he died. The reader of this work would probably, before he finished it, recollect the old adage, "A great book is a great evil." Nich. Anton. Bibl. Hisp. tom. ii. Bayle. Moreri.-E.

ARRIAN, a Greek historian, a native of Nicomedia, (Euseb. Chron. Olymp. 231.) flourished in the second century, under the emperors Adrian and the Antonines. In his own country he was a priest of Ceres and Proserpine. Taking up his residence at Rome, he became a disciple of Epictetus, (Phot. Cod. 58.) and, on account of his learning and talents, was patronized by the emperor Adrian. He was honoured with the citizenship of Rome, and appointed prefect of Cappadocia. In this capacity he distinguished himself by his prudence and valour in the war against the Alans and Massagetæ, and was afterwards advanced to the senatorial and even consular dignities. (Phot. ib. Dion. lib. xix.) Like Xenophon he united the literary with the military character; and through his whole life he was conversant with subjects of learning and philosophy. He was a friend of Pliny the Younger, of whose epistles, still extant, seven are addressed to Arrian.

The historical writings of Arrian were numerous; but of these, except some fragments preserved in Photius, (Cod. 92, 93.) and Tzetzes, (Chil. 3. c. 115.) only two remain. The first is, "Seven Books on the Expedition of Alexander," a valuable work, in which the exploits of that hero are related with every appearance of fidelity. The author compiled his history from the best authorities, particularly from the memoirs left by Ptolemy Lagus, and by Aristobulus, who both served under Alexander. Arrian was well acquainted with military and political science, and possessed a sounder judgment, and less disposition towards the marvellous, than Quintus Curtius. He made Xenophon his model, and in this work has imitated, not unsuccessfully, the simplicity and sweetness of his style; he has even copied him in the title and number of his books: he has been called, not altogether without reason, a second Xenophon. To this work is added a book on the affairs of India, which pursues the history of Alexander. It is considered by many as an eighth book of the former work; but to this it has been objected, that this book is written in the Ionic, but the former seven, in the Attic dialect. This book is of more doubtful authority than the former; its facts being chiefly taken from Megasthenes, to whom Strabo allows little credit. An epistle from Arrian to Adrian is also extant entitled, "Peri

VOL. I.

plus Ponti Euxini," probably written while Arrian was prefect of Cappadocia, containing a description of a voyage along the borders of the Euxine sea. Arrian's "Expedition of Alexander" was first printed in Greek at Venice, in 8vo. by Trineavellus, in 1535; afterwards at Basil, in 8vo. in 1539, by Gerbelius; and in folio by Henry Stephiens, at Geneva, in 1575; in Greek and Latin by Blancard, in 8vo. with useful notes, at Amsterdam, in 1668; by Gronovius, in folio, at Leyden, in 1704; and in 8vo. with the notes of Raphelius and others, at Amsterdam, in 1757. The book "De Indicis," has usually been published with the "Expeditio Alexandri." The "Periplus," together with " Periplus Maris Erythræi," of which the author is doubtful, was published at Basil by Stuckius, in folio, at Leyden, in 1577, and, among the ancient geographers, in 4to. by Gronovius, at Leyden, in 1697; and at Oxford, in 8vo. 1698.

Arrian is also the author of a book "On Tactics," written in the twentieth year of Adrian; and of a book "On Hunting," both published in Blancard's edition of the works of Arrian; and he has left an invaluable moral treatise, his "Enchiridion," containing the Discourses of Epictetus, of which the most valuable edition is by Upton, printed at London in two volumes 4to. in 1739. Voss. de Hist. Græc. lib. ii. c. 11. Fabric. Bibl. Græc. lib. iv. c. 8.-E.

ARSACES I. founder of the Parthian mo narchy, began his career by exciting a revolt against the governor of Parthia under Antiochus Theos, who had offered a shameful affront to his brother. The governor was killed in the quarrel, and Arsaces persuaded his countrymen to join him in totally expelling the Macedonians, and establishing the national independence. This happened about B. C. 250. The success of Arsaces caused the Parthians to elevate him to the throne, and he fixed his residence at Hecatompolis. Seleucus Callinicus, the successor of Antiochus, attempted to recover the Parthian provinces; but he was defeated in a great battle by Arsaces, and made captive; and this event was by the Parthians commemorated as the commencement of their independence, and its anniversary celebrated with great solemnity for many ages. Arsaces behaved with generosity to the captive king, who finished his days in Parthia. He possessed himself of Hyrcania and some neighbouring provinces; and was at length killed in battle against the king of Cappadocia after a prosperous reign of about thirty-eight years. He left

3 G

le submitted to the church of the friendship of pope Paul at offence to his brethren of nd brought upon him a senication from the patriarch le died at Venice in 1435. ne a "Collection of Greek at Venice, in 8vo. in 1534, Lolia on seven of the TraBayle. Fabric. Bibl. 58 note.-E.

king of the Parthians, patius, and succeeded his He received a wound ogarians, a tribe of Scyr of his reign, of which 9, and was succeeded by le. Univers. Hist.-A. of the race of Arsaces, en he was called by the ). 16, to take possession exclusion of Vonones, as a slave to the Roe Vonones into ArmeSyria; and desirous of n the throne, he sent an in order to renew the vo empires. After the Artabanus showed great and invading Armenia, saces on the throne of id claim to all the counossessed by Cyrus and me time he treated the verity; so that a conspiin the throne Phrahates, at account from Rome. her prince of the blood substituted by Tiberius, of the Iberians, was exk upon Armenia. Aranus, who reigned there, ; and his brother Orodes harasmanes, who pos menia. Artabanus was omans and the Parthian d to quit his dominions, yrcania. He was reiny, reigned some years in e friendship of Caligula, he empire in Rome. His gain caused his expuln restored by the good ofof Adiabene. After this th equity, and died much jects about the year 48. son or brother Gotarzes

with procuring his death. Bayle. Univers. Hist.-A.

ARTABANUS III. successor and probably son of Vologeses, lived in the reign either of Vespasian or Titus, and, through enmity to the Roman emperor, espoused the cause of a counterfeit Nero. He had a design of invading Armenia, but died before it could be put in execution. Bayle. Univers. Hist.-A.

ARTABANUS IV: was brother to Vologeses III. and, encouraged by some malcontent nobles, contended with him for the crown. At his brother's death he succeeded without opposition, and reigned for some time in prosperity. Being at peace with the Roman empire, he was not sufficiently on his guard when Severus ravaged the neighbouring countries; and, on an incursion of the Roman troops, it was with difficulty that he made his escape to Ctesiphon. Caracalla, by one of the basest acts of perfidy recorded in history, brought him into more imminent danger. Pretending to secure a lasting peace between the two nations, he demanded the daughter of Artabanus in marriage; and, though the Parthian king at first rejected the proposal he was at length prevailed upon to consent. Caracalla thereupon marched his army into Parthia, and was every where received as a friend. When he approached the capital, Artabanus went to meet him with a splendid retinue, and all the demonstrations of joy and respect. But while the Parthians were unbending in the song and dance, the bloody Caracalla gave the signal to his troops, who rushed on the multitude sword in hand, slaughtered till they were weary, and dispersed the rest, Artabanus himself hardly escaping the massacre. Caracalla pillaged and burned all the adjacent country, and then retired into Mesopotamia. Artabanus, burning for revenge, assembled an army, crossed the Euphrates, and entered Syria with fire and sword, where he was met by the Romans, who had now substituted Macrinus to Caracalla. A desperate battle of two days ensued; and Artabanus, resolved not to yield, had commenced the third day's fight, when a herald from Macrinus informed him of the fate of Caracalla, and proposed a treaty between the empires. The proposal was accepted, and Artabanus, having received back his captive subjects and the expences of the war, returned to his own country in 217.

His prosperity, which had elated him so much that, first of all the Parthian monarchs, he assumed the double diadem, and the title of the Great King, did not continue much longer. Ardshir Babegan, or Artaxerxes (see his life)

teenth century. He submitted to the church of Rome, and enjoyed the friendship of pope Paul III. which gave great offence to his brethren of the Greek church, and brought upon him a sentence of excommunication from the patriarch of Constantinople. He died at Venice in 1435. He published at Rome a "Collection of Greek Apophthegms;" and at Venice, in 8vo. in 1534, "A Collection of Scholia on seven of the Tragedies of Euripides." Bayle. Fabric. Bibl. Græc. lib. v. c. 41. § 8 note.-E.

with procuring his death. Bayle. Univers. Hist.-A.

ARTABANUS III. successor and probably son of Vologeses, lived in the reign either of Vespasian or Titus, and, through enmity to the Roman emperor, espoused the cause of a counterfeit Nero. He had a design of invading Armenia, but died before it could be put in execution. Bayle. Univers. Hist.-A.

ARTABANUS IV: was brother to Vologeses III. and, encouraged by some malcontent nobles, contended with him for the crown. At his brother's death he succeeded without opposition, and reigned for some time in prosperity. Being at peace with the Roman empire, he was not sufficiently on his guard when Severus ravaged the neighbouring countries; and, on an incursion of the Roman troops, it was with difficulty that he made his escape to Ctesiphon. Caracalla, by one of the basest acts of perfidy recorded in history, brought him into more imminent danger. Pretending to secure a lasting peace between the two nations, he demanded the daughter of Artabanus in marriage; and, though the Parthian king at first rejected the proposal he was at length prevailed upon to consent. Caracalla thereupon marched his army into Parthia, and was every where received as a friend. When he approached the capital, Artabanus went to meet him with a splendid retinue, and all the demonstrations of joy and respect. But while the Parthians were unbending in the song and dance, the bloody Caracalla gave the signal to his troops, who rushed on the multitude sword in hand, slaughtered till they were weary, and dispersed the rest, Artabanus himself hardly escaping the massacre. Caracalla pillaged and burned all the adjacent country, and then retired into Mesopotamia. Artabanus, burning for revenge, assembled an army, crossed the Euphrates, and entered Syria with fire and sword, where he was met by the Romans, who had now substituted Macrinus to Caracalla. A desperate battle of two days ensued; and Artabanus, resolved not to yield, had commenced the third day's fight, when a herald from Macrinus informed him of the fate of Caracalla, and proposed a treaty between the empires. The proposal was accepted, and Artabanus, having received back his captive subjects and the expences of the war, returned to his own country in 217.

ARTABANUS I. king of the Parthians, was third son of Priapatius, and succeeded his nephew Phrahates II. He received a wound in a battle with the Thogarians, a tribe of Scythians, in the first year of his reign, of which he died about B. C. 129, and was succeeded by his son Pacorus I. Bayle. Univers. Hist.-A. ARTABANUS II. of the race of Arsaces, was king of Media when he was called by the Parthians, about A. D. 16, to take possession of their throne, to the exclusion of Vonones, whom they considered as a slave to the Romans. Artabanus drove Vonones into Armeia, and thence into Syria; and desirous of trengthening himself on the throne, he sent an nbassy to Germanicus in order to renew the liance between the two empires. After the ath of Germanicus, Artabanus showed great ntempt of Tiberius; and invading Armenia, ced his eldest son Arsaces on the throne of t country, and even laid claim to all the couns which had been possessed by Cyrus and xander. At the same time he treated the hians with great severity; so that a conspiwas formed to set on the throne Phrahates, was sent for on that account from Rome. hates dying, another prince of the blood Tiridates, was substituted by Tiberius, 'harasmanes, king of the Iberians, was exo make an attack upon Armenia. Arthe son of Artabanus, who reigned there, lled by treachery; and his brother Orodes anquished by Pharasmanes, who pos imself of all Armenia. Artabanus was acked by the Romans and the Parthian ents, and obliged to quit his dominions, e refuge in Hyrcania. He was reinanother party, reigned some years in id obtained the friendship of Caligula, succeeded to the empire in Rome. His 1 conduct again caused his expulhe was again restored by the good ofcates, king of Adiabene. After this overned with equity, and died much y his subjects about the year 48. arges his son or brother Gotarzes

His prosperity, which had elated him so much. that, first of all the Parthian monarchs, he assumed the double diadem, and the title of the Great King, did not continue much longer. Ardshir Babegan, or Artaxerxes (see his life)