The Anabasis of Alexander

About this book

In seven books, Arrian follows Alexander the Great from his accession in 336 BC to his death in Babylon in 323: the destruction of Thebes, the crossing into Asia, the cutting of the Gordian knot, the victory over the Persian king Darius at Issus, the long siege of Tyre, the founding of Alexandria in Egypt and the visit to the oracle of Ammon in the Siwa desert, the decisive battle of Gaugamela near Erbil in today's Iraq, and the march through Persia, Central Asia and into India, until his soldiers refuse to go further.

Context and significance

Arrian of Nicomedia, a Greek who served as a Roman governor under Hadrian, wrote in the second century AD from the memoirs of Alexander's own officers, and his book is the most reliable ancient account of the conquests. He was also the pupil of Epictetus whose Discourses he recorded. This translation is by E. J. Chinnock. His model was Xenophon's Anabasis.

About the author