Arrianus Flavius (Arrian)
Arrianus Flavius (circa 95–175) [Arrian of Nicomedia] was a Greek historian and philosopher from Bithynia (the city of Nicomedia).
He held a high position in the court of Emperor Hadrian. His work “Journey around the Black Sea” [Periplus of the Euxine Sea] is particularly noteworthy from a Georgian historical perspective. He personally visited the territories, from Trabzon to Sebastopolis. The information about the rest of the Black Sea coast he gathers comes from written sources and oral tradition.
Arrian mentions every city, port, fortress, and river that he stayed at or merely passed through. He lists the ethnicities living here and identifies their kings, some of whom have royal insignia given by the Roman emperor, thus illustrating the relations between these kingdoms and the Roman Empire. A significant point for the protection and delineation of the boundaries of the Roman Empire was Apsaros (modern-day Gonio) fortress, with five well-armed squads stationed there. After Apsaros on his way to Phasis, he mentions the Batvi River (significant for the history of Batumi). At the entrance of Phasis (modern-day Poti), there was a statue of the Goddess of Phasis. Arrianus also describes the fortress of Phasis and Sebastopol (modern-day Sukhumi), marking it as the furthest point on the east coast of the Black Sea. He also notes the city's strength and its earlier association with Dioscuria. While going from Sebastopol towards the north Black Sea coast, he mentions the settlement of Old Lazica (also known as Nikopsis and Nicopsia in the Middle Ages), indicating that the Laz people settled in the southern territory in the first century BC. From Trabzon to Old Lazica, the following tribes lived here: Colchians lived from the east of Trebizond to the Opisa River (modern-day Sulak River); then, are the Chans, good warriors, not subject to any ruler; he also mentions Macrones and Heniochi; their collective king is known as Ankiale, who resided on the on the Pritani River. As neighbors to the Macrones and Heniochi, close to Apsarus, lived the Zydretae people, who are the subjects of King Pharasmanes. From the territory that is modern-day Chorokhi River to Kodori River, the entire land belonged to the Laz people. Afterward, in the coastal area and the Kodori gorge, lived the Apsilae people. From here onward, between Sebastopolis and the Akeunt River (modern-day Ubykhia), lived the Sanig people. North of Sanigs, in the mountains, lived Abasgoi. After the Akent River, near the sea coast lived Dzilks (people who lived in Jiqeti).
According to Arrian's work, it is evident that Rome was interested in Western Georgia as a means to protect its borders. All the kings appointed by the Roman Empire were tasked with protecting the northern border from the invasion of Huns and Alans, which was in the interest of Georgian kings as well.
Source: მოგზაურობა შავი ზღვის გარშემო, ნ. კეჭაღმაძის გამოც., თბ., 1961; Flavii Arriani, quae axtant omnia, v. 1–2, Lpz., 1967–68.
Literature: ბერძენი მწერლები საქართველოს შესახებ, თ. ყ ა უ ხ ჩ ი შ ვ ი ლ ი ს გამოც., თბ., 1980.
T. Kaukhchishvili
