Sergej Perevalov

Some notes on the structure of Arrian’s Parthica
S. M. Perevalov
The Parthica (or History of the Parthians) was the largest work of Flavius Arrian of Nicomedia (ca. 86 –  after 161  AD), consisting of 17 books (for comparison The Events after Alexander had 10, Bithyniaca 8 and Anabasis 7). Parthica dealt with relations between Rome and Parthia, especially Roman-Parthian wars. According to Ph. Stadter, “Arrian is by far the best preserved of any author of Parthica”.
The full text of Arrian’s Parthica  is lost, but some disparate fragments have
remained in the writings of late authors. There are two main collections: F. Jacoby
(FGrH.  II B  No. 156,  with  comments),  and  A. Roos–G. Wirth  (Flavii Arriani  quae
extant omnia. II. Leipzig, 1968). F. Jacoby distributes the material among the authors
who  quoted Arrian; A. Roos assigns the fragments to individual  books (if possible),
and also inserts in the collection anonymous, and controversial fragments.
The main problem with using Arrian’s Parthica  as a historical source  is  the
distribution of fragments to  the books of  the lost original text. Links to individual
books of Parthica  are given by Stephanus of Byzantium (V sec.)  and John Lydus
(V sec.). Patriarch Photius (IX sec.) in his Library (Cod. 93) gives a brief description
of the lost works of Arrian, including Parthica, some excerpts from this work are
contained in the Extracts of Embassies by Сonstantine Porphyrogenitus (X sec.), and
some of the fragments are preserved in the Suda “Lexicon”. Cassius Dio (III sec.) and
John Malalas (VI sec.) used Arrian’s Parthica,  when recounting  the events of Tra-
jan’s Parthian war (113–117 AD), but without mentioning his name. 
The present report deals with the following issues: the date of Arrian’s Parthi-
ca  (after  136  AD), the genre of the work,  and  the principles governing allocation of
fragments to Parthica and to its individual books.

Abstract.
NOMADS OF EURASIAN STEPPE: IN SEARCH OF A GENERALIZING NAME
The author offers an overview of the terms existing in historiography for the no-madic societies of the Eurasian steppes in the Antiquity and the Middle Ages. According to the author, the definition of “militarized” communities does not apply to nomads whose combat skills were not the result of militarization conducted by the authorities, but grew out    of the lifestyle itself. The    author uses the comparative method by  means of comparing the main institutions of European civilization, on the one hand, and ones of the nomadic world of Eurasia, on the other. The important role of linguistics of the 18th–19th centuries in the establishment of scientific criteria for the ethnic classification of humankind is not-ed.    The author pays attention to the interference of politics in modern disputes about the historical heritage of the nomadic Iranian-speaking tribes (Scythians, Sarmatians, Alans) using the example of litigation around the fate of “Scythian gold” (Crimean museums). The humanitarian character of historical research, the connection with the literary form of presentation is emphasized. The author consistently rejects insufficient terms and con-cepts that use analogies with European feudal society (“chivalry”), are based on linguistic or ethnic unity (Scythians, Alans), forms of political organization (“empire”) or level of social development (“barbarism”). The term “nomads” still remains the most acceptable.

Аннотация.
В статье рассматривается духовное и философское течение в Древней Греции. Наиболее характерная черта софистики  –  утверждение относительности всех человеческих понятий, этических норм и оценок. В отличие от предшествующих философских школ  (милетская, пифагорейцы, элеаты), софисты занимались не проблемами космического бытия, а познающего субъекта, признавая его критерием истины. Автор отмечает, что главное значение софистики состояло в том, что она перенесла центр тяжести греческой мысли с
Натурфилософии на изучение человека.
Ключевые слова:
софистика, человек, риторика.
Annotation.
  The  spiritual  and  philosophical  knowledge  in  the Ancient  Greece  is  considered  in  the  ar
ticle.  The  most  typical  threat  of  Sophistry – is the statement of human notions, ethical regulations relativity.  Unlike  earlier  philosophical  doctrines  (Miletus,  Pythagorean)  sophists weren’t interested in the cosmic problems. Their main interest was – epistemology, and the subject as the criterion of truth. 
Keywords: sophistry, person, rhetoric.

S.M. Perevalov
CASE OF MARIA,  THE WIFE OF VSEVOLOD THE «BIG NEST»
OSSETIAN VERSION OF THE ORIGINS

The  article  deals  with  the  origins  of  Maria  Shvarnovna  (†  1206),  the first wife of Vsevolod III «Big Nest». Her origins are disputed. On the XVIII World Russian People's Council she has been identified as Ossetian (Alan), Maria Jassynja. Some scholars say she was Czech or Moravian.  In  the  author’s  opinion,  Maria’s  father  was  Kievan  boyar  Shvarn, who was not Ossetin (Alan, Jas). Nickname jassynja was applied  only  to  the  younger  Maria’s  sister, the  wife  of  Mstislav  Svjatoslavich,  her  place  of  residence  was  Vladimir-on-Klyazma.  The  sisters  are  belonged  to  the  Russian  princes’  circle  and  had  no  contact  with Caucasian Alania.
Keywords:
  Maria  Shvarnovna,  XVIII  World  Russian  People's  Council, Ossetian historiography, Russian-Alanic marital ties
PEREVALOV Sergej Michailovich
— Candidate of Historical Sciences, Inde-pendent Researcher, Russian Federation, Vladikavkaz. — sarinin@rambler.ru
; https://independent.academia.edu/SergejPerevalov

MAKE YOURSELF TO BE A ROMAN GENERAL THROUGH READING GREEKS
S.M. Perevalov
The article deals with the use of Greek military handbooks in preparing Roman generals. The Romans had no formal education nor training for the commanders. Candidates for the posts of generals and staff officers had to learn for the duties of army command through instructions from books, among them theoretical treatises of Greek military writers. There were following categories of the military handbooks or manuals: 1) stratagems (collections of military tricks); 2) technical treatises on artillery and machines; 3) precepts on strategy («the art of generalship») and 4) on tactics. In spite of antiquarian trends of the manuals, these books might be useful to prospective generals as a source of stimulating ideas about tactics in real battles. Flavius Arrian, the author of the «Tactica» and the «Ektaxis contra Alanos», is a good example of the commander, who adapted the modified Hellenistic phalanx for use in practice.

Sergej M. Perevalov
Greek Tactics, Chinese Strategy and Eurasian “hybrid warfare”: product and product Heritage of the “Axial Age”

The article deals with the origins of three types of ancient warfare during the so-named “Axial Age” (800–200 B.C.). In Greece (1) and China (2) military theory is emerged: the tactical theory – in the first case, and the strategic one – in the latter. For the Greeks and the Chinese regular warfare was military service to their states. The military art of the nomads (3) of the Eurasian Steppes was connected to their way of life. Their upbringing in a pastoral setting, training in riding and shooting skills for seasonal migrations and hunting, made the nomads into natural warriors and horsemen. In the author’s opinion, nomadic mode of warfare was the forerunner of the modern “hybrid warfare” tactics.

S.M. Perevalov
Scythians as nomads and nomads as barbarians: the origins of the concept of “barbarian nomadism”

In the standard opposition “Hellenes-Barbarians” the place of barbarians  traditionally is occupied by the Persians. The author proposes to treat as an alternative to Hellenism not Persians, but Scythians. The article deals with a nomadic way of life, Scythian warfare, their hard anthropological type, an attitude to freedom and submission, the postmodern concept of Nomadology.

Keywords: barbarians, Scythians, nomadism, pastoral economics, nomadology

ARRIAN AT THE GATE OF THE CAUCASUS
The article deals with Flavius Arrian’s visit to the so-called Caspian Gate, now the Darial Pass in the central Caucasus. The main sources are John Lydus (De mag. 3.53), Themistius (Or. 34.8) and Dio Cassius (69.15.1). The author argues, that Arrian had been at the Caspian Gate in the course of his campaign against the Alani in A.D. 135, and consider some details of the event.

S.M. Perevalov
Specificity of Ancient Humanism
As is generally known, humanism is an attitude of mind, acknowledging a human and his concerns as supreme values of society. Predecessor of modern humanism is the ancient (Greco-Roman) one. The article deals with the specific lines of the Greco-Roman humanistic tradition from the Homeric epoch until to the Christianity.
In the author’s opinion, Greek humanism was characterized: in religion – by the existence of the cosmic principle (fate) which disposed the destinies of both gods and men, and the anthropomorphism of Olympic gods; in a social and political sphere - by the rational basis of the civil community, city-state (polis), a man-made institution, established on the human laws (nomoi); in the political theory – by an ideal of “good life” for the citizens; in a philosophy - by spreading of cosmopolitan theories with the idea of equality of all people regardless of nationality, etc. But in social, cultural, sexual life the Greeks curiously were captives of their ethnocentrism. Greek humanism combined ideal that was cosmopolitan in principle with a cultural vision that was grossly parochial in practice. As to the Rome, it should be noted, that Roman humanism was based on the same values of civil community in the Italian variant – civitas. State interest in Rome absolutely prevailed above the private one, and this peculiarity was assisted by character of Roman religion with the cults of abstract deities, patronizing to civil virtues: loyalty (fides), valour (virtus), discipline (disciplina), and others. On the other hand, the Greek nationalism was alien to the Romans, and their citizenship was open to foreigners. Practical character of Roman humanism was reflected in the Roman law, which characterized by the combination of equity and cosmopolitanism. In sum, we could to say, that construction of a Greco-Roman civilization was based on humanistic ideals.

TRIBAL ATTRIBUTION OF SARMATIAN ALLIES OF IBERIA IN THE WAR OF 35 AD: THREE ARGUMENTS IN FAVOUR OF THE ALANS
S.M. Perevalov
The article deals with the evidence for the-participation of the Sarmatian tribes (who were allies to the Iberians) in the war of 35 A.D. against the Parthians. Those Sarmatians, despite the opinion of many Russian scholars, were, most probably, the Alans, but neither the Siraces nor the Aorses. The arguments are: 1) Josephus Flavius' report (Ant. Jud. 18. 97) of the participation of the Alans in the war; 2) Tacitus' evidence (Ann. 6. 33-35; 12. 15-21) about the names, topography and political system of the Sarmatians that are not typical of the Siraces and Aorses; 3) the ancient tradition that considered the Alans inventors of a new tactics of heavy Sarmatian cavalry using pike-contus (Tac. Ann. 6. 35; Arr. Tact. 4. 3; 4. 7; Veg. 1. 20).

ECONOMY OF A HOMERIC BASILEUS

The article deals with the following questions: 1) basileus’ temenos, which is a land grant from the community, not conditional, but proprietary; 2) basileus’ household or oikos: size of estate, branches of economy, labour force; 3) secondary incomes and their sources (war, piracy, gift-exchange, trade, public affairs). It is the resources of the oikos (not the political power) that provide basileus with his high social position. The author states that basileis were neither kings, nor the ruling class of the community, but the higher rank of nobility.

The author comments a session of the seminar "Human combating" (St. Petersburg) on the problem of Sarmatian combat mode of seat, in which the rider holds a lance in both hands. The author makes some comments regarding the methodology, treatment of sources, evaluation of re-enactment of the ancient cavalry fight without saddles or stirrups. According to the author, “Sarmatian” horse-riding posture is certainly existed not only among themselves Sarmatians, but also among the neighboring nations.

В статье рассматриваются вопросы открытия, чтения и интерпретации надписи на сердоликовой инталье, вставленной в железный перстень, из Жинвальского могильника (Грузия, долина Арагви). Находка сделана в 1974 г. археологами В.В. Чихладзе и В.В. Николайшвили. Археологический контекст и особенности письма указывают на дату, близкую к II–III вв. н.э. Надпись вырезана греческими буквами, состоит из двух слов, первое читается легко, второе вызывает споры. Автором принято чтение, предложенное Д. Браундом: BAKOUR ALANA, альтернативные версии – Т.С.Каухчишвили: AMNA(C), А.Ю.Виноградова: A[.?]LANAC или A[.?]LANAГ. Формы слов, особенно второго, позволяют сделать вывод о том, что языком надписи является один из восточно-иранских языков, именно – аланский (предтеча осетинского), надпись передает имя и этноним владельца перстня: «Бакур алан».
Ключевые слова: Жинвальский могильник, погребение № 18, сердоликовая инталия,  малая эпиграфика, аланы, аланский язык.

In 1974 in the course of the excavation of Jinvali cemetery in Transcaucasian Georgia (ancient Iberia), at the juncture of the branches of the Aragvi River, 60 km north of Tbilisi, a seal-stone in intaglio was found. The intaglio dates probably back to the 3rd century A.D., and bears a picture of a ritual scene and a Greek inscription reading Bakour Alana, i.e. Bakour the Alan.

The article is devoted to Epilogue of "Theogonia" of Byzantine writer John Tzetzes (XII century). In this part of poem there were some greetings in seven languages: "Scythian", "Persian", Latin, Alanic, Rus, Arab and Jews. The author offers the original Greek text of 35 verses of the Epilogue, its Russian translation and commentary. He also deals with the history of discovery of the Epilogue.

Аланы: мираж кочевой империи
Статья посвящена критическому разбору концепции аланской кочевой империи путем сверки со свидетельствами письменных источников. По мнению автора, у аланов первых двух веков н.э. отсутствовали такие основные признаки империи, как: а) сплошная территория; б) верховная царская власть; в) скоординированная военная политика; г) высокий международный престиж. Вероятным способом политической организации у аланов была конфедерация.
Ключевые слова: аланы, сарматская археологическая культура, кочевая империя, международные отношения I–II вв. н.э., античные письменные источники.

The Alans: a Mirage of Nomadic Empire
The article is devoted to critical analysis of the concept of Alanic nomadic history by checking with the evidence of written sources. According to the author, in the I–II centuries AD the Alans had not such principle features of empire as: a) a great continuous territory; b) the supreme royal power; c) coordinated military policy; g) a high international prestige. Intended mode of political organization among the Alans was confederation.
Keywords: Alans, Sarmatian archaeological culture, nomadic empire, international relations I-II centuries A.D, ancient sources.

Author’s summary:
Scientist from Vladikavkaz, at the last place of work – senior researcher of the North Ossetian Institute of humanitarian and social research name V. I. Abaev, candidate of historical Sciences Sergey Perevalov unvarnished talks about his life and scientific way, expresses opinions on the issues of the past.
and present.

Попробую вынести на дискуссию вопрос по итогам статьи «КАЗУС МАРИИ ВСЕВОЛОЖЕЙ: ВЕРСИЯ ОСЕТИНСКОГО ПРОИСХОЖДЕНИЯ РУССКОЙ КНЯГИНИ» (ссылка) 
Казус «Марии-Ясыни» как симптом наступления «нового средневековья».
Дискуссия последних лет о происхождении Марии Всеволожей с попыткой навязать владимирской княгине не встречающееся в источниках прозвище Ясыня, предоставляет нам свежий материал для понимания тех процессов в современной России, которые социологами и гуманитариями осмысляются в категориях «нового средневековья».