# Arrian Nicomedia

## Biography

Lucius Flavius Arrianus, widely known as Arrian, was a prominent Greek historian, philosopher, and statesman of the Roman period. Born in Nicomedia, Bithynia, around 86 to 89 CE to an aristocratic, Roman-citizen family, he received a comprehensive education. Arrian notably studied philosophy under the Stoic Epictetus, whose lectures he later compiled into the influential Discourses and Enchiridion. His distinguished career in Roman imperial service saw him serve as a consul and as governor of Cappadocia from 131 to 137 CE, a rare appointment for a Greek, where he commanded legions and defended against the Alans. After retiring, he settled in Athens, becoming an Athenian citizen and serving as an archon. Arrian earned the moniker "the Second Xenophon" for his clear writing style. His most acclaimed work, the Anabasis of Alexander, remains a primary source for the campaigns of Alexander the Great. He also authored works on geography, military tactics, and hunting, solidifying his legacy as one of the most significant authors of the second-century Roman Empire.

## Books

- [The Anabasis of Alexander: or, The History of the Wars and Conquests of Alexander the Great](https://samolit.com/books/96544)