Arcadia refers to a vision of
pastoralism and harmony with
nature. The term is derived from the
Greek province of the same name which dates to
antiquity; the province's mountainous topography and sparse population of pastoralists later caused the word
Arcadia to develop into a poetic byword for an idyllic vision of unspoiled wilderness. Arcadia is a poetic shaped space associated with bountiful natural splendor and harmony. The 'Garden' is often inhabited by
shepherds. The concept also figures in Renaissance
mythology. Commonly thought of as being in line with
Utopian ideals, Arcadia differs from that tradition in that it is more often specifically regarded as unattainable. Furthermore, it is seen as a lost,
Edenic form of life, contrasting to the progressive nature of
Utopian desires.