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Anabasis of Alexander

April 25, 2024

The Anabasis of Alexander (Greek: Ἀλεξάνδρου Ἀνάβασις, Alexándrou Anábasis; Latin: Anabasis Alexandri) was composed by Arrian of Nicomedia in the second century AD, most probably during the reign of Hadrian.[1] The Anabasis (which survives complete in seven books) is a history of the campaigns of Alexander the Great, specifically his conquest of the Persian Empire between 336 and 323 BC.[2] Both the unusual title "Anabasis" (literally "a journey up-country from the sea") and the work's seven-book structure reflect Arrian's emulation (in structure, style, and content) of the Greek historian Xenophon, whose own Anabasis in seven books concerned the earlier campaign "up-country" of Cyrus the Younger in 401 BC.

Cavalryman on the Alexander Sarcophagus from Sidon, Lebanon

The Anabasis is by far the fullest surviving account of Alexander's conquest of the Persian empire. It is primarily a military history, reflecting the content of Arrian's model, Xenophon's Anabasis; the work begins with Alexander's accession to the Macedonian throne in 336 BC, and has nothing to say about Alexander's early life (in contrast, say, to Plutarch's Life of Alexander). Nor does Arrian aim to provide a complete history of the Greek-speaking world during Alexander's reign. Arrian's chief sources in writing the Anabasis were the lost contemporary histories of the campaign by Ptolemy and Aristobulus and, for his later books, Nearchus.[3] One of Arrian's main aims in writing his history seems to have been to correct the standard "Vulgate" narrative of Alexander's reign that was current in his own day, primarily associated with the lost writings of the historian Cleitarchus.[4]

Content edit

 
Alexandri anabasis, 1575

The Anabasis gives a broadly chronological account of the reign of Alexander the Great of Macedon (336–323 BC), with a particular focus on military matters. After a short Preface concerning Arrian's sources, the seven books describe the reign of Alexander the Great.[5]

Book 1

This book covers the early years of Alexander's reign (336–334 BC), including notable descriptions of Alexander's sack of Thebes in 335 and the battle of the Granicus in summer 334 BC.

Book 2

The majority of this book is dominated by three large set-piece military operations: the campaign and battle of Issus (333 BC) and the sieges of Tyre and Gaza (332 BC). This book also recounts the defeat of King Darius of Persia and how Alexander treated Darius's family after his death. The trial of the Gordian Knot is also included in this book.

 
Arrian of Nicomedia

Book 3

Book three begins with an account of Alexander in Egypt, including his visit to the oracle of Zeus-Ammon at Siwah (winter 332/331 BC), before turning to the battle of Gaugamela and defeat of Darius III (331 BC). The latter half of the book describes Alexander's pursuit of Darius through northern Iran, the revolt of the pretender Bessus, and the deaths of Philotas and Parmenion (331–329 BC).

Book 4

This book begins with describing the long Sogdian campaign of 329–327 BC against Bessus, Spitamenes, and Oxyartes, and the early stages of the campaigns in the Punjab (327–326 BC), with a notable departure from chronological sequence at 4.7–14, where Arrian collects many of the most notorious stories tending to Alexander's discredit in a single apologetic digression (the killing of Cleitus, the proskynesis affair, the pages' conspiracy and the death of Callisthenes).

Book 5

This book continues the narrative of the Indian campaign of Alexander the Great of 326 BC, including Alexander's arrival at Nysa, the battle with Porus at the Hydaspes river, and the decision at the Hyphasis not to push on further into India.

Book 6

The journey down the Indus to the Indian Ocean (326–325 BC) is described, including the increasingly brutal violence inflicted on the local inhabitants by the Macedonians en route (notably at the Malli town), and the crossing of the Gedrosian Desert (325–324 BC).

Book 7

The last of the books recounts the events of Alexander's final year, including the Susa marriages, the Opis mutiny, the multiple predictions and omens of Alexander's own death, the death of Hephaestion, and Alexander's own death (324–323 BC). The very end of this book concludes with speculation about how Alexander died, and whether it was by poisoning or something else.

Criticism edit

Arrian's Anabasis has traditionally been regarded as the most reliable extant narrative source for Alexander's campaigns. Since the 1970s, however, a more critical view of Arrian has become widespread, due largely to the work of A. B. Bosworth, who has drawn scholars' attention to Arrian's tendency to hagiography and apologia, not to mention several passages where Arrian can be shown (by comparison with other ancient sources) to be downright misleading.[6][7]

Modern editions edit

The only complete English translation of Arrian available online is a rather antiquated translation by E.J. Chinnock, published in 1884.[5] The original Greek text used by the Perseus Digital Library is the standard A.G. Roos Teubner edition published at Leipzig in 1907.[8]

Probably the most widely used scholarly English translation is Loeb Classical Library edition (with facing Greek text), in two volumes.[9] The work first appeared in 1929 and was later revised with a new introduction and appendices by P.A. Brunt in 1976.

An English translation by Aubrey de Sélincourt appeared in Penguin Classics in 1958. This edition was revised and annotated by J.R. Hamilton in 1971.[10]

The Landmark Ancient Histories, edited by Robert B. Strassler, includes The Landmark Arrian: The Campaigns of Alexander, edited by James Romm (Professor of Classics at Bard College, 2010), and translated by Pamela Mensch. The Landmark edition includes extensive margin notes and maps on every other page.[11]

A new translation by Martin Hammond with introduction and notes by John Atkinson appeared in the Oxford World's Classics series in 2013.[12]

References edit

  1. ^ Stadter, Philip (1980). Arrian of Nicomedia. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina. pp. 60–114.
  2. ^ Arrian (2013). Alexander the Great: The Anabasis and the Indica. Translated by Martin Hammond; John Atkinson. Oxford University Press. pp. xi–xiv. ISBN 978-0-19-958724-7.
  3. ^ Bosworth, A.B. (1980). A Historical Commentary on Arrian's History of Alexander, Vol 1. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 1–38.
  4. ^ Bosworth, A.B. (1988). From Arrian to Alexander. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 1–37.
  5. ^ a b Arrian. The Anabasis of Alexander.
  6. ^ Bosworth, A.B. (1996). Alexander and the East: The Tragedy of Triumph. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 31–65. ISBN 978-0198149910.
  7. ^ Bosworth, A. B. (1976-01-01). "Errors in Arrian". The Classical Quarterly. 26 (1): 117–139. doi:10.1017/S0009838800033905. JSTOR 638409. S2CID 170453455.
  8. ^ Arrian. A.G. Roos – Anabasis Tufts University and Leipzig University [Retrieved 2015-05-07]
  9. ^ P. A. Brunt, Arrian – Anabasis of Alexander, Volume I Loeb Classical Library 236 [Retrieved 2015-05-07]
  10. ^ Arrian (1971). The Campaigns of Alexander. Translated by Aubrey de Sélincourt. Revised, with a new introduction and notes by James R. Hamilton. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books.
  11. ^ Strassler, R.B. – the Landmark Ancient Histories 2017-03-24 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ Arrian, M Hammond, J Atkinson – Alexander the Great: The Anabasis and the Indica Oxford University Press, 2013 ISBN 0199587248 [Retrieved 2015-05-07]

Further reading edit

  • Arrian, Life of Alexander the Great, translated by Aubrey de Sélincourt, Harmondsworth, Penguin Books, 1958 and numerous subsequent reprints.
  • Arrian, The Campaigns of Alexander, translated by P.A. Brunt, with Greek and English text, edited by Jeffrey Henderson, The Loeb Classical Library, Harvard University Press. Books I–IV: ISBN 0-674-99260-1 Books V–VII and Indica: ISBN 0-674-99297-0

External links edit

 
Wikisource has original text related to this article:
The Anabasis of Alexander
 
Greek Wikisource has original text related to this article:
Αλεξάνδρου Ανάβασις

April 25, 2024
anabasis, alexander, greek, Ἀλεξάνδρου, Ἀνάβασις, alexándrou, anábasis, latin, anabasis, alexandri, composed, arrian, nicomedia, second, century, most, probably, during, reign, hadrian, anabasis, which, survives, complete, seven, books, history, campaigns, ale. The Anabasis of Alexander Greek Ἀle3androy Ἀnabasis Alexandrou Anabasis Latin Anabasis Alexandri was composed by Arrian of Nicomedia in the second century AD most probably during the reign of Hadrian 1 The Anabasis which survives complete in seven books is a history of the campaigns of Alexander the Great specifically his conquest of the Persian Empire between 336 and 323 BC 2 Both the unusual title Anabasis literally a journey up country from the sea and the work s seven book structure reflect Arrian s emulation in structure style and content of the Greek historian Xenophon whose own Anabasis in seven books concerned the earlier campaign up country of Cyrus the Younger in 401 BC Cavalryman on the Alexander Sarcophagus from Sidon Lebanon The Anabasis is by far the fullest surviving account of Alexander s conquest of the Persian empire It is primarily a military history reflecting the content of Arrian s model Xenophon s Anabasis the work begins with Alexander s accession to the Macedonian throne in 336 BC and has nothing to say about Alexander s early life in contrast say to Plutarch s Life of Alexander Nor does Arrian aim to provide a complete history of the Greek speaking world during Alexander s reign Arrian s chief sources in writing the Anabasis were the lost contemporary histories of the campaign by Ptolemy and Aristobulus and for his later books Nearchus 3 One of Arrian s main aims in writing his history seems to have been to correct the standard Vulgate narrative of Alexander s reign that was current in his own day primarily associated with the lost writings of the historian Cleitarchus 4 Contents 1 Content 2 Criticism 3 Modern editions 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksContent edit nbsp Alexandri anabasis 1575 The Anabasis gives a broadly chronological account of the reign of Alexander the Great of Macedon 336 323 BC with a particular focus on military matters After a short Preface concerning Arrian s sources the seven books describe the reign of Alexander the Great 5 Book 1This book covers the early years of Alexander s reign 336 334 BC including notable descriptions of Alexander s sack of Thebes in 335 and the battle of the Granicus in summer 334 BC Book 2The majority of this book is dominated by three large set piece military operations the campaign and battle of Issus 333 BC and the sieges of Tyre and Gaza 332 BC This book also recounts the defeat of King Darius of Persia and how Alexander treated Darius s family after his death The trial of the Gordian Knot is also included in this book nbsp Arrian of Nicomedia Book 3Book three begins with an account of Alexander in Egypt including his visit to the oracle of Zeus Ammon at Siwah winter 332 331 BC before turning to the battle of Gaugamela and defeat of Darius III 331 BC The latter half of the book describes Alexander s pursuit of Darius through northern Iran the revolt of the pretender Bessus and the deaths of Philotas and Parmenion 331 329 BC Book 4This book begins with describing the long Sogdian campaign of 329 327 BC against Bessus Spitamenes and Oxyartes and the early stages of the campaigns in the Punjab 327 326 BC with a notable departure from chronological sequence at 4 7 14 where Arrian collects many of the most notorious stories tending to Alexander s discredit in a single apologetic digression the killing of Cleitus the proskynesis affair the pages conspiracy and the death of Callisthenes Book 5This book continues the narrative of the Indian campaign of Alexander the Great of 326 BC including Alexander s arrival at Nysa the battle with Porus at the Hydaspes river and the decision at the Hyphasis not to push on further into India Book 6The journey down the Indus to the Indian Ocean 326 325 BC is described including the increasingly brutal violence inflicted on the local inhabitants by the Macedonians en route notably at the Malli town and the crossing of the Gedrosian Desert 325 324 BC Book 7The last of the books recounts the events of Alexander s final year including the Susa marriages the Opis mutiny the multiple predictions and omens of Alexander s own death the death of Hephaestion and Alexander s own death 324 323 BC The very end of this book concludes with speculation about how Alexander died and whether it was by poisoning or something else Criticism editArrian s Anabasis has traditionally been regarded as the most reliable extant narrative source for Alexander s campaigns Since the 1970s however a more critical view of Arrian has become widespread due largely to the work of A B Bosworth who has drawn scholars attention to Arrian s tendency to hagiography and apologia not to mention several passages where Arrian can be shown by comparison with other ancient sources to be downright misleading 6 7 Modern editions editThe only complete English translation of Arrian available online is a rather antiquated translation by E J Chinnock published in 1884 5 The original Greek text used by the Perseus Digital Library is the standard A G Roos Teubner edition published at Leipzig in 1907 8 Probably the most widely used scholarly English translation is Loeb Classical Library edition with facing Greek text in two volumes 9 The work first appeared in 1929 and was later revised with a new introduction and appendices by P A Brunt in 1976 An English translation by Aubrey de Selincourt appeared in Penguin Classics in 1958 This edition was revised and annotated by J R Hamilton in 1971 10 The Landmark Ancient Histories edited by Robert B Strassler includes The Landmark Arrian The Campaigns of Alexander edited by James Romm Professor of Classics at Bard College 2010 and translated by Pamela Mensch The Landmark edition includes extensive margin notes and maps on every other page 11 A new translation by Martin Hammond with introduction and notes by John Atkinson appeared in the Oxford World s Classics series in 2013 12 References edit Stadter Philip 1980 Arrian of Nicomedia Chapel Hill University of North Carolina pp 60 114 Arrian 2013 Alexander the Great The Anabasis and the Indica Translated by Martin Hammond John Atkinson Oxford University Press pp xi xiv ISBN 978 0 19 958724 7 Bosworth A B 1980 A Historical Commentary on Arrian s History of Alexander Vol 1 Oxford Oxford University Press pp 1 38 Bosworth A B 1988 From Arrian to Alexander Oxford Oxford University Press pp 1 37 a b Arrian The Anabasis of Alexander Bosworth A B 1996 Alexander and the East The Tragedy of Triumph Oxford Oxford University Press pp 31 65 ISBN 978 0198149910 Bosworth A B 1976 01 01 Errors in Arrian The Classical Quarterly 26 1 117 139 doi 10 1017 S0009838800033905 JSTOR 638409 S2CID 170453455 Arrian A G Roos Anabasis Tufts University and Leipzig University Retrieved 2015 05 07 P A Brunt Arrian Anabasis of Alexander Volume I Loeb Classical Library 236 Retrieved 2015 05 07 Arrian 1971 The Campaigns of Alexander Translated by Aubrey de Selincourt Revised with a new introduction and notes by James R Hamilton Harmondsworth Penguin Books Strassler R B the Landmark Ancient Histories Archived 2017 03 24 at the Wayback Machine Arrian M Hammond J Atkinson Alexander the Great The Anabasis and the Indica Oxford University Press 2013 ISBN 0199587248 Retrieved 2015 05 07 Further reading editArrian Life of Alexander the Great translated by Aubrey de Selincourt Harmondsworth Penguin Books 1958 and numerous subsequent reprints Arrian The Campaigns of Alexander translated by P A Brunt with Greek and English text edited by Jeffrey Henderson The Loeb Classical Library Harvard University Press Books I IV ISBN 0 674 99260 1 Books V VII and Indica ISBN 0 674 99297 0External links edit nbsp Wikisource has original text related to this article The Anabasis of Alexander nbsp Greek Wikisource has original text related to this article Ale3androy Anabasis Arrian Anabasis Alexandri section 1 13 16 pp 18 19 Battle of the Granicus from the Loeb edition Arrian Anabasis Alexandri section 4 18 4 19 6 Archived 2016 05 04 at the Wayback Machine Sogdian Rock translated by Aubrey de Selincourt Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Anabasis of Alexander amp oldid 1193236843, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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