He was a student of Samuel of Nehardea,[1] and contemporary of Rav Huna and Mar Ukba II.
[2] The book Tanna Devei Eliyahu is said to have been composed during visitations Anan received from the prophet Elijah.
[3] Anan was prominent as a teacher of civil law and of ritual; and though Rav Nachman once criticized one of his arguments — remarking, "While attending Mar Samuel, you must have spent your time in playing at checkers" (or "chess," Iskundré)[4] — he highly respected him, and addressed him with the title of Mar ("Master").
[6] Anan rarely appears in the field of aggadah, and then only as the transmitter of teachings of his predecessors.
But many of his teachings were probably incorporated with those of the students of the school that bore his name, Debei Rav Anan.