Arrian
Greek · Others · Letter · Geography · Travelogue
3 works · 1,681 aligned sentences
Birth: 89 AD / Death: 175 AD
Nicomedia → Athens · historian · politician · philosopher
Epistle to Lucius Gellius
This work is a letter addressed by Arrian to his friend Lucius Gellius, serving as the preface to the "Discourses" of the philosopher Epictetus. In this epistle, Arrian explains the background of the publication of the "Discourses", clarifying that he did not write or publish them as his own literary creation. He states that he merely wrote down Epictetus's actual words as personal memoranda in order to preserve the teacher's thoughts and vivid speech as accurately as possible. However, these private records were somehow leaked and published by others without his intent or consent. Ultimately, Arrian emphasizes that the value of the work lies not in its rhetorical polish, but in its raw preservation of Epictetus's original teachings, which aim to move the souls of its readers.
Others1 chunks · §1-847 aligned sentencesRead →Periplus of the Euxine Sea
This work is a periplus (coastal voyage account) of the Black Sea (Pontus Euxinus), written by the second-century Roman governor and historian Arrian in the form of an official report to Emperor Hadrian. It begins with Arrian's arrival in Trapezus, where he proposes upgrades to the local altars and imperial statues, and details his military inspections and a perilous voyage through a sudden storm. The first part of the text records the coastal geography, rivers, and forts up to Sebastopolis (Dioscurias), alongside the local client tribes under Roman influence. The middle section catalogs the distances and harbors along the southern coast from the Thracian Bosporus to Trapezus, praising Hadrian's harbor construction projects. In the latter half, the scope expands beyond the limits of direct Roman control into the northern and western shores of the Black Sea, featuring a detailed description of the Island of Achilles and its miraculous legends. Finally, the narrative traces the route back through the Greek cities of the western coast to Byzantium, presenting a rich blend of practical military geography and mythological curiosity.
Geography25 chunks · §1.1-1.4–§25.1-25.41,316 aligned sentencesRead →The Order of Battle against the Alans
This work, written by the governor Arrian (referring to himself as "Xenophon"), is a military and tactical treatise that details the marching order and battle formation to be adopted by the Roman army against an invasion of the nomadic Alans. The text begins by prescribing a meticulous marching order designed to ensure safe transit to the destination, along with the specific weaponry and positioning upon arrival at the camp. In the middle section, the author outlines a concrete defensive formation to counter the Alans' formidable cavalry, instructing infantry to take high ground, with long spears in the front ranks and archers, javelin throwers, artillery, and cavalry positioned strategically behind them. The final part describes the sequence of actual combat, from the initial battle cries and concentrated firepower upon the enemy's approach, to the close-quarters defense of the phalanx, and finally, the orderly pursuit by cavalry and light troops after the enemy is repulsed. Written in the form of practical military instructions, this work vividly presents the highly organized tactics and operational procedures of the Roman army of the period.
Philosophy3 chunks · §1-11–§23-31318 aligned sentencesRead →