 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
¤ ARMY See LEGIONS.
¤ ARRIA THE ELDER (d. 43 A.D.) Wife of the consul Caecina Paetus, who valiantly and famously
killed herself when her husband was condemned to death by CLAUDIUS. In 42, Furius Camillus
Scribonianus, the governor of Dalmatia, attempted to stir a revolt in the legions of the province. He
failed, and the hunt started immediately for his fellow conspirators. Caecina Paetus, consul in 37, was
one of the plotters. Paetus was captured and brought in chains to Rome. Arria, refused permission to
travel at his side, found a way to follow him. When her husband's death was certain, Arria took a dagger,
plunged it into her chest, took it out and handed it to Paetus with the famous words: "It does not hurt,
Paetus." Pliny wrote of her in one of his letters.
¤ ARRIAN (Flavius Arrianus) (fl. 2nd century A.D.) Historian, governor, consul and Stoic, whose most
vital work was the Anabasis, a history of Alexander that is, arguably, the most detailed history of the
Macedonian kings extant. Born in Bithynia around 90 A.D., Arrian received an education and showed a
talent for Stoicism. He learned philosophy from the famous Epictetus and preserved his teacher's words and
lessons in his Discourses.
A political career soon followed. Arrian served as consul in 129 and was sent by Hadrian in 134 to serve
as governor of Cappadocia. During his term the Alans invaded the region but were repulsed through his
efforts. The rest of his achievements were in the literary field. Arrian wrote in Greek, admiring and
imitating the style of Xenophon. He penned a now-lost History of Parthia, a chronicle of Alexander's
successors, Indike, a compilation of details from Nearchus and Megasthenes, and possibly a military
treatise. None of these, however, could compare with his Anabasis. Relying upon the sources of Ptolemy
I and Aristobulus, Arrian created a detailed account of Alexander's campaigns. He died during the reign
of Marcus Aurelius.
¤ ARSACID DYNASTY The rulers of Parthia who dominated the Near East from Syria to India, from
250 B.C. to 226 A.D. For nearly 500 years the Arsacids were the second greatest power in the world,
vying with Rome for supremacy and influence in the East. They were broken finally by the Sassanids, a
new and more vital dynasty led by ARDASHIR i, but only after 37 rulers had sat upon the Arsacid
throne.
Around 250 B.C., Arsaces, a lord of Parthia, led a revolt against Antiochus II of Syria, destroying his
enemy and declaring himself the king of Parthia. From then on the dynasty acquired territories to the east
and the west. Arsaces handed the throne to his brother, Tiridates, around 248 B.C., upon his death. In his
honor Tiridates assumed the title of Arsaces.
Despite attacks from Antiochus the Great of Syria, by 210 B.C. the Arsacids were a legitimate power.
Ambitious, the Parthians involved themselves as far as India itself. In the West, the Arsacid rivalry with
Rome was long and bitter. Although in 92 B.C. Mithridates II sent an ambassador to Sulla in Rome, wars
were commonplace. The Arsacids had their share of victories.
 |