Overview

The historian Polybius (ca. 200–118 bc) was born into a leading family of Megalopolis in the Peloponnese and served the Achaean League in arms and diplomacy for many years. From 168 to 151 he was held hostage in Rome, where he became a friend of Scipio Aemilianus, whose campaigns, including the destruction of Carthage, he later attended. As a trusted mediator between Greece and the Romans, he helped in the discussions that preceded the final war with Carthage, and after 146 was entrusted by the Romans with the details of administration in Greece. Polybius's overall theme is how and why the Romans spread their power as they did. The main part of his history covers the years 264–146 bc, describing the rise of Rome, the destruction of Carthage, and the eventual domination of the Greek world. The Histories is a vital achievement of the first importance despite the incomplete state in which all but the first five of its original forty books survive. For this edition, W. R. Paton's excellent translation, first published in 1922, has been thoroughly revised, the Büttner-Wobst Greek text corrected, and explanatory notes and a new introduction added, all reflecting the latest scholarship.

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The numerous explanatory notes of the revised edition offer the reader a good assistance in orienting themselves within the fragmentary tradition of Polybius' books 16 to 27 by contextualizing the events mentioned historically, referring to recent research and clarifying special terms, persons, places, etc....Fully recommended.-- (01/26/2013)

The numerous explanatory notes of the revised edition offer the reader a good assistance in orienting themselves within the fragmentary tradition of Polybius' books 16 to 27 by contextualizing the events mentioned historically, referring to recent research and clarifying special terms, persons, places, etc....Fully recommended. -- Michael Kleu * Bryn Mawr Classical Review *

The numerous explanatory notes of the revised edition offer the reader a good assistance in orienting themselves within the fragmentary tradition of Polybius' books 16 to 27 by contextualizing the events mentioned historically, referring to recent research and clarifying special terms, persons, places, etc....Fully recommended.--Michael Kleu Bryn Mawr Classical Review (01/26/2013)

The numerous explanatory notes of the revised edition offer the reader a good assistance in orienting themselves within the fragmentary tradition of Polybius' books 16 to 27 by contextualizing the events mentioned historically, referring to recent research and clarifying special terms, persons, places, etc....Fully recommended.--Michael Kleu Bryn Mawr Classical Review (1/26/2013 12:00:00 AM)

Author Information

William Roger Paton (1857–1921) was an independent scholar educated at Oxford and based in Samos. F. W. Walbank was Rathbone Professor of Ancient History and Classical Archaeology at the University of Liverpool and a Fellow of the British Academy. Christian Habicht is Emeritus Professor of Ancient History at the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, and a Fellow of the British Academy.

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