59) of
particular
men, and laying open their tempers
that he undertook long and dangerous journies and designs, as well in private life as in the affairs
into Africa, Spain, Gaul, and even as far as the of government.
that he undertook long and dangerous journies and designs, as well in private life as in the affairs
into Africa, Spain, Gaul, and even as far as the of government.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - c
pp.
184, 185, 186, Lycortas, the father of Polybius, was one of the
De Compos. Medicum. sec. Gen. vii. 7, vol. xiii. p. most distinguished men of the Achacan league ;
981), Aétius (ii. 4. 57, ii. 1. 34, iii. 2. 14, pp. 415, and his son therefore received the advantages of
481, 530), Marcellus (De Medicam. c. 20, p. 339), his training in political knowledge and the military
and Paulus Aegineta De Re Mled. iii. 68, 70, 74, art. He must also have reaped great benefit from
vii. 18, pp. 486, 487, 489, 684); but of his his intercourse with Philopoemen, who was a friend
writings only these extracts remain. (W. A. G. ] of his father's, and on whose death, in B. c. 182,
POLY BI'ADES (Ionubiasns), a Lacedaemo- Lycortas was appointed general of the league. At
nian general, succeeded Agesipolis in the command the funeral of Philopoemen in this year Polybius
of the army against Olynthus, and compelled the carried the urn in which his ashes were deposited.
city to surrender in B. C. 379. (Xen. Hell. v. 3. (Plut. Philpoem. 21, An seni gerunda sit respubl.
SS 20, 26; Diod. xv. 23. )
p. 790, &c. ) In the following year, as we have
POLY'BIUS (Honúbios), historical. 1. Of Me already seen, Polybius was appointed one of the
galopolis, fought under Philopoemen at the battle of ambassadors to Egypt, but he did not leave Greece,
Mantineia against Machanidas, tyrant of Lacedae as the intention of sending an embassy was aban-
mon, B. c. 207. (Polyb. xi. 15. $ 5. ) It has been doned. From this time he probably began to take
usually supposed that this Polybius was a relation part in public affairs, and he appears to have soon
of the historian, probably either his uncle or grand obtained great influence among his countrymen.
fither ; but this is opposed to the statement of the When the war broke out between the Romans and
historian himself in one of the Vatican fragments | Perseus king of Macedonia, it became a grave
(p. 448, ed. Mai), “ that no one, as far as he knew, question with the Achaeans what line of policy they
had borne the same name as his, up to his time. " should adopt. The Roman party in the league
Now though Polybius, when he wrote the passage was headed by Callicrates, an unprincipled time-
quoted above, might possibly have forgotten his serving sycophant, who recognised no law but the
namesake who fought at the battle of Mantineia, still will of Rome. He was opposed by Lycortas and
he certainly would not have escaped his memory if his friends : and the Ronian ambassadors, Popil-
any one of his family had borne this name. It is, lius and Octavius, who came into Peloponnesus at
however, even improbable that he should have for the beginning of B. c. 169, had complained that
gotten this namesake, especially since he was a some of the most influential men in the league were
native of Megalopolis, and we therefore think that unfavourable to the Roman cause and had de-
the conjecture of Lucht in his edition of the Vati- nounced by name Lycortas, Archon, and Polybius,
can Fragments is correct, that the true reading in The more moderate party, who did not wish to
xi. 15, is Noaibu and not Tonusie. (Comp. sacrifice their national independence, and who yet
Thirlwall, Hist. of Greece, vol. viii. p. 273, note 2. ) | dreaded a contest with the Romans from the con-
2. A freedman of the emperor Augustus, read sciousness of their inability to resist the power of
in the senate the will of the emperor after his de- the latter, were divided in opinion as to the course
cease. (Dion Cass. lvi. 32 ; Suet. Aug. 101. ) of action. Lycortas strongly recommended them
3. À freedman of the emperor Claudius, was so to preserve a strict neutrality, since they could hope
highly favoured by this emperor that he was to gain nothing from either party ; but Archon and
allowed to walk between the two consuls. He Polybius thought it more advisable not to adopt
was the companion of the studies of Claudius ; and such a resolution, but to be guided by circum-
on the death of his brother Seneca addressed to stances, and if necessary to offer assistance to the
him a Consolatio, in which he bestows the highest Romans. These views met with the approval of
praises upon his literary attainments. Polybius was the majority of the party ; and accordingly, in B. C.
put to death through the intrigues of Messalina, 169, Archon was appointed strategus of the league,
although he had been one of her paramours. (Dion and Polybius commander of the cavalry, to carry
Cass. 1x. 29, 31 ; Suet. Claud. 28. )
these views into execution. The Achaeans shortly
POLY'BIUS (ſlonúclos), literary. 1. The his- after passed a decree, placing all their forces at the
torian, was the son of Lycortas, and a native of Me disposal of the Roman consul, Q. Marcius Philippus ;
galopolis
, a city in Arcadia. The year in which he and Polybius was sent into Macedonia to learn the
was born is uncertain. Suidas (s. v. ) places his birth pleasure of the consul. Marcius, however, de
in the reign of Ptolemy Euergetes, who died in B. c. clined their assistance for the present. (Polyb.
222. It is certain, however, that Polybius could not xxviii. 3, 6. ) In the following year, B. c. 108, iho
!
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444
POLYBIUS.
POLYBIUS.
66
two Ptolemies, Philometor and his brother Ener. | with the Roman power. When it was too late,
getes II. , sent to the Achaeans, to request succour the Achaeans saw and recognised the wisdom of
against Antiochus Epiphanes, and, if this were his advice ; and a statue erected to his honour bore
refused, to beg that Lycortas and Polybius might on its pedestal the inscription, “ that Hellas would
come to them, in order to aid them with their have been saved, if the advice of Polybius had been
advice in the conduct of the war. But As Antio- followed" (Paus. riii. 37. & 2). In the first year
chus was shortly after compelled by the Romans to of the third Punic war, B. c. 149, the consul N.
relinquish his attempts against the Ptolemies, nei. Manilius sent for Polybius to attend him at Lily-
ther of these measures was necessary, and Polybius baeum, but upon reaching Corcyra, he heard from
accordingly remained at home (xxix. 8).
the consuls that the Carthaginians had given hus
After the fall of Perseus and the conquest of tages, and thinking, therefore, that the war was at
Macedonin, two Roman commissioners, C. Claudius an end, and that his presence was no longer needed,
and Cn. Dolabella, visited Peloponnesus, for the he returned to Peloponnesus (Polyb. Erc. l'atican.
purpose of advancing the Roman interests in the p. 417). But he soon left it again in order to
south of Greece. At the instigation of Callicrates, join Scipio. His Roman connections probably made
they commanded that 1000 Achaeans should be him an object of suspicion with what was called
carried to Rome, to answer the charge of not having the independent party ; and his residence in his
assisted the Romans against Perseus. This num- native country may therefore have been not very
ber included all the best and noblest part of the pleasant to him. In addition to which he was no
nation, and among them was Polybius. They doubt anxious to be a spectator of the final struggle
arrived in Italy in B. c. 167, but, instead of being which was now going on between Rome and Car
put upon their trial, they were distributed among thage, and the history of which he intended to
ihe Etruscan towns. Polybius was more fortunate write.
than his other companions in misfortune. He had Polybius was present with Scipio at the de-
probably become acquainted in Macedonia with struction of Carthage, B. c. 146 (Appian, Pun. 132);
Aemilius Paulus, or his sons Fabius and Scipio, and and immediately after that event he hurried
the two young men now obtained permission from to Greece, where the Achaeans were waging a
the praetor for Polybius to reside at Rome in the mad and hopeless war against the Romans.
house of their father Paulus. Scipio was then Whether he was present at the capture of Corinth
eighteen years of age, and soon became warmly may well be questioned, and it is probable, as
attached to the illustrious exile, and availed him- | Thirlwall (Hist. of Greece, vol. viii. p. 455, note 3)
self of his advice and assistance, both in his pri- has remarked, that he would not have hastened to
vate studies and his public life. The friendship Peloponnesus till the struggle was over. He must,
thus formed between the young Roman noble and however, have arrived there soon afterwards ; and
the Greek exile was of great advantage to both par- he exerted all his influence to alleviate the mis-
ties: Scipio was accompanied by his friend in all fortunes of his countrymen, and to procure favour-
his military expeditions, and received much advan- able terms for them. As a friend of Scipio,
tage from the experience and knowledge of the the conqueror of Carthage, he was received with
latter ; while Polybius, besides finding a liberal marked distinction ; and the want of patriotism
patron and protector in his exile, was able by his with which his enemies had charged him, enabled
means to obtain access to public documents, and him now to render his country far more effectual
accumulate materials for his great historical work service than he could otherwise have done. The
(Polyb. xxxii. 9, &c. ; Paus, vii. 10).
statues of Philopoemen and Aratus, which the
The Achaean exiles remained in Italy seventeen Roman commissioners had ordered to be conveyed
years. The Achaeans had frequently sent em- to Italy, were allowed, at his intercession, to re-
bassies to the senate supplicating the trial or main in Peloponnesus. So much respect did the
release of their countrymen, but always without commissioners pay him, that when they quitted
success. Even their earnest entreaty, that Polybius the country in the spring of B. c. 145, after arrang-
and Stratius alone might be set at liberty, had been ing its affairs, and reducing it to the form of a
refused. At length, in B. C. 151, Scipio exerted Roman province, they ordered him to visit the
his influence with Cato the Censor to get him to various cities, and explain the new laws and con-
support the restoration of the exiles, and the stitution. In the execution of this duty, Polybius
authority of the latter carried the point, though not spared no pains or trouble. He traversed the
without a hard struggle and a protracted debate in whole country, and with indefatigable zeal he
the senate. After their restoration had been drew up laws and political institutions for the dif-
decreed, Polybius was anxious to obtain from the ferent cities, and decided disputes that had arisen
senate on behalf of himself and his countrymen the between them. He further obtained from the
additional favour of being reinstated in the honours Ronians a relaxation of some of the most severe
which they had formerly enjoyed ; but upon con- enactments which had been made against the con-
sulting Cato, the old man bade him, with a smile, quered Achaeans. His grateful fellow-countrymen
beware of returning, like Ulysses, to the Cyclop's acknowledged the great services he had rendered
den, to fetch away any trifles he had left behind them, and statues were erected to his honour at
him. (Polyb. xxxv. 6 ; Plut. Cat. Maj. 9 ; Paus. vii. Megalopolis, Mantineia, Pallantium, Tegea, and
10. ) Polybius returned to Peloponnesus in this other places. (Polyb. xl. 8-10; Paus, viii. 9,
year with the other Achaean exiles, who had been 30, 37, 44, 48. )
reduced during their banishment from 1000 to 300. Polybius seems now to bave devoted himself to
During his stay in Greece, which was, however, the composition of the great historical work, for
not long, he exhorted his countrymen to peace and which he had long been collecting materials. At
unanimity, and endeavoured to counteract the mad what period of his life he made the journies into
projects of the party who were using every effort foreign countries for the purpose of visiting the
w hurry the Achaeans into a hopeless struggle places which he bad to describe in his history, it is
.
## p. 445 (#461) ############################################
POLYBIUS.
445
POLYBIUS.
:
impossible to determine. He tells us (iii.
59) of particular men, and laying open their tempers
that he undertook long and dangerous journies and designs, as well in private life as in the affairs
into Africa, Spain, Gaul, and even as far as the of government. . . . . . . To render, therefore, this
Atlantic, on account of the ignorance which pre- history complete and perfect, it will be necessary
vailed respecting those parts. Some of these to lay open and explain the circumstances and con-
countries he visited while serving under Scipio, dition of each several people, from the time that
who afforded him every facility for the prosecution the contest was decided which gave to the Romans
of his design. Thus we learn from Pliny (H. N. the sovereignty of the world, to the rise of new
v;), that Scipio, during the third Punic war, commotions and disorders. And as these too were
placed a fleet at the disposal of his friend, in order of great importance, and attended with many uncom-
that he might explore the African coast. At a later mon incidents, and as I was myself engaged in the
period of his life he visited Egypt likewise ; and execution of some of them, in the conduct and con-
this journey must have been taken after the fall of trivance of others, and was an eye-witness of
Corinth, since he was in that country in the reign almost all, I shall undertake the task of relating
of Ptolemy Physcon, who did not ascend the throne them at large, and begin, as it were, a new history.
till B. c. 146 (Strab. xvii. p. 797). . It has been This second part, which formed a kind of sup-
conjectured that Polybius accompanied Scipio to plement, comprised the period from the conquest
Spain in B. C. 134, and was present at the fall of of Perseus in B. c. 168, to the fall of Corinth in
Numantia in the following year, since Cicero B. c. 146. The history of the conquest of Greece
states (ad Fam. v. 12) that Polybius wrote a seems to have been completed in the thirty-ninth
history of the Numantine war. The year of his book ; and the fortieth book probably contained a
death is uncertain. We have only the testimony chronological summary of the whole work. (Comp.
of Lucian (Macrob. 23), that he died at the age of Clinton, F. H. ad ann. 146. )
82, in consequence of a fall from his horse, as he The subjects contained in each of these parts
was returning from the country. If we are correct are related circumstantially by Polybius in the
in placing his birth in B. C. 204, his death would following passage, which will give the reader the
fall in B. C. 122
best idea of the contents of the work.
The history of Polybius consisted of forty books. “ Having first explained the causes of the war
It began B. c. 220, where the history of Aratus between the Carthaginians and the Romans, which
left off, and ended at B. c. 146, in which year is most frequently called the war of Hannibal, we
Corinth was destroyed, and the independence of shall show in what manner this general entered
Greece perished. It consisted of two distinct | Italy, and gave so great a shock to the empire of the
parts, which were probably published at different Romans, that they began to fear that they should
times and afterwards united into one work. The soon be dispossessed even of their proper country and
first part comprised a period of fifty-three years, seat of government: while their enemies, elate with
beginning with the second Punic war, the Social a success which had exceeded all their hopes, were
War in Greece, and the war between Antiochus persuaded that Rome itself must fall, as soon as they
and Ptolemy Philopator in Asia, and ending with should once appear before it. We shall then speak
the conquest of Perseus and the downfal of the of the alliance that was made by Philip with the
Macedonian kingdom, in B. C. 168. This was in Carthaginians as soon as he had ended his war
fact the main portion of his work, and its great with the Aetolians, and settled the affairs of Greece.
object was to show how the Romans had in this Next will follow the disputes between Antiochus
brief period of fifty-three years conquered the and Ptolemy Philopator, and the war that ensued
greater part of the world ; but since the Greeks between them for the sovereignty of Coele-Syria ;
were ignorant for the most part of the early history together with the war which Prusias and the
of Ronie, he gives a survey of Roman history from Rhodians made upon the people of Byzantium ;
the taking of the city by the Gauls to the com- with design to force them to desist from exacting
mencement of the second Punic war, in the first certain duties, which they were accustomed to
two books, which thus form an introduction to the demand from all vessels that sailed into the Pontus.
body of the work. With the fall of the Macedonian In this place we shall pause awhile, to take a view
kingdom the supremacy of the Roman dominion was of the form and constitution of the Roman govern-
decided, and nothing more remained for the other ment; and, in the course of our inquiry, shall en-
nations of the world than to receive laws from the deavour to demonstrate, that the peculiar tempera-
republic, and to yield submission to its sway. But, ment and spirit of their republic supplied the chief
says Polybius (iii
. 4), « the view only of the and most effectual means by which this people
manner in which wars are terminated can never were enabled, not only to acquire the sovereignty
lead us into a complete and perfect knowledge, of Italy and Sicily, and to reduce the Gauls and
either of the conquerors or the conquered nations, Spaniards to their yoke, but to subdue the Car-
since, in many instances, the most eminent and thaginians also, and when they had completed this
signal victories, through an injudicious use and great conquest, to form the project of obtaining
application of them, have proved fatal and per- universal empire. We shall add, likewise, a short
nicious ; as, on the other hand, the heariest ills digression concerning the fate of Hiero's kingdom
of fortune, when supported with constancy and in Sicily ; and afterwards go on to speak of those
courage, are frequently converted into great advan- commotions that were raised in Egypt, after the
tage. On this account it will be useful, likewise, death of Ptolemy, by Philip and Antiochus: the
to review the policy which the Romans afterwards wicked arts by which those princes attempted to
observed, in governing the countries that were share between ihemselves the dominions of the infant
subdued, and to consider also, what were the king ; and the manner in which the former of them
sentiments of the conquered states with respect to invaded Egypt, Samos, and Caria ; and the latter
the conduct of their masters : at the same time Coele-Syria and Phoenicia. We then shall make
describing the various characters and inclinations la general recapitulation of all that was transacted
## p. 446 (#462) ############################################
446
POLYBIUS.
POLYBIUS.
hy the Carthaginians and the Romans, in Spain, It has been already remarked that the main
Sicily, and Africa ; and from thence shall again object of the work of Polybius was to show by
remove the history to Greece, which now became what means and in what manner the Romans sub
the scene of new disorders. And having first run dued the other nations of the world. And although
through the naval battles of Attalus and the he regards Fortune (Túxn) as the goddess who re
Rhodians against king Philip, we shall next de gulates the affairs of men, whose hand may always
scribe the war that followed between the Romans be traced in the history of nations, and to whom
and this prince ; together with the causes, circum- the Romans, therefore, owe their dominion (comp.
stances, and conclusion of it. After these events, e. 8. i. 4, 58, 86, ii. 35, 70, iv. 2, viii. 4), still he
we shall relate in what manner the Aetolians, repeatedly calls the reader's attention to the means
urged by their resentment, called Antiochus from by which Fortune enabled this people to rise to
Asin, and gave occasion to the war between the their extraordinary position. These he traces first
Achaeans and the Romans. And having ex- of all in their admirable political constitution (vi. 1),
plained the causes of that war, and seen the en- and in the steadfastness, perseverance, and unity
trance of Antiochus into Europe, we shall then of purpose which were the natural results of such
show the manner in which he fled back again from a constitution. But while the history of Rome
Greece ; and afterwards, when he had suffered an thus forms the subject of his work, the history of
entire defcat, was forced to abandon all the country the various nations with which Rome came into
on this side of mount Taurus. Next will follow contact, was also giren with equal care ; and accord.
the victories by which the Romans gave an effectual ingly we find him entitling his work “ A General
check to the insolence of the Gauls ; secured to or Universal History” (καθολική, κοινή ιστορία),
themselves the sovereignty of nearer Asia ; and and mentioning the unity of subject as one of the
delivered the people of that country from the chief motives that had induced him to select that
dread of being again exposed to the violence and period of history. (Comp. i. 4, č. 37. § 4, iv. 28.
savage fury of those barbarians. We shall then $ 3, v. 31. $ 6, v. 105. § 4. ) The history of Poly-
give some account of the misfortunes in which the bius might, therefore, be called, as it has been by
Aetolians and Cephallenians were involved, and of a German writer, the “ History of the Growth of
the war which Eumenes sustained against Prusias Roman Power, to the Downfal of the Indepen.
and the Gauls of Greece ; together with that of dence of Greece. ".
Ariarathes against Pharnaces. And after some The history of Polybius is one of the most valu-
discourse concerning the union and form of govern- able works that has come down to us from antiquity;
ment of the confederate cities of Peloponnesus, and few historical works, either in ancient or in
which will be attended also with some remarks modern times, will bear comparison with it. Polybius
upon the growth and flourishing conditions of the had a clear apprehensoin of the knowledge which
republic of the Rhodians, we shall
, in the last an historian must possess; and his preparatory
place, take a short review of all that has been studies were carried on with the greatest energy
before related ; and conclude the whole with the and perseverance. Thus he not only collected with
expedition of Antiochus Epiphanes into Egypt, and accuracy and care an account of the events that he
the war with Perseus, which was followed by the intended to narrate, but he also studied the his-
entire subversion of the Macedonian empire. ” (iii. tory of the Roman constitution, and made distant
2, 3. )
journies to become acquainted with the geography
He then proceeds to relate the subjects contained of the countries that he had to describe in his
in the second part of his history. “ The chief work. In addition to this, he had a strong judg-
of these transactions were, the expeditions of the ment and a striking love of truth, and, from having
Romans against the Celtiberians and Vaccaeans ; himself taken an active part in political life, he was
the war which the Carthaginians made against able to judge of the motives and actions of the
Massinissa, a sovereign prince of Africa ; and that great actors in history in a way that no mere
between Attalus and Prusias in Asia. We shall scholar or rhetorician could possibly do. But the
also see the manner in which Ariarathes, king of characteristic feature of his work, and the one
Cappadocia, was driven from his dominions by which distinguishes it from all other histories
Orofernes, assisted by Demetrius, and again by his which have come down to us from antiquity, is its
own address recovered his paternal rights. We didactic nature. He did not, like other historians,
shall see Demetrius, the son of Seleucus, after he write to afford amusement to his readers, or to gra-
had reigned twelve years in Syria, deprived of his tify an idle curiosity respecting the migration of
kingdom aud his life, by the conspiracy of the other nations, the foundation of cities, or the settlement
kings. About the same time, the Romans absolved of colonies; his object was to teach by the past a
those Greeks that were accused of having secretly knowledge of the future, and to deduce from pre-
excited the wars of Perseus, and permitted them to rious events lessons of practical wisdom. Hence
return to their own country. And not long after he calls his work a Pragmateia (apayuatela), and
wards the same Romans made war again upon the not a History (iotopia, see e. g. i. 1, 3, iii. 32).
Carthaginians: at first intending to force them to The value of history consisted, in his opinion, in
remove the seat of their republic ; but afterwards the instruction that might be obtained from it; and
with design to exterminate both their name and go- a mere narration of events, however vividly pour-
vernment, for reasons which I shall there endeavour trayed, was described by him as dracoveia and
to explain. And lastly, when the Macedonians partagia (xvi. 20. § 4, xxii. 2. § 7). Conse-
had, about this time, broken their alliance with the quently he conceived it to be the duty of the his-
Romans, and the Lacedaemonians were also sepa. torian to impress upon his reader the lessons of
rated from the Peloponnesian league, the ill fate of political and moral wisdom which his narrative
Greece received at once both its beginning and full conveyed, and was by no means satisfied to let the
accomplishment, in the loss of the common liberty. " reader draw such conclusions for himself. Thus
(iü. 5. )
the narrative of events became in his view of secon-
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POLYBIUS.
447
POLYBIUS.
dary importance ; they formed only the text of aggerate equally the merits of its' friends and the
the political and moral discourses which it was the faults of its enemies. He describes in far too
province of the historian to deliver. The reflec- glowing colours the character of Aratus, the great
tions of Polybius are, it is true, characterised by hero of the Achaean league, and ascribes (ii.
deep wisdom ; and no one can read them without 40) to the historical work of this statesinan a de-
admiring the solidity of the historian's judgment, gree of impartiality, to which it certainly was not
and deriving from them at the same time both entitled. On the same principle, he gives quite a
instruction and improvement. Still, it must be false impression of the political life of Cleomenes,
admitted, that, excellent as they are, they mate- one of the greatest men of the latter days of
rially detract from the merits of the history as Greece, simply because this king was the great op-
a work of art ; their frequent occurrence interrupts ponent of Aratus and the league. He was like-
the continuity of the narrative, and destroys, to a wise guilty of injustice in the views which he gives
great extent, the interest of the reader in the scenes of the Actolians, of which Brandstäter has quoted
which are described. Instead of narrating the some striking instances in the work referred to
events in such a manner that they should convey below, although it must be confessed that the mo-
their own moral, and throwing in, as it were by dern writer is in some cases equally unjust to the
the way, the reflections to which the narrative ancient historian, from the partiality which he dis-
should give rise, he pauses in the midst of the most plays for the Aetolians. Not only does Polybius
interesting scenes to impress upon the reader the exhibit a partiality for the Achaeans, but be can-
lessons which these events ought to teach, and he not forget that he was an Arcadian, and is equally
thus imparts to his work a kind of moralising tone, zealous for the honour of his native land. Thus he
which frequently mars the enjoyment of the reader, considers it strange that the Achaean league de
and, in some cases, becomes absolutely repulsive. rived its name from the Achaean people, and not
There can be no doubt that some of the most rather from the Arcadians, whom he classes with
striking faults in the history of Polybius arise from the Lacedaemonians (ii. 38); and many other in-
his pushing too far the principle, which is doubtless stances might be quoted in which he displays an
a sound one to a certain extent, that history is equal partiality towards his own people.
written for instruction and not for amusement. The style of Polybius will not bear comparison
Hence he omits, or relates in a very brief manner, with the great masters of Greek literature ; nor is
certain important events, because they did not con- it to be expected that it should. He lived at a
vey, in his opinion, lessons of practical wisdom ; time when the Greek language had lost much of its
and, on the other hand, he frequently inserts long purity by an intermixture of foreign elements, and
episodes, which have little connection with the he did not attempt to imitate the language of the
main subject of his work, because they have a great Attic writers. He wrote as he spoke, and
didactic tendency. Thus we find that one whole had too great a contempt for rhetorical embellish-
book (the sixth) was devoted to a history of the ments to avail himself of them in the composition
Roman constitution ; and in the same manner of his work. The style of such a man naturally
episodes were introduced even on subjects which bore the impress of his mind ; and, as instruction
did not teach any political or moral truths, but and not amusement was the great object for which
simply because his countrymen entertained erro- he wrote, he did not seek to please his readers by
neous opinions on those subjects. The thirty- the choice of his phrases or the composition of his
fourth book, for example, seems to have been exclu- sentences. Hence the later Greek critics were
sively a treatise on geography. Although Poly- severe in their condemnations of his style, and
bias was thus enabled to impart much important Dionysius classes his work with those of Phylar-
information, of which we, in modern tiines, espechus and Duris, which it was impossible to read
cially reap the benefits, still it cannot be denied through to the end. (Dionys. De Compos. Verb.
that such episodes are no improvements to the C. 4. ) But the most striking fault in the style of
history considered as a work of art.
Polybius arises from his want of imagination. No
Still
, after making these deductions, the great historian can present to his readers a striking pic-
merits of Polybius remain unimpaired. His strict ture of events, unless he has at first vividly con-
impartiality, to which he frequently lays claim, has ceived them in his own mind ; and Polybius, with
been generally admitted both by ancient and mo- his cool, calm, calculating judgment, was not only
dern writers. And it is surprising that he dis- destitute of all imaginative powers, hut evidently
plays such great impartiality in his judgment of despised it when he saw it exercised by others.
the Romans, especially when we consider his inti- It is no doubt certain that an historian must keep
mate friendship with Scipio, and the strong admi- his imagination under a strong control ; but it is
ration which he evidently entertained of that equally certain that he will always fail in pro-
extraordinary people. Thus we find him, for ex- ducing any striking impression upon the mind of
ample, characterising the occupation of Sardinia by his readers, unless he has, to some extent, called
the Romans in the interval between the first and his imagination into exercise. It is for this reason
second Punic wars, as a violation of all justice (iii. that the geographical descriptions of Polybius are
28. & 2), and denouncing the general corruption of so vague and indistinct ; and the following remarks
the Roman generals from the time of their foreign of Dr. Arnold, upon the character of Polybius as a
conquests, with a few brilliant exceptions (xviii. geographer, are quite in accordance with the general
18). But, at the same time, he does not display views we have expressed :-“ Nothing shows more
an equal impartiality in the history of the Achaean clearly the great rarity of geographical talent, than
league ; and perhaps we could hardly expect from the praise which has been commonly bestowed upon
him that he should forget that he was an Achaean. Polybius as a good geographer. He seems indeed
He no doubt thought that the extension of the to have been aware of the importance of geography
Achaean league was essential to the liberties of to history, and to have taken considerable pains to
Greece ; and he is thus unconsciously led to ex- ' gain information on the subject : but this very cir-
## p. 448 (#464) ############################################
448
POLYBIUS.
POLY BIUS.
cumstance proves the more the difficulty of the order of the Emperor Constantinus Porphyra
task ; for his descriptions are so vague and imper-genitus. These Ercerpta are taken from various
fect, and so totally devoid of painting, that it is authors, but the most important of them came
scarcely possible to understand them. For in- from Polybius. In 1609 İs. Casaubon published
stance, in his account of the march of the Gauls at Paris, in folio, his excellent edition of Polybius,
into Italy, and of the subsequent movements of in which he incorporated all the Excerpta and
their army and of the Romans, there is an obscu- fragments that had hitherto been discovered, and
rity, which never could have existed had he con- added a new Latin version. He intended likewise
ceived in his own mind a lively image of the seat to write a commentary upon the author, but he
of war as a whole, of the connection of the rivers did not proceed further tban the 20th chapter of
and chains of mountains with each other, and of the first book ; this portion of his commentary
the consequent direction of the roads and most fre- was published after his death at Paris, 1617, 8vo.
quented passes. " (Hist. of Rome, vol. iii. pp. 473, A further addition was made to the fragments of
474. ) To this same cause, the want of imagina- Polybius by Valesius, who published, in 1634,
tion on the part of Polybius, we are disposed to another portion of the Excerpta of Constantinus,
attribute the apparent indifference with which he entitled Excerpta de Virtutibus et Vitiis (Tepl åpernis
describes the fall of his native country, and the kal kaklas), containing extracts from Polybius,
extinction of the liberties of Greece. He only Diodorus Siculus, and other writers ; and to this
sought to relate facts, and to draw the proper recollection Valesius added several other fragments
flections from them: to relate them with vividness of Polybius, gathered together from various writers.
and to paint them in striking colours was not his Jacobus Gronovius undertook a new edition of
calling.
Polybius, which appeared at Amsterdam in 1670,
The greater part of the history of Polybius has in 3 vols. 8vo. ; the text of this edition is taken
perished. We possess the first five books entire, almost verbatim from Casaubon's, but the editor
but of the rest we have only fragments and ex- added, besides the extracts of Valesius and the
tracts, of which some, however, are of considerable commentary of Casaubon on the first twenty
length, such as the account of the Roman army, chapters of the first book, many additional notes
which belonged to the sixth book. The first five by Casaubon, which had been collected from his
books were first printed in a Latin translation papers by his son Mericus Casaubon, and like-
executed by Nic. Perotti, and issued from the wise notes by Gronovius himself. The edition of
celebrated press of Sweynheym and Pannartz, Gronovius was reprinted under the care of J. A.
Rome, 1473, fol. The first part of the work of Ernesti at Leipzig, 1763–1764, 3 vols.
De Compos. Medicum. sec. Gen. vii. 7, vol. xiii. p. most distinguished men of the Achacan league ;
981), Aétius (ii. 4. 57, ii. 1. 34, iii. 2. 14, pp. 415, and his son therefore received the advantages of
481, 530), Marcellus (De Medicam. c. 20, p. 339), his training in political knowledge and the military
and Paulus Aegineta De Re Mled. iii. 68, 70, 74, art. He must also have reaped great benefit from
vii. 18, pp. 486, 487, 489, 684); but of his his intercourse with Philopoemen, who was a friend
writings only these extracts remain. (W. A. G. ] of his father's, and on whose death, in B. c. 182,
POLY BI'ADES (Ionubiasns), a Lacedaemo- Lycortas was appointed general of the league. At
nian general, succeeded Agesipolis in the command the funeral of Philopoemen in this year Polybius
of the army against Olynthus, and compelled the carried the urn in which his ashes were deposited.
city to surrender in B. C. 379. (Xen. Hell. v. 3. (Plut. Philpoem. 21, An seni gerunda sit respubl.
SS 20, 26; Diod. xv. 23. )
p. 790, &c. ) In the following year, as we have
POLY'BIUS (Honúbios), historical. 1. Of Me already seen, Polybius was appointed one of the
galopolis, fought under Philopoemen at the battle of ambassadors to Egypt, but he did not leave Greece,
Mantineia against Machanidas, tyrant of Lacedae as the intention of sending an embassy was aban-
mon, B. c. 207. (Polyb. xi. 15. $ 5. ) It has been doned. From this time he probably began to take
usually supposed that this Polybius was a relation part in public affairs, and he appears to have soon
of the historian, probably either his uncle or grand obtained great influence among his countrymen.
fither ; but this is opposed to the statement of the When the war broke out between the Romans and
historian himself in one of the Vatican fragments | Perseus king of Macedonia, it became a grave
(p. 448, ed. Mai), “ that no one, as far as he knew, question with the Achaeans what line of policy they
had borne the same name as his, up to his time. " should adopt. The Roman party in the league
Now though Polybius, when he wrote the passage was headed by Callicrates, an unprincipled time-
quoted above, might possibly have forgotten his serving sycophant, who recognised no law but the
namesake who fought at the battle of Mantineia, still will of Rome. He was opposed by Lycortas and
he certainly would not have escaped his memory if his friends : and the Ronian ambassadors, Popil-
any one of his family had borne this name. It is, lius and Octavius, who came into Peloponnesus at
however, even improbable that he should have for the beginning of B. c. 169, had complained that
gotten this namesake, especially since he was a some of the most influential men in the league were
native of Megalopolis, and we therefore think that unfavourable to the Roman cause and had de-
the conjecture of Lucht in his edition of the Vati- nounced by name Lycortas, Archon, and Polybius,
can Fragments is correct, that the true reading in The more moderate party, who did not wish to
xi. 15, is Noaibu and not Tonusie. (Comp. sacrifice their national independence, and who yet
Thirlwall, Hist. of Greece, vol. viii. p. 273, note 2. ) | dreaded a contest with the Romans from the con-
2. A freedman of the emperor Augustus, read sciousness of their inability to resist the power of
in the senate the will of the emperor after his de- the latter, were divided in opinion as to the course
cease. (Dion Cass. lvi. 32 ; Suet. Aug. 101. ) of action. Lycortas strongly recommended them
3. À freedman of the emperor Claudius, was so to preserve a strict neutrality, since they could hope
highly favoured by this emperor that he was to gain nothing from either party ; but Archon and
allowed to walk between the two consuls. He Polybius thought it more advisable not to adopt
was the companion of the studies of Claudius ; and such a resolution, but to be guided by circum-
on the death of his brother Seneca addressed to stances, and if necessary to offer assistance to the
him a Consolatio, in which he bestows the highest Romans. These views met with the approval of
praises upon his literary attainments. Polybius was the majority of the party ; and accordingly, in B. C.
put to death through the intrigues of Messalina, 169, Archon was appointed strategus of the league,
although he had been one of her paramours. (Dion and Polybius commander of the cavalry, to carry
Cass. 1x. 29, 31 ; Suet. Claud. 28. )
these views into execution. The Achaeans shortly
POLY'BIUS (ſlonúclos), literary. 1. The his- after passed a decree, placing all their forces at the
torian, was the son of Lycortas, and a native of Me disposal of the Roman consul, Q. Marcius Philippus ;
galopolis
, a city in Arcadia. The year in which he and Polybius was sent into Macedonia to learn the
was born is uncertain. Suidas (s. v. ) places his birth pleasure of the consul. Marcius, however, de
in the reign of Ptolemy Euergetes, who died in B. c. clined their assistance for the present. (Polyb.
222. It is certain, however, that Polybius could not xxviii. 3, 6. ) In the following year, B. c. 108, iho
!
## p. 444 (#460) ############################################
444
POLYBIUS.
POLYBIUS.
66
two Ptolemies, Philometor and his brother Ener. | with the Roman power. When it was too late,
getes II. , sent to the Achaeans, to request succour the Achaeans saw and recognised the wisdom of
against Antiochus Epiphanes, and, if this were his advice ; and a statue erected to his honour bore
refused, to beg that Lycortas and Polybius might on its pedestal the inscription, “ that Hellas would
come to them, in order to aid them with their have been saved, if the advice of Polybius had been
advice in the conduct of the war. But As Antio- followed" (Paus. riii. 37. & 2). In the first year
chus was shortly after compelled by the Romans to of the third Punic war, B. c. 149, the consul N.
relinquish his attempts against the Ptolemies, nei. Manilius sent for Polybius to attend him at Lily-
ther of these measures was necessary, and Polybius baeum, but upon reaching Corcyra, he heard from
accordingly remained at home (xxix. 8).
the consuls that the Carthaginians had given hus
After the fall of Perseus and the conquest of tages, and thinking, therefore, that the war was at
Macedonin, two Roman commissioners, C. Claudius an end, and that his presence was no longer needed,
and Cn. Dolabella, visited Peloponnesus, for the he returned to Peloponnesus (Polyb. Erc. l'atican.
purpose of advancing the Roman interests in the p. 417). But he soon left it again in order to
south of Greece. At the instigation of Callicrates, join Scipio. His Roman connections probably made
they commanded that 1000 Achaeans should be him an object of suspicion with what was called
carried to Rome, to answer the charge of not having the independent party ; and his residence in his
assisted the Romans against Perseus. This num- native country may therefore have been not very
ber included all the best and noblest part of the pleasant to him. In addition to which he was no
nation, and among them was Polybius. They doubt anxious to be a spectator of the final struggle
arrived in Italy in B. c. 167, but, instead of being which was now going on between Rome and Car
put upon their trial, they were distributed among thage, and the history of which he intended to
ihe Etruscan towns. Polybius was more fortunate write.
than his other companions in misfortune. He had Polybius was present with Scipio at the de-
probably become acquainted in Macedonia with struction of Carthage, B. c. 146 (Appian, Pun. 132);
Aemilius Paulus, or his sons Fabius and Scipio, and and immediately after that event he hurried
the two young men now obtained permission from to Greece, where the Achaeans were waging a
the praetor for Polybius to reside at Rome in the mad and hopeless war against the Romans.
house of their father Paulus. Scipio was then Whether he was present at the capture of Corinth
eighteen years of age, and soon became warmly may well be questioned, and it is probable, as
attached to the illustrious exile, and availed him- | Thirlwall (Hist. of Greece, vol. viii. p. 455, note 3)
self of his advice and assistance, both in his pri- has remarked, that he would not have hastened to
vate studies and his public life. The friendship Peloponnesus till the struggle was over. He must,
thus formed between the young Roman noble and however, have arrived there soon afterwards ; and
the Greek exile was of great advantage to both par- he exerted all his influence to alleviate the mis-
ties: Scipio was accompanied by his friend in all fortunes of his countrymen, and to procure favour-
his military expeditions, and received much advan- able terms for them. As a friend of Scipio,
tage from the experience and knowledge of the the conqueror of Carthage, he was received with
latter ; while Polybius, besides finding a liberal marked distinction ; and the want of patriotism
patron and protector in his exile, was able by his with which his enemies had charged him, enabled
means to obtain access to public documents, and him now to render his country far more effectual
accumulate materials for his great historical work service than he could otherwise have done. The
(Polyb. xxxii. 9, &c. ; Paus, vii. 10).
statues of Philopoemen and Aratus, which the
The Achaean exiles remained in Italy seventeen Roman commissioners had ordered to be conveyed
years. The Achaeans had frequently sent em- to Italy, were allowed, at his intercession, to re-
bassies to the senate supplicating the trial or main in Peloponnesus. So much respect did the
release of their countrymen, but always without commissioners pay him, that when they quitted
success. Even their earnest entreaty, that Polybius the country in the spring of B. c. 145, after arrang-
and Stratius alone might be set at liberty, had been ing its affairs, and reducing it to the form of a
refused. At length, in B. C. 151, Scipio exerted Roman province, they ordered him to visit the
his influence with Cato the Censor to get him to various cities, and explain the new laws and con-
support the restoration of the exiles, and the stitution. In the execution of this duty, Polybius
authority of the latter carried the point, though not spared no pains or trouble. He traversed the
without a hard struggle and a protracted debate in whole country, and with indefatigable zeal he
the senate. After their restoration had been drew up laws and political institutions for the dif-
decreed, Polybius was anxious to obtain from the ferent cities, and decided disputes that had arisen
senate on behalf of himself and his countrymen the between them. He further obtained from the
additional favour of being reinstated in the honours Ronians a relaxation of some of the most severe
which they had formerly enjoyed ; but upon con- enactments which had been made against the con-
sulting Cato, the old man bade him, with a smile, quered Achaeans. His grateful fellow-countrymen
beware of returning, like Ulysses, to the Cyclop's acknowledged the great services he had rendered
den, to fetch away any trifles he had left behind them, and statues were erected to his honour at
him. (Polyb. xxxv. 6 ; Plut. Cat. Maj. 9 ; Paus. vii. Megalopolis, Mantineia, Pallantium, Tegea, and
10. ) Polybius returned to Peloponnesus in this other places. (Polyb. xl. 8-10; Paus, viii. 9,
year with the other Achaean exiles, who had been 30, 37, 44, 48. )
reduced during their banishment from 1000 to 300. Polybius seems now to bave devoted himself to
During his stay in Greece, which was, however, the composition of the great historical work, for
not long, he exhorted his countrymen to peace and which he had long been collecting materials. At
unanimity, and endeavoured to counteract the mad what period of his life he made the journies into
projects of the party who were using every effort foreign countries for the purpose of visiting the
w hurry the Achaeans into a hopeless struggle places which he bad to describe in his history, it is
.
## p. 445 (#461) ############################################
POLYBIUS.
445
POLYBIUS.
:
impossible to determine. He tells us (iii.
59) of particular men, and laying open their tempers
that he undertook long and dangerous journies and designs, as well in private life as in the affairs
into Africa, Spain, Gaul, and even as far as the of government. . . . . . . To render, therefore, this
Atlantic, on account of the ignorance which pre- history complete and perfect, it will be necessary
vailed respecting those parts. Some of these to lay open and explain the circumstances and con-
countries he visited while serving under Scipio, dition of each several people, from the time that
who afforded him every facility for the prosecution the contest was decided which gave to the Romans
of his design. Thus we learn from Pliny (H. N. the sovereignty of the world, to the rise of new
v;), that Scipio, during the third Punic war, commotions and disorders. And as these too were
placed a fleet at the disposal of his friend, in order of great importance, and attended with many uncom-
that he might explore the African coast. At a later mon incidents, and as I was myself engaged in the
period of his life he visited Egypt likewise ; and execution of some of them, in the conduct and con-
this journey must have been taken after the fall of trivance of others, and was an eye-witness of
Corinth, since he was in that country in the reign almost all, I shall undertake the task of relating
of Ptolemy Physcon, who did not ascend the throne them at large, and begin, as it were, a new history.
till B. c. 146 (Strab. xvii. p. 797). . It has been This second part, which formed a kind of sup-
conjectured that Polybius accompanied Scipio to plement, comprised the period from the conquest
Spain in B. C. 134, and was present at the fall of of Perseus in B. c. 168, to the fall of Corinth in
Numantia in the following year, since Cicero B. c. 146. The history of the conquest of Greece
states (ad Fam. v. 12) that Polybius wrote a seems to have been completed in the thirty-ninth
history of the Numantine war. The year of his book ; and the fortieth book probably contained a
death is uncertain. We have only the testimony chronological summary of the whole work. (Comp.
of Lucian (Macrob. 23), that he died at the age of Clinton, F. H. ad ann. 146. )
82, in consequence of a fall from his horse, as he The subjects contained in each of these parts
was returning from the country. If we are correct are related circumstantially by Polybius in the
in placing his birth in B. C. 204, his death would following passage, which will give the reader the
fall in B. C. 122
best idea of the contents of the work.
The history of Polybius consisted of forty books. “ Having first explained the causes of the war
It began B. c. 220, where the history of Aratus between the Carthaginians and the Romans, which
left off, and ended at B. c. 146, in which year is most frequently called the war of Hannibal, we
Corinth was destroyed, and the independence of shall show in what manner this general entered
Greece perished. It consisted of two distinct | Italy, and gave so great a shock to the empire of the
parts, which were probably published at different Romans, that they began to fear that they should
times and afterwards united into one work. The soon be dispossessed even of their proper country and
first part comprised a period of fifty-three years, seat of government: while their enemies, elate with
beginning with the second Punic war, the Social a success which had exceeded all their hopes, were
War in Greece, and the war between Antiochus persuaded that Rome itself must fall, as soon as they
and Ptolemy Philopator in Asia, and ending with should once appear before it. We shall then speak
the conquest of Perseus and the downfal of the of the alliance that was made by Philip with the
Macedonian kingdom, in B. C. 168. This was in Carthaginians as soon as he had ended his war
fact the main portion of his work, and its great with the Aetolians, and settled the affairs of Greece.
object was to show how the Romans had in this Next will follow the disputes between Antiochus
brief period of fifty-three years conquered the and Ptolemy Philopator, and the war that ensued
greater part of the world ; but since the Greeks between them for the sovereignty of Coele-Syria ;
were ignorant for the most part of the early history together with the war which Prusias and the
of Ronie, he gives a survey of Roman history from Rhodians made upon the people of Byzantium ;
the taking of the city by the Gauls to the com- with design to force them to desist from exacting
mencement of the second Punic war, in the first certain duties, which they were accustomed to
two books, which thus form an introduction to the demand from all vessels that sailed into the Pontus.
body of the work. With the fall of the Macedonian In this place we shall pause awhile, to take a view
kingdom the supremacy of the Roman dominion was of the form and constitution of the Roman govern-
decided, and nothing more remained for the other ment; and, in the course of our inquiry, shall en-
nations of the world than to receive laws from the deavour to demonstrate, that the peculiar tempera-
republic, and to yield submission to its sway. But, ment and spirit of their republic supplied the chief
says Polybius (iii
. 4), « the view only of the and most effectual means by which this people
manner in which wars are terminated can never were enabled, not only to acquire the sovereignty
lead us into a complete and perfect knowledge, of Italy and Sicily, and to reduce the Gauls and
either of the conquerors or the conquered nations, Spaniards to their yoke, but to subdue the Car-
since, in many instances, the most eminent and thaginians also, and when they had completed this
signal victories, through an injudicious use and great conquest, to form the project of obtaining
application of them, have proved fatal and per- universal empire. We shall add, likewise, a short
nicious ; as, on the other hand, the heariest ills digression concerning the fate of Hiero's kingdom
of fortune, when supported with constancy and in Sicily ; and afterwards go on to speak of those
courage, are frequently converted into great advan- commotions that were raised in Egypt, after the
tage. On this account it will be useful, likewise, death of Ptolemy, by Philip and Antiochus: the
to review the policy which the Romans afterwards wicked arts by which those princes attempted to
observed, in governing the countries that were share between ihemselves the dominions of the infant
subdued, and to consider also, what were the king ; and the manner in which the former of them
sentiments of the conquered states with respect to invaded Egypt, Samos, and Caria ; and the latter
the conduct of their masters : at the same time Coele-Syria and Phoenicia. We then shall make
describing the various characters and inclinations la general recapitulation of all that was transacted
## p. 446 (#462) ############################################
446
POLYBIUS.
POLYBIUS.
hy the Carthaginians and the Romans, in Spain, It has been already remarked that the main
Sicily, and Africa ; and from thence shall again object of the work of Polybius was to show by
remove the history to Greece, which now became what means and in what manner the Romans sub
the scene of new disorders. And having first run dued the other nations of the world. And although
through the naval battles of Attalus and the he regards Fortune (Túxn) as the goddess who re
Rhodians against king Philip, we shall next de gulates the affairs of men, whose hand may always
scribe the war that followed between the Romans be traced in the history of nations, and to whom
and this prince ; together with the causes, circum- the Romans, therefore, owe their dominion (comp.
stances, and conclusion of it. After these events, e. 8. i. 4, 58, 86, ii. 35, 70, iv. 2, viii. 4), still he
we shall relate in what manner the Aetolians, repeatedly calls the reader's attention to the means
urged by their resentment, called Antiochus from by which Fortune enabled this people to rise to
Asin, and gave occasion to the war between the their extraordinary position. These he traces first
Achaeans and the Romans. And having ex- of all in their admirable political constitution (vi. 1),
plained the causes of that war, and seen the en- and in the steadfastness, perseverance, and unity
trance of Antiochus into Europe, we shall then of purpose which were the natural results of such
show the manner in which he fled back again from a constitution. But while the history of Rome
Greece ; and afterwards, when he had suffered an thus forms the subject of his work, the history of
entire defcat, was forced to abandon all the country the various nations with which Rome came into
on this side of mount Taurus. Next will follow contact, was also giren with equal care ; and accord.
the victories by which the Romans gave an effectual ingly we find him entitling his work “ A General
check to the insolence of the Gauls ; secured to or Universal History” (καθολική, κοινή ιστορία),
themselves the sovereignty of nearer Asia ; and and mentioning the unity of subject as one of the
delivered the people of that country from the chief motives that had induced him to select that
dread of being again exposed to the violence and period of history. (Comp. i. 4, č. 37. § 4, iv. 28.
savage fury of those barbarians. We shall then $ 3, v. 31. $ 6, v. 105. § 4. ) The history of Poly-
give some account of the misfortunes in which the bius might, therefore, be called, as it has been by
Aetolians and Cephallenians were involved, and of a German writer, the “ History of the Growth of
the war which Eumenes sustained against Prusias Roman Power, to the Downfal of the Indepen.
and the Gauls of Greece ; together with that of dence of Greece. ".
Ariarathes against Pharnaces. And after some The history of Polybius is one of the most valu-
discourse concerning the union and form of govern- able works that has come down to us from antiquity;
ment of the confederate cities of Peloponnesus, and few historical works, either in ancient or in
which will be attended also with some remarks modern times, will bear comparison with it. Polybius
upon the growth and flourishing conditions of the had a clear apprehensoin of the knowledge which
republic of the Rhodians, we shall
, in the last an historian must possess; and his preparatory
place, take a short review of all that has been studies were carried on with the greatest energy
before related ; and conclude the whole with the and perseverance. Thus he not only collected with
expedition of Antiochus Epiphanes into Egypt, and accuracy and care an account of the events that he
the war with Perseus, which was followed by the intended to narrate, but he also studied the his-
entire subversion of the Macedonian empire. ” (iii. tory of the Roman constitution, and made distant
2, 3. )
journies to become acquainted with the geography
He then proceeds to relate the subjects contained of the countries that he had to describe in his
in the second part of his history. “ The chief work. In addition to this, he had a strong judg-
of these transactions were, the expeditions of the ment and a striking love of truth, and, from having
Romans against the Celtiberians and Vaccaeans ; himself taken an active part in political life, he was
the war which the Carthaginians made against able to judge of the motives and actions of the
Massinissa, a sovereign prince of Africa ; and that great actors in history in a way that no mere
between Attalus and Prusias in Asia. We shall scholar or rhetorician could possibly do. But the
also see the manner in which Ariarathes, king of characteristic feature of his work, and the one
Cappadocia, was driven from his dominions by which distinguishes it from all other histories
Orofernes, assisted by Demetrius, and again by his which have come down to us from antiquity, is its
own address recovered his paternal rights. We didactic nature. He did not, like other historians,
shall see Demetrius, the son of Seleucus, after he write to afford amusement to his readers, or to gra-
had reigned twelve years in Syria, deprived of his tify an idle curiosity respecting the migration of
kingdom aud his life, by the conspiracy of the other nations, the foundation of cities, or the settlement
kings. About the same time, the Romans absolved of colonies; his object was to teach by the past a
those Greeks that were accused of having secretly knowledge of the future, and to deduce from pre-
excited the wars of Perseus, and permitted them to rious events lessons of practical wisdom. Hence
return to their own country. And not long after he calls his work a Pragmateia (apayuatela), and
wards the same Romans made war again upon the not a History (iotopia, see e. g. i. 1, 3, iii. 32).
Carthaginians: at first intending to force them to The value of history consisted, in his opinion, in
remove the seat of their republic ; but afterwards the instruction that might be obtained from it; and
with design to exterminate both their name and go- a mere narration of events, however vividly pour-
vernment, for reasons which I shall there endeavour trayed, was described by him as dracoveia and
to explain. And lastly, when the Macedonians partagia (xvi. 20. § 4, xxii. 2. § 7). Conse-
had, about this time, broken their alliance with the quently he conceived it to be the duty of the his-
Romans, and the Lacedaemonians were also sepa. torian to impress upon his reader the lessons of
rated from the Peloponnesian league, the ill fate of political and moral wisdom which his narrative
Greece received at once both its beginning and full conveyed, and was by no means satisfied to let the
accomplishment, in the loss of the common liberty. " reader draw such conclusions for himself. Thus
(iü. 5. )
the narrative of events became in his view of secon-
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447
POLYBIUS.
dary importance ; they formed only the text of aggerate equally the merits of its' friends and the
the political and moral discourses which it was the faults of its enemies. He describes in far too
province of the historian to deliver. The reflec- glowing colours the character of Aratus, the great
tions of Polybius are, it is true, characterised by hero of the Achaean league, and ascribes (ii.
deep wisdom ; and no one can read them without 40) to the historical work of this statesinan a de-
admiring the solidity of the historian's judgment, gree of impartiality, to which it certainly was not
and deriving from them at the same time both entitled. On the same principle, he gives quite a
instruction and improvement. Still, it must be false impression of the political life of Cleomenes,
admitted, that, excellent as they are, they mate- one of the greatest men of the latter days of
rially detract from the merits of the history as Greece, simply because this king was the great op-
a work of art ; their frequent occurrence interrupts ponent of Aratus and the league. He was like-
the continuity of the narrative, and destroys, to a wise guilty of injustice in the views which he gives
great extent, the interest of the reader in the scenes of the Actolians, of which Brandstäter has quoted
which are described. Instead of narrating the some striking instances in the work referred to
events in such a manner that they should convey below, although it must be confessed that the mo-
their own moral, and throwing in, as it were by dern writer is in some cases equally unjust to the
the way, the reflections to which the narrative ancient historian, from the partiality which he dis-
should give rise, he pauses in the midst of the most plays for the Aetolians. Not only does Polybius
interesting scenes to impress upon the reader the exhibit a partiality for the Achaeans, but be can-
lessons which these events ought to teach, and he not forget that he was an Arcadian, and is equally
thus imparts to his work a kind of moralising tone, zealous for the honour of his native land. Thus he
which frequently mars the enjoyment of the reader, considers it strange that the Achaean league de
and, in some cases, becomes absolutely repulsive. rived its name from the Achaean people, and not
There can be no doubt that some of the most rather from the Arcadians, whom he classes with
striking faults in the history of Polybius arise from the Lacedaemonians (ii. 38); and many other in-
his pushing too far the principle, which is doubtless stances might be quoted in which he displays an
a sound one to a certain extent, that history is equal partiality towards his own people.
written for instruction and not for amusement. The style of Polybius will not bear comparison
Hence he omits, or relates in a very brief manner, with the great masters of Greek literature ; nor is
certain important events, because they did not con- it to be expected that it should. He lived at a
vey, in his opinion, lessons of practical wisdom ; time when the Greek language had lost much of its
and, on the other hand, he frequently inserts long purity by an intermixture of foreign elements, and
episodes, which have little connection with the he did not attempt to imitate the language of the
main subject of his work, because they have a great Attic writers. He wrote as he spoke, and
didactic tendency. Thus we find that one whole had too great a contempt for rhetorical embellish-
book (the sixth) was devoted to a history of the ments to avail himself of them in the composition
Roman constitution ; and in the same manner of his work. The style of such a man naturally
episodes were introduced even on subjects which bore the impress of his mind ; and, as instruction
did not teach any political or moral truths, but and not amusement was the great object for which
simply because his countrymen entertained erro- he wrote, he did not seek to please his readers by
neous opinions on those subjects. The thirty- the choice of his phrases or the composition of his
fourth book, for example, seems to have been exclu- sentences. Hence the later Greek critics were
sively a treatise on geography. Although Poly- severe in their condemnations of his style, and
bias was thus enabled to impart much important Dionysius classes his work with those of Phylar-
information, of which we, in modern tiines, espechus and Duris, which it was impossible to read
cially reap the benefits, still it cannot be denied through to the end. (Dionys. De Compos. Verb.
that such episodes are no improvements to the C. 4. ) But the most striking fault in the style of
history considered as a work of art.
Polybius arises from his want of imagination. No
Still
, after making these deductions, the great historian can present to his readers a striking pic-
merits of Polybius remain unimpaired. His strict ture of events, unless he has at first vividly con-
impartiality, to which he frequently lays claim, has ceived them in his own mind ; and Polybius, with
been generally admitted both by ancient and mo- his cool, calm, calculating judgment, was not only
dern writers. And it is surprising that he dis- destitute of all imaginative powers, hut evidently
plays such great impartiality in his judgment of despised it when he saw it exercised by others.
the Romans, especially when we consider his inti- It is no doubt certain that an historian must keep
mate friendship with Scipio, and the strong admi- his imagination under a strong control ; but it is
ration which he evidently entertained of that equally certain that he will always fail in pro-
extraordinary people. Thus we find him, for ex- ducing any striking impression upon the mind of
ample, characterising the occupation of Sardinia by his readers, unless he has, to some extent, called
the Romans in the interval between the first and his imagination into exercise. It is for this reason
second Punic wars, as a violation of all justice (iii. that the geographical descriptions of Polybius are
28. & 2), and denouncing the general corruption of so vague and indistinct ; and the following remarks
the Roman generals from the time of their foreign of Dr. Arnold, upon the character of Polybius as a
conquests, with a few brilliant exceptions (xviii. geographer, are quite in accordance with the general
18). But, at the same time, he does not display views we have expressed :-“ Nothing shows more
an equal impartiality in the history of the Achaean clearly the great rarity of geographical talent, than
league ; and perhaps we could hardly expect from the praise which has been commonly bestowed upon
him that he should forget that he was an Achaean. Polybius as a good geographer. He seems indeed
He no doubt thought that the extension of the to have been aware of the importance of geography
Achaean league was essential to the liberties of to history, and to have taken considerable pains to
Greece ; and he is thus unconsciously led to ex- ' gain information on the subject : but this very cir-
## p. 448 (#464) ############################################
448
POLYBIUS.
POLY BIUS.
cumstance proves the more the difficulty of the order of the Emperor Constantinus Porphyra
task ; for his descriptions are so vague and imper-genitus. These Ercerpta are taken from various
fect, and so totally devoid of painting, that it is authors, but the most important of them came
scarcely possible to understand them. For in- from Polybius. In 1609 İs. Casaubon published
stance, in his account of the march of the Gauls at Paris, in folio, his excellent edition of Polybius,
into Italy, and of the subsequent movements of in which he incorporated all the Excerpta and
their army and of the Romans, there is an obscu- fragments that had hitherto been discovered, and
rity, which never could have existed had he con- added a new Latin version. He intended likewise
ceived in his own mind a lively image of the seat to write a commentary upon the author, but he
of war as a whole, of the connection of the rivers did not proceed further tban the 20th chapter of
and chains of mountains with each other, and of the first book ; this portion of his commentary
the consequent direction of the roads and most fre- was published after his death at Paris, 1617, 8vo.
quented passes. " (Hist. of Rome, vol. iii. pp. 473, A further addition was made to the fragments of
474. ) To this same cause, the want of imagina- Polybius by Valesius, who published, in 1634,
tion on the part of Polybius, we are disposed to another portion of the Excerpta of Constantinus,
attribute the apparent indifference with which he entitled Excerpta de Virtutibus et Vitiis (Tepl åpernis
describes the fall of his native country, and the kal kaklas), containing extracts from Polybius,
extinction of the liberties of Greece. He only Diodorus Siculus, and other writers ; and to this
sought to relate facts, and to draw the proper recollection Valesius added several other fragments
flections from them: to relate them with vividness of Polybius, gathered together from various writers.
and to paint them in striking colours was not his Jacobus Gronovius undertook a new edition of
calling.
Polybius, which appeared at Amsterdam in 1670,
The greater part of the history of Polybius has in 3 vols. 8vo. ; the text of this edition is taken
perished. We possess the first five books entire, almost verbatim from Casaubon's, but the editor
but of the rest we have only fragments and ex- added, besides the extracts of Valesius and the
tracts, of which some, however, are of considerable commentary of Casaubon on the first twenty
length, such as the account of the Roman army, chapters of the first book, many additional notes
which belonged to the sixth book. The first five by Casaubon, which had been collected from his
books were first printed in a Latin translation papers by his son Mericus Casaubon, and like-
executed by Nic. Perotti, and issued from the wise notes by Gronovius himself. The edition of
celebrated press of Sweynheym and Pannartz, Gronovius was reprinted under the care of J. A.
Rome, 1473, fol. The first part of the work of Ernesti at Leipzig, 1763–1764, 3 vols.
