Writing: Ioannis Petropoulos, Associate Professor of Ancient Greek Literature, Democritus University of Thrace

The geographical region of Arcadia which, by the way, did not have access to the sea in ancient times, gave birth to one of the most enduring and fertile myths in the history of the West: the myth of a georgic and pastoral paradise where, among others, social harmony, congenial nudity, reciprocal love, piety and usually automatic fruition prevailed. What a blissful life! Blissful Arcadia!
Arcadia was a mysterious, primitive land - the birthplace of "Lykaios Zeus" and his prehistoric predecessor, Panos (cloven-hoofed and horned), and generally the homeland of theriomorphic divinity, such as Demeter Melaina (horse-like with serpentine hair) - and an unusual space-time connected to ritualistic cannibalism and lycanthropy. Paradoxically, it was also a stable source for mercenaries from the 5th century B.C., later feeding the armies of Alexander the Great and the Venetian fleet during the Middle Ages. However, since the 3rd century B.C., the real Arcadian shepherds (who were not renowned for their literary cultivation) have been transformed into eloquent, passionate, elegant protagonists particularly for poets Theocritus and Virgil, and later for Italian, Spanish, English and French bucolic poetry, even inspiring statements by Marie Antionette and painters like Poussin and Gauguin.
The myth of blissful Arcadia captures a geographical region, but also constitutes a foremost "spiritual region" (according to Ancient Hellenist, Bruno Snell). Nobody would be more appropriate to trace, step by step, the region and the myth and its reception (among modifications) than Pedro Olalla and his interdisciplinary team, which includes his Latinist wife, Rozario Carilho. Olalla is also celebrated for his mythological atlas (the publication of which was sponsored by the Onassis Foundation in 2001). This book is a treasure trove of photographs that frame a splendidly documented - from a literary perspective - text. According to the author, Arcadia was not a utopia - which would require assessment - but a eutopia beyond beguiling that over the centuries, however, was often considered attainable. A particular merit of the book is the in depth and comprehensible analysis of the reception of this myth by the less well-read in Greece (alas!) 16th century Latin authors and Spanish literary figures. Yet again, Pedro Olalla proves to be the par excellence literary traveller - a tranquil, unwearying conquistador - of the Ancient Greek mythic-geographical place.