The Anabasis of Alexander is a historical account of the campaigns of Alexander the Great, composed in Greek by the Roman official and historian Arrian of Nicomedia in the 2nd century CE. Arrian structured his narrative in seven books, chronicling Alexander's military expeditions from his accession in 336 BCE to his death in 323 BCE. His title and plain Attic prose follow Xenophon, and he opens by naming Ptolemy and Aristobulus, both of whom served with Alexander, as his chief sources and saying why he trusts them. The narrative centres on the campaigns and battles, from the Granicus, Issus and Gaugamela to the Hydaspes and the mutiny at the Hyphasis, with some description of the lands crossed, among them India in the fifth book. It ends with Alexander's death and Arrian's defence of him despite the deeds he has censured. The seven books survive in medieval manuscripts.
Arrian of Nicomedia Alexander's Anabasis: summary and contents (PDF)
Arrian of Nicomedia Alexander's Anabasis: summary and contents (Markdown)
Contents
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Αʹ Book I
Arrian opens by naming Ptolemy and Aristobulus as his chief sources and saying why he trusts them. Philip's death leaves Alexander, about twenty, to be granted command of the Greeks against Persia, fight the Thracians, Triballians and Illyrians, and destroy Thebes. He then crosses into Asia, wins at the Granicus, and takes Sardis, Miletus and Halicarnassus. The book ends at Gordium, where an Athenian embassy asks in vain for the prisoners taken at the Granicus.
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Βʹ Book II
Memnon's naval campaign in the Aegean, cut short by his death at Mytilene, opens this book. Alexander cuts the knot at Gordium, falls ill at Tarsus and defeats Darius at Issus, capturing his mother, wife and children; Darius' letter and Alexander's reply follow. The long siege of Tyre fills much of the rest, and the book closes with the storming of Gaza, where Neoptolemus is first on the wall.
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Γʹ Book III
Egypt receives Alexander without a fight: he sacrifices to Apis at Memphis, founds Alexandria and visits the oracle of Ammon. The victory over Darius at Gaugamela opens the way to Babylon, Susa and the Persian Gates, and Persepolis falls. Darius is murdered by Bessus in flight, Philotas and Parmenion are put to death, and Bessus is captured. The book ends with Alexander shot through the leg storming a mountain stronghold.
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Δʹ Book IV
Envoys from the Scythians open this book, as Alexander plans a city on the Tanais and faces revolt in Sogdiana and the raids of Spitamenes. Arrian then sets down the killing of Cleitus, the quarrel over prostration, the pages' conspiracy and the death of Callisthenes. Alexander takes the Sogdian Rock and marries Roxane, then enters India, storming Aornos. The book closes with elephants hunted and boats built for the Indus crossing.
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Εʹ Book V
Nysa, said to be Dionysus' foundation, opens this book of the Indian campaign, followed by a description of India and the crossing of the Indus. The battle at the Hydaspes against Porus and his elephants follows, with the founding of Nicaea and Bucephala. At the Hyphasis the army refuses to go further and Coenus speaks for them. Alexander turns back, receiving Abisares' gifts and elephants on the way to the Hydaspes.
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Ϛʹ Book VI
Alexander's fleet sails down the Hydaspes towards the Ocean; seeing crocodiles in the Indus, he briefly takes it for the source of the Nile. Among the Malli he is gravely wounded storming a town, and Peucestas saves him. Musicanus, Sambus and rebellious Brahmans are put down, and the army crosses the Gedrosian desert into Carmania. The book ends in Persis, where Orxines is hanged and Peucestas, who has taken up Persian dress and speech, is made satrap.
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Ζʹ Book VII
Alexander's last plans open this book, with Arrian's judgement that he would never have rested content. The Indian sage Calanus dies on the pyre, mass weddings take place at Susa, and the army mutinies at Opis. Hephaestion dies and is mourned at length, the Cossaeans are crushed in winter, and embassies from Libya and Italy meet Alexander on the road to Babylon. His death follows, and Arrian closes with a defence of the man despite deeds he has censured.