Arrian
Who was Arrian?
2nd century Greek historian, official and philosopher
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Arrian (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Lucius Flavius Arrianus, known as Arrian of Nicomedia, was a notable Greek thinker during the peak of the Roman Empire in the 2nd century CE. Born around 86-89 CE in Nicomedia, Bithynia (modern-day Turkey), he came from a well-connected family that held Roman citizenship. His Greek background and Roman status uniquely positioned him to connect both cultural worlds at a time when Greek learning was highly valued in Roman administration.
Arrian's career showed the opportunities available to educated Greeks in the empire. He was a Roman senator and served as consul, among the highest offices in the empire. His most significant role was as governor of Cappadocia under Emperor Hadrian from about 131 to 137 CE, where he showed significant military skill. During his governorship, he defended the province against invasions by the Alani from the Caucasus region and reorganized its defenses along the Black Sea coast.
As a philosopher, Arrian stood out as the most important student and chronicler of the Stoic teacher Epictetus. He attended Epictetus's lectures in Nicopolis and carefully recorded his master's teachings, producing two works that became key texts of Stoic philosophy. The 'Epiktētou diatribai' (Discourses of Epictetus) preserved eight books of the philosopher's discussions, while the 'Enchiridion' (Handbook) summarized the main points of Epictetan Stoicism into a short guide for practical living.
Arrian's greatest achievement as a historian was his 'Anabasis of Alexander,' a detailed account of Alexander the Great's campaigns, written in the style of Xenophon's earlier work on Cyrus. Using the now-lost accounts of Ptolemy I and Aristobulus, both of whom had served with Alexander, Arrian created what scholars see as the most reliable surviving source on the Macedonian king's conquests. His careful approach to sources and straightforward writing style set his work apart from the more sensationalized accounts of other Alexander historians. He spent his final years in Athens, where he died sometime after 146 CE, having made a name for himself as one of the most adaptable intellectuals of his time.
Before Fame
Arrian grew up during the heyday of the Roman Empire under the Flavian dynasty and Trajan, a time when Greek culture was enjoying a revival within the Roman world. The Second Sophistic movement was booming, offering educated Greeks the chance to rise to prominence in imperial service. His family gained Roman citizenship, probably during the Flavian era, which allowed him to follow the traditional path of Roman public offices.
As a young man, Arrian received a well-rounded education in rhetoric and philosophy, which was common for ambitious people of his class from the provinces. A pivotal moment in his life was when he traveled to Nicopolis in Epirus to study with Epictetus, a former slave who had become a highly regarded Stoic teacher of the time. This philosophical background, together with his literary abilities and administrative experience, set him up for a successful career that included military leadership, governing provinces, and scholarly work.
Key Achievements
- Preserved the teachings of Epictetus in the Discourses and Enchiridion, making him the primary source for Epictetan Stoicism
- Wrote the Anabasis of Alexander, considered the most reliable ancient account of Alexander the Great's campaigns
- Successfully governed Cappadocia and repelled Alani invasions while strengthening provincial defenses
- Achieved the Roman consulship, one of the highest honors available to provincial Greeks
- Established new standards for historical methodology through careful source criticism and documentation
Did You Know?
- 01.He wrote a work on hunting called 'Cynegeticus' that corrected and updated Xenophon's earlier treatise on the same subject
- 02.As governor of Cappadocia, he conducted a personal inspection of the Black Sea coast and wrote an account of his journey in the form of a letter to Emperor Hadrian
- 03.His 'Anabasis of Alexander' deliberately imitated the prose style of Xenophon, including the use of Attic Greek rather than the common Greek of his time
- 04.He held the rare distinction of being both a Roman consul and a priest of Demeter and Persephone at his native Nicomedia
- 05.Unlike other Alexander historians, he openly criticized his sources when he found them unreliable, showing unusual methodological sophistication for ancient historiography