History

There are 2848 items in History:

Armenia

Armenia (Akkadian Uraštu; Old Persian Armina): ancient kingdom, situated along the river Araxes (modern Aras), the Upper Tigris and the Upper Euphrates. For the early history of Armenia, see Urartu.Achaemenid Armenia …

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Armenia (2)

Armenia: ancient kingdom, situated along the river Araxes (modern Aras), the Upper Tigris and the Upper Euphrates. For the early history of Armenia, see Urartu.Armenia between Rome and Parthia From now on, Armenia was one of the battlegrounds between the Romans and…

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Arrian

Arrian of Nicomedia (c.87 - after 145): Greek historian and senator of the Roman empire, author of several historical studies. His best-known work is the Anabasis, which deals with Alexander the Great.Life …

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Arrian on Alexander visits Siwa

In February 332, Alexander visited the oasis Siwah in the Libyan desert, where he consulted the oracle of Ammon. Nobody knows exactly what Alexander asked and what the god replied; but it is certain that Alexander started to think of…

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Arrian on Alexander's courtiers

In his Indikê, Arrian of Nicomedia describes the seaborne return of the army of Alexander. His source is the Indikê of admiral Nearchus. One of the most important sections is the catalogue of trierarchs in chapter 18. The trierarchs were…

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Arrian on Alexander's letter to Darius III

In November 333, Alexander defeated the Persian king Darius III Codomannus. After this battle of Issus, Darius offered to surrender half of his empire. The Macedonian king considered this not enough; the Greek author Arrian of Nicomedia describes Alexander's reply…

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Arrian on Nearchus' voyage home

When Alexander returned from India, the greater part of his army was shipped to Babylonia by Nearchus, a youth friend of Alexander who served as his fleet commander. After Alexander's death, Nearchus wrote a book on his adventures, the Indikê.…

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Arrian on the Chaldaeans

In April 323, Alexander the Great entered Babylon. The Chaldaeans, i.e., the famous astrologers working in the Esagila temple complex, came with warnings that he would die if he entered the city without due precautions. Arrian of Nicomedia describes this his…

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Arrian on the death of Alexander

The story of Alexander's death in Babylon is a bit mysterious, because our sources mention a "Royal diary" that is not very well-known. However, the information taken from it seems sound, even though there are some very strange elements in…

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Arrian on the death of Darius III

In the early Summer of 330, Alexander hunted down the Persian king Darius III Codomannus. His courtiers arrested, perhaps because they thought that extraditing him would guarantee their own lives, or perhaps because they wanted to choose a new, stronger…

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