Arcadia
Last updated 2026-09-05
Arcadia or Great Arcadia was an ancient civilization that existed before the War of Funerary Flame in Mondstadt. Alongside other civilizations during the time of the Three Moons, such as Sal Vindagnyr, Lang-Gan and Hyperborea, they made offerings to the moons.[1][2]
Arcadia was established in the vast oak forests of Mondstadt, between what are now Windrest Peak, Windrise and Windwail Highland, as part of Teyvat's unified civilization. Arcadian civilization was composed of multiple city-states,[3] with the holy city of Arcadia serving as its capital. One of these city-states included Elysium,[4] located at Windrest Peak and controlled by the Gunnhildr Clan.[5]
During Kaeya's Story Quest, Pavo Ocellus Chapter: Act I - Secret Pirate Treasure, Kaeya tricked the Traveler into exploring some "Lost Arcadian Ruins" in search of a legendary sword that had supposedly belonged to his grandfather. In actuality, this Treasure Hunt was merely a ploy to lure in a group of Treasure Hoarders by making them follow the Traveler into the ruins.[6]
Arcadia was also mentioned by Mary-Ann in passing during the World Quest Rowboat's Wake.
History
Arcadia, the eternal holy city, was known as a land without sorrow, where hunger and barrenness were unknown. Favored by the heavens and exalted and blessed by the thousand winds, its people lived in a paradise of abundance, surrounded by vast oakwoods capable of withstanding even the fiercest storms and harshest winters.[7][8] According to legend, its high priest was granted the authority to lead the city by its divine envoy, who bestowed upon them the Golden Bough of Nemorensis.[9] Arcadia was composed of several city-states, one of which was Elysium, built north of Arcadia, where the Temple of Space was also constructed.[4] Elysium was controlled by the Gunnhildr Clan,[5] scions of the hallowed line.[7]
The people of Arcadia once worshipped both Istaroth and Asmoday.[7] They built the Thousand Winds Temple, dedicated to the Master of Time, and the Temple of Space, dedicated to the Master of Space, which were once connected to each other. After a disaster, the Temple of Space was lifted into the heavens, where its presence and shadow were concealed from the world. During the temple's halcyon days, its god was never present; only after the temple's destruction did Asmoday's gaze briefly fall upon it, transforming it into what it's today. From that moment onward, it served as a silent watchtower overlooking the world and was designated by Asmoday as "Segment-Domain Tau." Meanwhile, the ruins left behind on the surface were eventually expanded and transformed into a sanatorium.[10]
Eventually, the prosperity promised by the gods kindled the flame of intellect, which in turn stirred the whispers of doubt and incurred the wrath of the heavens.[8] When faced with humanity's questions, the divine envoys uttered no word. In search of answers, the people turned their gazes toward the Three Moons, receiving revelations that the gods themselves would not provide. Thus, within the sacred groves of Arcadia, golden boughs were gathered from oakwood as offerings to the bright moons.[1][11] The people of Arcadia particularly worshipped Canon, the original goddess of the Frost Moon, whom they revered under the name Prusmene.[2]
The Arcadians believed that the glory of their holy city would endure for all time. However, that age came to an abrupt end with the outbreak of the War of Funerary Flame, when "Eternity" itself reached its end. An unknown calamity devastated the nation, and Arcadia was ultimately entombed by Death,[3][9] burying the ancient civilization beneath an endless winter.[7] The civilization eventually collapsed, and the Thousand Winds Temple fell into ruin..[10]
Hoping to save his homeland, Gunnhildr, the Knight of the Golden Bough, embarked on a long journey across the frozen wastes in search of the legendary Golden Bough, which was said to restore Arcadia's lost glory. After a long pilgrimage, the knight arrived at another sacred grove that had survived the calamity. No priests or divine envoys remained to tend the white tree. Instead, it was watched over by a self-proclaimed fae king known as the Jack Frost King, a guardian bound to an ancient and fading command who tested all who approached with riddles and impossible trials. After enduring every challenge without being granted access to the heart of the grove, the knight challenged the Jack Frost King to a duel. Upon defeating him, the knight requested the Golden Bough in hopes of restoring Arcadia. However, after the battle, the knight discovered that the Golden Bough had long since withered, its divine blessings having vanished long before, leaving it incapable of fulfilling the purpose for which it had been sought. The Jack Frost King never understood this loss and continued to guard the sacred tree, believing it remained hallowed ground.[7]
Realizing that Arcadia could never be restored, the Knight of the Golden Bough abandoned all hope of reviving the lost paradise. He journeyed south, and in the years that followed, gathered the surviving Arcadians who were willing to leave their ruined capital behind. He eventually led them to the high tower where the wicked dragon had once been cast down, seeking refuge under Decarabian, the God of Storms.[7][12]
Trivia
- It's possible that the high priest of Arcadia, to whom a divine envoy bestowed the Golden Bough of Nemorensis,[9] was an ancestor of the Gunnhildr Clan. This may be related to the fact that Gunnhildr was known as the Knight of the "Golden Bough", which could imply that he wielded the same sword, and that he and his descendants belonged to the "hallowed lineage" of Arcadia.[7]
Etymology
- Arcadia (Greek: Ἀρκαδία Arkadía) is a region in the center of the Peloponnese Peninsula in Greece, with the name deriving from Arcas, one of the many children of Zeus. "Arcadia" as a word is also often used to describe a pastoral utopia of unspoiled nature.
Other Languages
| Language | Official Name |
|---|---|
| English | Arcadia |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 阿卡狄亚 Ākǎdíyà |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 阿卡狄亞 Ākǎdíyà |
| Japanese | アルカディア Arukadia |
| Korean | 아카디아 Akadia |
| Spanish | Arcadia |
| French | Arcadia |
| Russian | Аркадия Arkadiya |
| Thai | Arcadia |
| Vietnamese | Arcadia |
| German | Arcadia |
| Indonesian | Arcadia |
| Portuguese | Arcadia |
| Turkish | Arkadya |
| Italian | Arcadia |
Change History
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Artifact, Aubade of Morningstar and Moon: Moonlit Offering's Libation
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 World Quest, The Unmanned Vessel, Part 3: The Unmanned Vessel (II)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Subarea: Pillar Hall Central Zone#Arcadia, the Entombed Capital
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Blessing Domain Entrance Description: Thorny Crown of the Mountain Wind
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 NPC Dialogue: Hannelore
- ↑ Story Quest, Kaeya, Pavo Ocellus Chapter: Act I - Secret Pirate Treasure, Part 3: Kaeya's Gain
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 Weapon: Golden Frostbound Oath
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Artifact, Prayers for Wisdom: Tiara of Thunder
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Weapon: Golden Bough of Nemorensis - Sublimation
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Loading Screen Tip: Temple of Space
- ↑ Artifact, Aubade of Morningstar and Moon: Moonlit Offering's Opulent Dream
- ↑ Artifact, A Day Carved From Rising Winds: Heldenepos's Unspoken Tale
Let alone the God King himself, whose might could sever frost and snow, cleave mountains asunder with winds of wrath, and fell drakes with a single arrow.
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