His particular subject was, unsurprisingly, Rome, and it is in Polybius' historical and political studies that we find the best contemporary description of Roman politics and history. Eventually, when Greece became a Roman province, Polybius helped arrange the political transition, in recognition of which the Romans raised many monuments to him (the remnant, a pedestal, of one such monument was discovered at Olympia).įor most of the latter part of his life he seems to have lived at Rome, writing history. With the fall of Corinth later that year, Polybius returned to Greece once more. Though he was allowed to return to Greece in 150BCE, he went back to Rome the very next year, and joined Scipio in Africa, in time to witness the fall of Carthage ( 146 BCE). In particular, Polybius established a close friendship with Scipio. Among these was the household of Aemilius Paulus, whose two sons ( Fabius and the younger Scipio) Polybius became the teacher of. Since he was a man of culture and distinction, he was treated as an honoured guest in Rome, and welcomed into the finest homes. In 167 BCE, during the war between Rome and Macedonia, Polybius was one of the 1000 Achaean hostages who were taken to Rome to guarantee the neutrality of the League. He was thus a significant participant in the activities of the Achaean League. By virtue of his family connections and his training, he was given several important positions, including a post as cavalry commander. 118 BCE.īorn into a prominent Megalopolitan family (his father Lycortas was a general of the Achaean League), Polybius received an early training in politics and military affairs.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |