VITA
de vita eiushis lifePolybius circa annum CC a.C.n. Megalopoli in Arcadia natus est, Lycortae filius, qui inter principes concilii Achaici erat. Anno CLXXXII urnam Philopoemenis ducis portavit, et anno CLXX/CLXIX hipparchus Achaeorum fuit, dum Romani cum Perseo, Macedonum rege, bellum gerunt. Anno CLXIX legatus ad consulem Romanum in Macedoniam missus est, ut auxilium Achaeorum offerret.
Polybius was born about 200 B.C. at Megalopolis in Arcadia, son of Lycortas, a leading statesman of the Achaean League. In 182 he carried the urn of the general Philopoemen, and in 170/169 B.C. he was cavalry commander of the League, while Rome was at war with Perseus, king of Macedon. In 169 he was sent as envoy to the Roman consul in Macedonia, to offer the League's help.
Post victoriam Romanam ad Pydnam (anno CLXVIII) inter mille Achaeos obsides in Italiam abductus est. Romae Scipionis Aemiliani adulescentis amicus et magister factus, instituta Romana penitus cognovit. Anno CXLVI Scipioni Carthaginem delenti adstitit, et postea, Corintho capta, res Graecarum urbium componere adiuvit.
After Rome's victory at Pydna (168) he was one of a thousand Achaeans taken to Italy as hostages. In Rome he became the friend and mentor of the young Scipio Aemilianus and came to know Roman institutions from within. In 146 B.C. he stood beside Scipio at the destruction of Carthage, and after the sack of Corinth helped to settle the affairs of the Greek cities.
Historiae eius, libris XL, exponebant quomodo Romani paene totum orbem terrarum in suam dicionem redegissent, ad annum CXLVI pergentes; quinque libri priores integri supersunt. Historiam pragmaticam viris rei publicae et rei militaris scripsit, causas a praetextibus distinxit, mixtam Romanorum rem publicam descripsit. Circa annum CXVIII, ex equo lapsus, mortuus esse dicitur.
His Histories, in forty books, explained how Rome came to rule almost the whole known world, continuing down to 146 B.C.; the first five books survive complete. He wrote pragmatic history for statesmen and men of action, distinguished causes from pretexts and described Rome's mixed constitution. He is said to have died about 118 B.C. after a fall from his horse.
TEMPORA
res gestaetimeline- c. 200 a.C.n.c. 200 B.C.Megalopoli nascitur.Born at Megalopolis.
- 182 a.C.n.182 B.C.Urnam Philopoemenis portat.Carries the urn of Philopoemen.
- 170/169 a.C.n.170/169 B.C.Hipparchus Achaeorum.Cavalry commander of the Achaean League.
- 167 a.C.n.167 B.C.Obses Romam abducitur.Taken to Rome as a hostage.
- 146 a.C.n.146 B.C.Carthaginis excidio adest; res Graeciae componit.Witnesses the destruction of Carthage; helps settle Greece.
- c. 118 a.C.n.c. 118 B.C.Moritur.Dies.
SENTENTIAE
verba ipsiusin his own wordsτὸ παρὰ τοῖς ἄλλοις ἀνθρώποις ὀνειδιζόμενον, τοῦτο συνέχειν τὰ Ῥωμαίων πράγματα, λέγω δὲ τὴν δεισιδαιμονίαν.
What other peoples reproach, religious awe, is what holds the Roman state together.
Polyb. VI.56.7
ἀληθινωτάτην μὲν εἶναι παιδείαν καὶ γυμνασίαν πρὸς τὰς πολιτικὰς πράξεις τὴν ἐκ τῆς ἱστορίας μάθησιν.
The truest education and training for political life is the study of history.
Polyb. I.1.2
Quis enim tam ignavus aut socors est ut nolit scire quomodo et quali rei publicae forma paene omnia orbis terrarum loca minus quam tribus et quinquaginta annis sub unum Romanorum imperium ceciderint? (Latine redditum)
Who is so worthless or so idle as not to wish to know how, and under what kind of constitution, almost the whole world fell under the single rule of Rome in less than fifty-three years?
Polyb. I.1.5
SCRIPTA IN ACTISHIS PIECES IN THE ACTA
—Nondum in Actis scripsit — mox scribet.He has not written for the Acta yet — his turn is coming.