Indica (Arrian)

During the period of the events of the Indica, much of what was known of the state of Greece besides Alexander the Great's expedition into India was known due to Alexander himself and his various conquests. As there was little requiring Alexander to stay himself in Macedonia, he was able to venture East. His early military show of force acted to stabilize the region by bringing disparate city states under his control and with this power he was able to control resources of the different regions to provide soldiers and support for his military ambition to attack Persia. After Alexander's expedition in the Indus Valley, he sought to return to the center of his empire in Babylon. Alexander planned to return himself over land but wanted to learn about the mouth of the Indus (which he himself did not reach) and the sea between India and Babylon. Therefore, he sent one of his officers, Nearchus, to perform such a voyage and report what he saw. Indica describes what Nearchus saw on that voyage. ==Background on author==

Indica was written by Arrian, a Greek historian, public servant, military commander and philosopher of the Roman period. Arrian's work is considered the best source on the campaigns of Alexander the Great. Arrians sources Along with the application of reports of the journey taken by Nearchus, Arrian credits use and comparison of works by ancient figures Eratosthenes, Megasthenes, Ctesias, and Onesicritus, all of whom had written some on India. Eratosthenes, an author and geographer, in particular, was described as having documented locations and created a map, despite this, it is not explained in the text whether he traversed India himself. The context provided in the case of the creation of Eratosthenes' map and the corresponding information learned of him by Arrian leaves out the certainty that Eratosthenes is reliable as a source, requiring further knowledge of the geographer. Arrian claims only the information of older figures as source material. The account of Nearchus - the author's main source - is now mostly lost, but it appears that Arrian had an extant and complete copy in his own time. ==Synopsis==

Much of the beginning of the text gives context on India as known by the Greeks and Romans at the time, not delving into the journey of Nearchus until later in the story. The story begins with an explanation of the geography of India, focusing on the size of the rivers Indus and the Ganges, together with their tributaries. A comparison is also made with the Danube and the Nile, illustrating an interest of the author in connections between the Greek world and newly explored areas. Arrian discusses the peoples of India already known to the Greeks and recalls their defining cultural traits as having been influenced by the god Dionysus. Arrian describes less about India's country and people, instead focusing on contributing factors of Greek culture and mythology as being responsible for what was known of India at the time. The passages of the book leading up to the lengthy rendition of the locations - described and visited one after another by officer Nearchus - in India frequently find the nature of Indian culture as having been left behind or as remnants of once-visiting gods Heracles and Dionysus. The overall social structure of the Indian people is explored, with a caste system of seven different roles employed: these include gurus, farmers, herdsmen, craftsmen, soldiers, inspectors, and advisors. Arrian briefly compares several to roles in Greek culture, such as Indian gurus to Greek oracles. The text details the natives' manner of hunting (which includes a description of many of the great fauna of India), namely of the elephant, and making war. Arrian writes of some of the animals learned about on Nearchus' journey, including the elephant, tiger and parrot. The author describes not only the elephant but the ways in which the Indian people go about trapping it in great depth, alluding to the importance of this animal in Indian culture. While the beginning of the text says little about what is happening with Nearchus, it is explained that Alexander of Macedonia planned to sail with his accompanying men and ships down the Hydaspes River. Although he was to sail this way, he wished to have someone else travel opposite of him so as to find and report all outstanding features of the coast and country. After being convinced, he had his officer Nearchus sail opposite of him from the Indus River delta so as to cover all of the Indian coastline and achieve his goal of gaining knowledge of the land and peoples. The text then moves into the story of Nearchus' voyage from India to Babylon following the conquests of Alexander. From this point onwards, the text mostly tells the story of a naval adventure. However, Arrian leaves the main story from time to time to tell in detail about the various peoples that lived along the way, as of the Ichthyophagi. Occasionally, Arrian describes Nearchus' soldiers' battles with the local people. The book ends with Nearchus meeting up with Alexander the Great, who had been conducting his own land voyage from India to Susa. Nearchus is congratulated for a safe journey and rewarded for his efforts. Locations visited In order, the destinations described by Arrian on the journey taken by Nearchus, beginning at the Indus River delta (unless otherwise specified, the nature or setting of each location was not given in the text, with most modern names unknown): Major characters/figures present in the story Alexander the Great, son of Philip II: although present at times, he only appears before the start of Nearchus' journey and towards the end of it on land near the place called Harmozia. Nearchus, son of Androtimus: the officer entrusted by Alexander himself with bringing the fleet safely to the end of the journey and along the coast, while surveying and exploring the land. Onesicritus: a figure present in the events of Alexander the Great's campaign accompanying Nearchus into India, described negatively by Arrian who discounts the claims written by the former as farcical. Leonnatus: responsible for the defeat of the Oreitans - one of the ethnic groups described by Arrian in the text - while the fleet was stopped at Cocala. Hydraces: an interpreter and guide who aids Nearchus and his men in their travels, although he does not join until later in the book. Mazenes: another local guide who joins later on in the story. ==Reception==

The purpose of the Indica by Arrian - although purported by the author as providing information on India and the customs and culture of its people, the natural aspects of the land, and its connections to Greece - has been viewed as centering around the influences and authority of Greek mythology on India and the accomplishments of Alexander the Great. ==References==