This volume contains the Greek text "Periplus Ponti Euxini", with a full introduction, commentary and facing-page translation. Arrian, the Roman senator, is known as a philosopher and the historian of Alexander. He also enjoyed a sucessful political and military career, and the friendship of Hadrian. Arrian's text mixes the literary forms of a friendly letter and the traditional Greek periplus, or coastal guide. It describes a tour of duty around the Black Sea undertaken in an official capacity as governor of the frontier province of Cappadocia, and contains important evidence for this crucial corner of the eastern frontier of the Empire. It also affords us an insight into the cultural and political background of the early second century, from a man well placed not only to understand, but also to promote the new common imperial culture being forged by the hellenophile Emperor.

Translated by: Aidan Liddle