From the Indus to the Pasitigris: Some Remarks on the Periplus of Nearchus in the Arrian’s Indiké,

This paper focuses on the description of Nearchus’ voyage in Arrian’s Indiké, which does not seem accurately to reflect the structure of Urperiplus, particularly from the Strait of Hormuz to Susa: in this section it is probably that the navarchus’ original report was synthesized by the historian of Nicomedia much more than in the remaining account of the navigation. Comparing the Indiké with the Periplus Ponti Euxini, one can conclude that the Homeric flavour of some passages of the Arrian’s work on India is probably due to original report made by the same navarchus. This idea allows us, in my opinion, to understand what might be called Nearchus’ personal logo, which consists not only in a reinterpretation of Homer, but also in a global reinterpretation of the Asian expedition as an Iliadic deed, and the expedition to Susa and as an Odyssean nostos.