Arcadia occupies the central mountainous Peloponnese and in ancient times its area was even larger, since Arcadia was considered to be the whole mountainous Peloponnese. According to mythology, the founder of Arcadia was Lykaon, son of Pelasgos and the nymph Kyllini, who founded the first city that the sun “saw” on earth. This was Lykosoura, at the foot of Lykaion, the holy mountain of the Arcadians who faced this mountain, with awe. They believed that in Lykaeon the matter was losing its shade by overthrowing every reasonable explanation of the natural phenomena. They also believed, along with many other Greeks, that Zeus was born on the mountain of light, Lycaeon, and that the nymphs Neda, Thiesoa and Agno, nursed him and washed him on the river Lousios.
Pan, the god of nature and fertility, protector of the shepherds, was born in the rugged mountains of Arcadia. He was constantly wandering in the forests and rivers of the Peloponnese, chasing Arcadian nymphs with intense erotic mood or playing his souravli.
In a cave of Mount Killini the shy Pleiad Mea, one of the seven daughters of Atlas, gave birth to god Hermes, as a result of her union with Zeus.
With these peculiar mythological beliefs, Arcadia became synonymous with a wealthy utopia, a place of peace and harmony, a dream country where a man could live without worries, meditating in the midst of a hedonistic dream. This bucolic archetypal has passed into the history of Western art and the world of ideas in many forms and expressions and became a theme of Baroque and neo-classical painters, with the most characteristic work that of the paintings of Nicolas Poussin “The shepherds of Arcadia” with the mystical inscription ET IN ARCADIA EGO.
Inclusions
Accommodation 5 overnight stays in Hotel, hostel, camping, monastery, shelter, guesthouse |
Meals • 5 breakfasts |
Transportation • Minivan |
Activities Included • |
Entrance fees included • |
Exclusions
Museum Tickets and Archaeological SitesDrinks and soft drinks (except the above)
Gratuites (optional)
Available departure dates
Departing
Finishing
All year round
Upon request