Arrian

Arrian of Nicomedia was a Greek historian, public servant, military commander, and philosopher who lived during the Roman period. He was born around 86 or 89 AD and lived until at least after 146 or 160 AD.

One of Arrian’s most important works is called The Anabasis of Alexander. This book is considered one of the best sources we have about the campaigns of Alexander the Great. Many scholars have valued Arrian’s writing more than other ancient sources when studying Alexander the Great, although recent studies have led some to look more closely at how Arrian wrote his history.

Arrian's life

Arrian was born in Nicomedia, which is today called İzmit, in the region of Bithynia. His family came from a well-known Greek background, and his full name, L. Flavius Arrianus, shows he was a Roman citizen for many generations.

Later in life, Arrian studied under a teacher named Epictetus in a place called Nicopolis. He wrote down Epictetus' teachings in a book called the Encheiridion. Arrian also became friends with the Roman emperor Hadrian, who chose him to serve in important positions. Around the year 130 AD, he became a consul, and from 132 AD, he governed a region called Cappadocia. During his time there, he led soldiers to stop an invasion by people called the Alani.

Works

Arrian wrote eight works that we still have today. Two of these, the Indica and the Anabasis, are complete. All of his surviving works are grouped under the name FGrH 156.

Periplus of the Euxine Sea

Main article: Periplus of the Euxine Sea

This is the earliest work we can confidently date. It is a letter to Emperor Hadrian.

Discourses of Epictetus and Enchiridion of Epictetus

Main articles: Discourses of Epictetus and Enchiridion of Epictetus

Arrian studied under Epictetus around 108 AD. He wrote down Epictetus' lectures, called the Discourses of Epictetus, because they were being shared without permission. The Enchiridion is a short guide to Epictetus' ideas, also known as a handbook.

Anabasis of Alexander

Main article: Anabasis of Alexander

The Anabasis of Alexander has seven books. Arrian based this work on Xenophon's account of Cyrus' march.

Ta met' Alexandron

This work, also called History of the Diadochi or Events after Alexander, originally had ten books. It talks about what happened after Alexander the Great died, around 323 to 321 or 319 AD.

Indica

Main article: Indica (Arrian)

The Indica is about India and the journey of Nearchus in the Persian Gulf. The first part is based on Megasthenes' work, and the second part uses Nearchus' journal.

Techne Taktike

Written in 136/137 AD, this book is about Roman cavalry and military tactics. It also talks about the phalanx and special military exercises.

Kynēgetikos

This book, also called On Hunting, is about hunting with hounds, especially the Celtic way of hunting hare with greyhounds.

Ektaxis kata Alanon

This work, meaning Deployment against the Alani, talks about how to fight against the Alani people. Arrian wrote it after successfully defending against their attack while he was governor of Cappadocia.

Sources, transmission, translations and publications

We know about Arrian mostly from a book called Bibliotheca written by Photius in the 9th century, and from a few mentions in Arrian's own writings. Other writers like Suidas, Arnobius, Aulus Gellius, and Pliny the Younger also talked about him.

Later, people translated Arrian's work into different languages. In 1663 and 1668, a man named Nicholas Blancard made translations. In 1809, William Vincent, who was Dean of Westminster, translated the stories of Nearchus and the Periplus of the Erythrean Sea from Greek. Vincent also wrote a commentary about these stories in 1797.