Arrian (; Greek: Arrianos; ;Stadter's suggestion that his official name was Lucius Flavius Arrianus Xenophon () is disproven by epigraphic evidence: Bowie, E. L. "Greeks and Their Past in the Second Sophistic." Past & Present, 46 (1970): 25 n. 72. ), also known as Arrian of Nicomedia, 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 has changed somewhat 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. 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 because of Arrian being made a consul around 130 AD, and the usual age for this, during this period, being 42 years of age. (ref. pp. 312, & SYME 1958, ibid.). 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.FP Polo (2011). The Consul at Rome: The Civil Functions of the Consuls in the Roman Republic. Cambridge University Press. [Retrieved 2015-04-04] (ed. used p. 1–3 to identify nature of < consulship >)
Sometime during the second 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 relationship to Epictetus as Xenophon had to Socrates.Oxford Dictionaries: attest, pupilage Oxford University Press [Retrieved 5 April 2015]
For a period, some time about 126 AD, he was a friend of the emperor Hadrian's, 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. 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:Peter Beckford (... perhaps, the writing is slightly illegible) or a Country Squire – Essays on Hunting. Containing a philosophical enquiry into the nature and properties of the scent; observations on ... hounds ... also directions for the choice of a hunter, etc., extracted from "An Essay on Hunting, by a Country Squire," published in 1733., With Six letters upon Hunting" by J. S. Gardiner., With an introduction by the editor, W. Blane, p. xvii Southampton T. Baker and others 1781 [Retrieved 2 April 2015] (ed. this source not the first source for ed. of this factor)
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.definitions of paideia – Merriam-Webster, University Press [Retrieved 5 April 2015]Werner Jaeger (translated by Gilbert Highet), Paideia: The Ideals of Greek Culture: II. In Search of the Divine Centre Volume 2 of Paideia: The Ideals of Greek Culture Oxford University Press, 23 October 1986 (reprint – 1st published 1943) [Retrieved 5 April 2015]Perseus Project: Latin Word Study Tool: paideia [Retrieved 5 April 2015]Oxford Dictionaries: personage Oxford University Press [Retrieved 5 April 2015]
Works
He produced 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 that exist.SB Ferrario was the first source for FGrH 156
Periplus of the Euxine Sea
This work is the earliest extant work that is dated with any confidence. It is a writing addressed to Emperor Hadrian. Arrian's voyage round the Euxine Sea translated: and accompanied with a geographical dissertation, and maps J. Cook, 1805 [Retrieved 31 March 2015] (ed. 1st source)William Thomas Lowndes, The bibliographer's manual of English literature, containing an account of rare, curious, and useful books, publ. in or relating to Great Britain and Ireland 1857 [Retrieved 31 March 2015]
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.EL Bowie, Sage and Emperor: Plutarch, Greek Intellectuals, and Roman Power in the Time of Trajan (98–117 A.D.) (p. 48) Leuven University Press, 1 January 2002 (edited by PA Stadter, L. Van der Stockt), [Retrieved 5 April 2015] 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)George Long, Arrian : The Discourses of Epictetus – Special Edition (p. vii) Special Edition Books, 2010 [Retrieved 5 April 2015]Nathaniel Lardner, The works of Nathaniel Lardner, D.D. with a life by Dr. Kippis ... W. Bal, 1838 [Retrieved 5 April 2015]
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 >)Definitions of < vade mecum > Oxford University, Merriam-Webster [Retrieved 2015-04-05]
JB Stockdale considered that Arrian wrote eight books of which 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.Vice Admiral JB Stockdale, Courage Under Fire: Testing Epictetus's Doctrines in a Laboratory of Human Behavior Hoover Press, 1993 [Retrieved 5 April 2015]KH Seddon – Epictetus Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy [Retrieved 6 April 2015]
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.Encyclopædia Iranica Anabasis [Retrieved 6 April 2015]
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 >.SB Ferrario, Historical Agency and the 'Great Man' in Classical Greece (p. 6 footnote 17) Cambridge University Press, 2014 [Retrieved 2015-04-05] (ed. this source used only for the addition of < Ta meta tou Alexandrou >)
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 Stephanus 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.CG Starr, A History of the Ancient World Oxford University Press, 1991 [Retrieved 2015-04-03] (ed. supporting / secondary source for < lost >)J Wiesehofer, Ancient Persia (p. 131 – the link opens p. 133) I.B. Tauris, 2001 [Retrieved 2 April 2015]E. Yarshater, The Cambridge History of Iran: Seleucid Parthian (p. 697) Cambridge University Press, 1983 [Retrieved 3 April 2015]
Bithyniaca A work of eight books, Bibliotheca (via Photius) states it is the fourth to have been written by Arrian.LJ Sanders referencing AB Bosworth referencing Photius, The Legend of Dion (p. 173 footnote 379) Dundurn, 2008 [Retrieved 4 April 2015]
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.Alexander the Great: The Anabasis and the Indica (pp. 227 onward) Translated by M Hammond, Oxford University Press, 2013 [Retrieved 1 April 2015] (ed. this source used for < Ινσικη >)The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica (scroll down for a list of editors) Encyclopædia Britannica [Retrieved 2015-04-01] (ed. this the 1st source of < Indica > for this ed.)
Techne Taktike Written 136/137 AD (in the 20th year of Hadrian), Techne Taktike ('the art/craft of tactics') 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.AB Bosworth, Harvard Studies in Classical Philology, Volume 81, p. 234 Harvard University Press, 1977 (edited by G. P. Goold) [Retrieved 2 April 2015]P Sidnell, Warhorse: Cavalry in Ancient Warfare (p. 268) Bloomsbury Publishing, 2007 [Retrieved 3 April 2015]T E Rihll, Greek Science (p. 84 footnote 11) Cambridge University Press, 1999 [Retrieved 2015-3-31] (ed. 1st source for < Tekhne Taktike >)I Syvänne, The Age of Hippotoxotai: Art of War in Roman Military Revival and Disaster (491–636) Volume 994 of Acta Universitatis Tamperensis Tampere University Press, 2004 [Retrieved 31 March 2015]S Jamess (R Collins, F McIntosh, eds.), Life in the Limes: Studies of the people and objects of the Roman frontiers, p. 102 Oxbow Books, 2014 [Retrieved 1 April 2015]Edward Gibbon, The life of Edward Gibbon, by himself, with selections from his correspondence, and illustrustrated by the rev. H.H. Milman. To which is added, Essay on the study of literature p. 100 footnote 22d Paris Baudry's European Library 1840 [Retrieved 2 April 2015]KR. Dixon, P Southern, The Roman Cavalry, pp. 126ff Routledge, 2013 [Retrieved 2 April 2015]