Arrian

Arrian of Nicomedia (; Greek: ''Arrianos''; la, Lucius Flavius Arrianus; )

was a Greek historian, public servant, military commander and philosopher of the Roman period.

'' The Anabasis of Alexander'' by Arrian is considered the best source on the campaigns of Alexander the Great. Scholars have generally preferred Arrian to other extant primary sources; though this attitude is beginning to change in light of modern studies into Arrian's method.

Arrian's life

Arrian was born in Nicomedia (present-day İzmit), the provincial capital of Bithynia. Cassius Dio called him Flavius Arrianus Nicomediensis. In respect of his birth date, sources provide similar dates for his birth; within a few years prior to 90, 89, and 85–90 AD. The line of reasoning for dates belonging to 85–90 AD is from the fact of Arrian being made a consul around 130 AD, and the usual age for this, during this period, being forty-two years of age. (ref. pp. 312, & SYME 1958, ''same page''). His family was from the Greek provincial aristocracy, and his full name, ''L. Flavius Arrianus'', indicates that he was a Roman citizen, suggesting that the citizenship went back several generations, probably to the time of the Roman conquest some 170 years before.

Sometime during the 2nd century AD (117 to 120 AD) while in Epirus, probably Nicopolis, Arrian attended lectures of Epictetus of Nicopolis, and proceeded within a time to fall into his pupillage, a fact attested to by Lucian. All that is known about the life of Epictetus is due to Arrian, in that Arrian left an ''Encheiridion'' (''Handbook'') of Epictetus' philosophy. After Epirus he went to Athens, and while there he became known as the ''young Xenophon'' as a consequence of the similarity of his relation to Epictetus as Xenophon had to Socrates.

For a period, some time about 126 AD, he was a friend of the emperor Hadrian, who appointed him to the Senate. He was appointed to the position '' consul suffectus'' around 130 AD, and then, in 132 AD (although Howatson shows 131), he was made prefect or legate (governor) of Cappadocia by Hadrian, a service he continued for six years. The historian Cassius Dio, states that not long after the Bar Kokhba revolt in Judea had been quelled, in 135 AD, King Pharasmanes II of Iberia caused the Alani to invade neighbouring territories, including Cappadocia where their advance was robustly halted by Arrian's legions.

A second war was begun by the Alani (they are Massagetae) at the instigation of Pharasmanes. It caused dire injury to the Albanian territory and Media, and then involved Armenia and Cappadocia; after which, as the Alani were not only persuaded by gifts from Vologaesus but also stood in dread of Flavius Arrianus, the governor of Cappadocia, it came to a stop.

Arrian referred to himself as ''the second Xenophon'', on account of his reputation and the esteem in which he was held. Lucian stated him to be:

This quality is identified as paideia (παιδεία) which is the quality considered to be of one who is known as an educated and learned personage, i.e., one who is highly esteemed and important.

Works

There are eight extant works (cf. Syvänne, footnote of p. 260). The Indica and the Anabasis are the only works completely intact. His entire remaining oeuvre is known as ''FGrH 156'' to designate those collected fragments which exist.

''Periplus of the Euxine Sea''

This work is the earliest extant work that is dated with any confidence. It is a writing addressed to the Emperor Hadrian.

''Discourses of Epictetus'' and ''Enchiridion of Epictetus''

Arrian was a pupil of Epictetus around 108 AD, and, according to his own account, he was moved to publish his notes of Epictetus' lectures, which are known as '' Discourses of Epictetus'', by their unauthorized dissemination. According to George Long, Arrian noted from Epictetus' lectures for his private use and some time later made of these, the ''Discourses''. Photius states that Arrian produced two books the ''Dissertations'' and the ''Discourses''. The Discourses are also known as ''Diatribai'' and are apparently a verbatim recording of Epictetus' lectures. (... ''Enchiridion a summary of the Discourses'')

The '' Enchiridion'' is a short compendium of all Epictetus' philosophical principles. It is also known as a handbook, and A Mehl considers the ''Enchiridion'' to have been a '' vade mecum'' for Arrian. The ''Enchiridion'' is apparently a summary of the Discourses. (ed. this the first source for < History of the Diadochi >)

JB Stockdale considered that Arrian wrote eight books of which four were lost by the Middle Ages and the remaining ones became the ''Discourses''. In a comparison of the contents of the ''Enchiridion'' with the ''Discourses'', it is apparent that the former contains material not present within the latter, suggesting an original lost source for the ''Enchiridion''.

''Homiliai Epiktetou''

''Friendly conversations with Epictetus'' (''Homiliai Epiktetou'') is a 12 book work mentioned by Photius in his ''Bibliotheca'', of which only fragments remain.

''Anabasis of Alexander''

The ''Anabasis of Alexander'' comprises seven books. Arrian used Xenophon's account of the March of Cyrus as the basis for this work.

''Ta met' Alexandron''

''History of the Diadochi'' or ''Events after Alexander'' is a work originally of ten books; a commentary on this work was written by Photius (FW Walbank, p. 8). (p. 156 footnote 4 is the location of < Ta met' Alexandron >.

Three extant fragments are the ''Vatican Palimpsest'' (of the 10th century AD), PSI 12.1284 (Oxyrhynchus), and the ''Gothenburg palimpsest'' (of the 10th century also), these possibly stemming originally from Photius.

The writing is about the successors of Alexander the Great, circa 323 – 321 or 319.

''Parthica''

A lost work of seventeen books, fragments of ''Parthica'' were maintained by the Suda and Stephen of Byzantium. The work survives only in adaptations made later by Photius and Syncellus. Translated, the title is ''History of the Parthians''. Arrian's aim in the work was to set forth events of the Parthian war of Trajan. The writing mentioned that the Parthians trace their origins to Artaxerxes II.Encyclopædia Iranica">

''Bithyniaca''

A work of eight books, ''Bibliotheca'' (via Photius) states it is the fourth to have been written by Arrian.

''Nicomediensis Scripta minora''

A work translated ''a Nicodemian script (minor)''.

''Indica''

''Indica'' is a work on a variety of things pertaining to India, and the voyage of Nearchus in the Persian Gulf. The first part of ''Indica'' was based largely on the work of the same name of Megasthenes, the second part based on a journal written by Nearchus. (ed. this source used for < Ινσικη >)

''Techne Taktike''

Written 136/137 AD (in the 20th year of Hadrian), ''Techne Taktike'' is a treatise on Roman cavalry and military tactics, and includes information on the nature, arms and discipline of the phalanx. The ''hippika gymnasia'' is a particular concern of Arrian in the treatise.

Another translation of the title is ''Ars tactica'', which, in Greek, is Τέχνη τακτική.

This work has generally been considered in large part a panegyric to Hadrian, written for the occasion of his ''vicenallia'', although some scholars have argued that its second half may have had practical use.

''Kynēgetikos''

''Cynegeticus'' (Κυνηγετικός), translated as ''A treatise on hunting with hounds'', ''On Hunting'', or ''On Coursing'', is a work about the Celtic sport of coursing hare with sighthounds, specifically the Celtic greyhounds: in Greek (plural) ''ouertragoi'', in Latin (plural) ''vertragi''.

The work was inspired by and designed as an addition to the an earlier exposition made by Xenophon, whom Arrian recognised
to be the Ancient Greek authority on the subject of hunting with scent hounds.

''Ektaxis kata Alanon''

''Ektaxis kata Alanon'' (Ἔκταξις κατὰ Ἀλανῶν) is a work of a now fragmentary nature; the title is translated as ''Deployment against the Alani'' or ''The order of battle against the Alans'' or referred to simply as ''Alanica''. It is thought not have been written as a presentation of facts but for literary reasons. Pertaining to the relevant historical facts, though, while governor of Cappadocia, Arrian repelled an invasion of the Alani sometime during 135 AD, a struggle in which Arrian's two legions were victorious. (the word < Deployment > in search criteria was taken from J. E. Lendon , p. 267)

Within the work, Arrian explicitly identified the particular means of pursuing warfare as being based on Greek methods.J. E. Lendon
Soldiers & Ghosts: A History of Battle in Classical Antiquity
Yale University Press, 2006 [Retrieved 2015-04-04(ed. ascertained Lendon' – ''Deployment'' a
this
Oxford Dictionaries
explicitexplicate
Oxford University Press [Retrieved 2015-04-04]ICRC
Methods and means of warfare – 29-10-2010 Overview
etrieved 2015-04-04(ed. used for clarity on concept < method of war > in J. E. Lendon)

''Ektaxis kata Alanon'' is also translated as ''Acies contra Alanos''. The work was known for a time as ''A History of the Alani'' (''Alanike'' via Photius). A fragment describing a plan of battle against the Alani was found in Milan around the 17th century which was thought at that time to belong to the ''History''.

Biographical series

There were also a number of monographs or biographies, including of Dion of Syracuse, Timoleon of Corinth, and Tilliborus, a brigand or robber of Asia Minor, which are now lost.

Sources, transmission, translations and publications

Everything known of his life derives from the 9th century writing of Photius in his ''Bibliotheca'', and from those few references which exist within Arrian's own writings. The knowledge of his consulship, is derived at the least from literature produced by Suidas. Arnobius (c. 3rd century AD) mentions Arrian. Arrian was also known of by Aulus Gellius. Pliny the Younger addressed seven of his epistles to him. Simplicius made a copy of the Encheridion, which was transmitted under the name of the monastic father Nilus during the 5th century, and as a result found in every monastery library. (information was also retrieved during the 5th and 6th of April 2015)

Nicholas Blancard made translations of Arrian in 1663 and 1668.

The voyage of Nearchus and ''Periplus of the Erythrean Sea'' were translated from the Greek by the then Dean of Westminster, William Vincent, and published in 1809. Vincent published a commentary in 1797 on ''The voyage of Nearchus''. The work was also translated into French by M. Billecocq, under the auspices of the government (cf. p. 321).The British Critic: A New Review, Volume 34
F. and C. Rivington, 1810 etrieved 2015-04-02/ref>

References

Further reading

* Arrian, ''The Campaigns of Alexander'', translated by Aubrey de Sélincourt, Penguin Classics, 1958 and numerous subsequent editions.
* Phillips, A.A., and M.M. Willcock (eds.). ''Xenophon and Arrian On Hunting with Hounds''. ''Cynegeticus''. Oxford: Aris & Phillips, 1999. .
* P. A. Stadter, ''Arrian of Nicomedia'', Chapel Hill, 1980.
* R. Syme, 'The Career of Arrian', ''Harvard Studies in Classical Philology'' vol. 86 (1982), pp. 171–211.
* E. L. Wheeler, ''Flavius Arrianus: a political and military biography'', Duke University, 1977.nn
*
* Yardley, J. & Heckel, W. (2004) ''The History of Alexander'', Penguin, London, pp. 5 & 269.
* Brodersen, K. (2017) ''Arrianos / Asklepiodotos: Die Kunst der Taktik.'' Greek and German, De Gruyter, Berlin. .
* Campbell, Duncan B. (2022) ''Deploying a Roman Army: The Ektaxis kat' Alanôn of Arrian.'' Greek and English, Quirinus Editions, Glasgow. .

External links

*
*

LiviusArrian of Nicomedia
by Jona Lendering

''Arrian On Coursing: the Cynegeticus'' William Dansey 1831

Arrianus's voyage round the Euxine Sea: translated and accompanied with a geographical dissertation and maps

;Texts online
* Collected works:
Flavii Arriani quae exstant omnia
', A. G. Roos (ed.), 2 vols., Lipsiae, in aedibus B. G. Teubneri, 1967–68.
* Arrian
Anabasis Alexandri
Teubner monolingual Greek edition, edited by A.G. Roos (1907)
* Arrian
Anabasis Alexandri
translated by E.J. Chinnock (1893)
* Arrian, Anabasis Alexandri
(section 1.13–16) (pdf, pp. 18–19)
Battle of Granicus, from the Loeb Classical Library edition.
* Arrian, Anabasis Alexandri
(section 4.18.4–19.6)
, Sogdian Rock, translated by Aubrey de Sélincourt
* Arrian, Anabasis Alexandri
(Section 7.5.1–16)
, translated by John Yardley
* Arrian
Cynegeticus
translated and edited by William Dansey (1831)
* Arrian

(from Photius' ''Bibliotheca'') translated by John Rooke, edited by Tim Spalding
* Arrian

translated by E. Iliff Robson.
* Arrian

(Ἔκταξις κατὰ Ἀλανῶν) translated by Sander van Dorst, with the Greek (transliterated) and copious notes.
* Photius

of Arrian's ''Anabasis'', translated by J. S. Freese
* Photius

of Arrian's ''Bithynica'', translated by J. S. Freese
* Photius

of Arrian's ''Parthica'', translated by J. S. Freese
* Photius

of Arrian's ''Events after Alexander'', translated by J. S. Freese

{{Authority control

Roman-era Greek historians
Arrianus, Lucius
Roman-era Greeks
80s births
2nd-century deaths
Ancient Roman generals
Suffect consuls of Imperial Rome
Roman governors of Cappadocia
Historiography of Alexander the Great
Ancient Greek military writers
Ionic Greek writers
Attic Greek writers
People from Bithynia
Historians from Roman Anatolia
1st-century Romans
2nd-century Romans
1st-century Greek people
2nd-century Athenians
2nd-century historians
Eponymous archons