi, the land derived the name Pelasgia. In later times it was divided among the 50 sons of Lycaon into kingdoms, and re- ARCH ceived from Arcas the name Arcadia. In the course of time the small kingdoms made themselves free, and formed a confederacy. The principal were Mantinea, where Epaminondas obtained a victory and a tomb (now the village of Mondi), Tega (now Tripolitza), Orchomenus, Phenus, Psophis, and Megalopolis. Their chief deity was Pan; their chief business, the breeding of cattle and agriculture.
This occasioned the pastoral poets to select Arcadia for the theater of their fables. a ARCESILAUS (ar-ses-ē-lā'us), Greek philosopher, founder of the New Academy, was born at Pitane in Æolia, Asia Minor, 316 в. c. He ultimately became the head of the academic school or those who held the doctrines of Plato; but he introduced so many innovations that its philosophic character was completely changed in the direction of scepticism. His great rivals were the Stoics. He denied the Stoical doctrine of knowledge, which he affirmed to be, from its very nature, unintelligible and contradictory. He also denied the existence of any sufficient criterion of truth, such as the "irresistible conviction" of the Stoics, and recommended abstinence from all dogmatic judgments. He died in 241 B. C.