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