The Arrian's Image of an Empire
Following an analysis of II century AD Greek historian Arrian creative heritage (Anabasis of Alexander, “Techne Taktuke”, “Indica”, “Periplus of the Euxine Sea”), the author argues that by the above time Roman Empire had changed the imperial power substantiation model. According to Arrian, the traditional mechanisms for the transfer of imperial power (i. e. conquest, cultural superiority, joint rule, inheritance etc.), and in his times were replaced by those, based on the idea of an empire as a state aiming for the common good. An evidence to that is great number of the adoptions from other peoples into Roman military and state practice, described by Arrian in his “Techne Taktike”. The author of the article proves that Roman Empire in Arrian narration looks like a state functioning not only in the interests of Romans, but of all its people. Former representation of conqueror' power is replaced by Messianic ideas and concept of all the nations common prosperity in the country.