He later wrote about this war in a lost monograph. Little is known of Polybius' later life he most likely accompanied Scipio to Spain, acting as his military advisor during the Numantine War. He apparently interviewed veterans to clarify details of the events he was recording and was similarly given access to archival material. In the succeeding years, Polybius resided in Rome, completing his historical work while occasionally undertaking long journeys through the Mediterranean countries in the furtherance of his history, in particular with the aim of obtaining firsthand knowledge of historical sites. Polybius was charged with the difficult task of organizing the new form of government in the Greek cities, and in this office he gained great recognition. Following the destruction of Carthage, Polybius likely journeyed along the Atlantic coast of Africa, as well as Spain.įollowing the destruction of Corinth in the same year, Polybius returned to Greece, making use of his Roman connections to lighten the conditions there. When the Achaean hostages were released in 150 BC, Polybius was granted leave to return home, but the next year he went on campaign with Scipio Aemilianus to Africa, and was present at the capture of Carthage, which he later described. The younger Scipio eventually destroyed Carthage in 146 BC. As the former tutor of Scipio Aemilianus, Polybius remained on cordial terms with his former pupil and remained a counselor to vanquisher of the Carthaginians in the Third Punic War. In Rome, by virtue of his high culture, Polybius was admitted to the most distinguished houses, in particular to that of Aemilius Paulus, the conqueror in the Third Macedonian War, who entrusted Polybius with the education of his sons, Fabius and Scipio Aemilianus (who had been adopted by the eldest son of Scipio Africanus). Lycortas attracted the suspicion of the Romans, and Polybius subsequently was one of the 1,000 Achaean nobles who were transported to Rome as hostages in 167 BC, and was detained there for 17 years. Polybius’ father, Lycortas, was a prominent advocate of neutrality during the Roman war against Perseus of Macedonia. His early political career was devoted largely towards maintaining the independence of Megalopolis. In either 169 BC or 170 BC, Polybius was elected hipparchus, or cavalry leader, election to which often presaged election to the annual strategia or post of chief general. In 182 BC, he was given quite an honor when he was chosen to carry the funeral urn of Philopoemen, one of the most eminent Achaean politicians of his generation. He developed an interest in horse riding and hunting, diversions that later commended him to his Roman captors. Consequently, Polybius was able to observe first hand the political and military affairs of Megalopolis. His father, Lycortas, was a prominent, land-owning politician and member of the governing class. Polybius was born around 200 BC in Megalopolis, Arcadia, at which time was an active member of the Achaean League. Polybius held that historians should only chronicle events whose participants the historian was able to interview, and was among the first to champion the notion of having factual integrity in historical writing, while avoiding bias. Polybius's The Histories provides a detailed account of Rome's ascent to empire and included his eyewitness accounts of the Roman victory over Hannibal and the Sack of Carthage in 146 BC. He became a close friend of the Roman military commander Scipio Aemilianus, accompanying the general to Hispania and Africa. Polybius had the opportunity to return to Macedonia in 152 BC he elected to stay, however, in Rome, as by that time he had placed his allegiance in the Roman Republic. Polybius was then deported to Rome, where Lucius Aemilius Paulus employed him to tutor his two sons. His father's opposition to Roman control of Macedonia resulted in his imprisonment. He was the son of Lycortas, a Greek politician who became Cavalry Commander of the Achaean League. Polybius was born in Arcadia around 200 BC. Polybius is also renowned for his ideas concerning the separation of powers in government, later used in Montesquieu's The Spirit of the Laws and in the drafting of the United States Constitution. The work describes in part the rise of the Roman Republic and its gradual domination over Greece. 200–118 BC), Greek Πολύβιος) was a Greek historian of the Hellenistic Period noted for his work, The Histories, which covered the period of 220–146 BC in detail. Histories, events of the Roman Republic, 220-146 BCĪll historians of the Roman Republic during and after his time The Stele of Polybius, possible representation of the man For other uses, see Polybius (disambiguation).
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |