Abstract
Almost all Ælius Aristides’ works constantly evoke his entourage (parents, colleagues, disciples, governors, admirers, medicines, priests) and his journeys. In the present article, I first examine the existing relationships between a segment of Aristides’ network and one of his youth travels. By bringing together literary sources, inscriptions and prosopographic data, I clarify the role of some acquaintances of the sophist before, after and during his stay in Egypt. Finally, I study the various ways that the author succeeds in making good use of his contacts in a social, religious and rhetoric field.
Keywords:Ælius Aristide, Greek and Roman Egypt, Nile, network, travels, exile, honor, rhetoric, Asclepios, administration.