Polybius' Death Notices

Author(s): Arthur J. Pomeroy

Source: Phoenix, Vol. 40, No. 4 (Winter, 1986), pp. 407-423
Published by: Classical Association of Canada
Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/1088170
Accessed: 13-08-2019 15:09 UTC

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 POLYBIUS' DEA TH NOTICES

A RTHUR J . POM EROY

W ITH HIS PORTRA YA L OF CROESUS, Her odot us, f at h er of h i st or y

an i n t er est i n ex em pl ar y f i gur es w h i ch w as t o con t i n ue t h r oug
cal h i st or i ogr aph y .1 By t h e f our t h cen t ur y such ch ar act er i sat i on , s
m odel s t o be f ol l ow ed or f at es t o be av oi ded, h ad becom e on e o
i m por t an t r equi r em en t s of an h i st or i an . Th e t r en d, n ot i ceabl
ph on 's st r on g em ph asi s on m or al ev al uat i on , 2 i s ev en m or e m ar
successor s.3 Th eopom pus' por t r ai t of Ph i l i p (FGr Hi st 115 F 225
an d Ti m aeus' t r eat m en t of A gat h ocl es, t y r an t of Sy r acuse (FG
F 124 = Pol . 12.15, 15.35) w er e n ot or i ous ex am pl es of t h e v ogu
appr opr i at e ch ar act er por t r ai t s seem t o h av e com e t o be ex pe
h i st or i an - so m uch so t h at Di on y si us of Hal i car n assus, pr ai si n g
i des' con cer n f or t h e t r ut h an d h i s un bi ased ev al uat i on of gr eat m e
t h at t h e h i st or i an 's abi l i t y i s sh ow n by t h e w ay h e passes due j udge
Ni ci as, A l ci bi ades, an d Dem ost h en es (De Th uc. 8). In f act , T
n ev er speci f i cal l y j udges Dem ost h en es; but i t i s i n di cat i v e t h at
pr esum abl y t h ough t t h at h e ough t t o h av e don e so an d t h us er r
h i s pr econ cept i on of w h at h i st or i cal w r i t i n g sh oul d be.
Gi v en t h i s Hel l en i st i c i n t er est i n t h e ev al uat i on of gr eat m en
sur pr i se t h at t h e gr eat est of t h e h i st or i an s of t h i s per i od sh oul d f
pass j udgem en t on h i s ch ar act er s. Th r ough out h i s w or k , o
Pol y bi us' st r on g bel i ef i n t h e educat i on al v al ue of h i st or y w i t h
m or al an d pol i t i cal ben ef i t .4 Si n ce k n ow l edge of past deeds i s sel f - e
cor r ect i v e gui de (8L6pOox Ls) t o con duct i n t h e pr esen t (1.1.1), 5 on e

I w i sh t o t h an k t h e t w o an on y m ous r ef er ees of Ph oen i x f or v al uabl e assi st an ce i n i

paper . F. W . W al ban k , A Hi st or i cal Com m en t ar y on Pol y bi us (Ox f or d 1957- 79),
ei t h er as W al ban k , Com m en t ar y or by aut h or 's n am e al on e.
1It sh oul d, h ow ev er , be n ot ed t h at t h e ex t en t t o w h i ch t h i s por t r ai t of Cr oesus
as a di dact i c m odel i s open t o quest i on : H.- P. St ah l , " Lear n i n g Th r ough Suf f er
Con v er sat i on s i n t h e Hi st or y of Her odot us, " YCS 24 (1975) 1- 36.
2H. R. Br ei t en bach , Hi st or i ogr aph i sch e A n sch auun gsf or m en X en oph on s (Fr ei bur
104.

3See C. W . For n ar a, Th e Nat ur e of Hi st or y i n A n ci en t Gr eece an d Rom e (Ber k

A n gel es 1983) 108- 109.
4Such bel i ef s h av e by n o m ean s v an i sh ed t oday - f or i n st an ce, Z. Yav et z descr
t each er s' sh ock ed r eact i on t o St r asbur ger 's " assassi n at i on " of Caesar i n 1953 (J ul i u
h i s Publ i c Im age [Lon don 1983] 11). Pr esum abl y t h e t each er s' con cer n w as n ot m er
m or al sui t abi l i t y of Caesar but w as al so i n f l uen ced by t h e m em or y of pol i t i c
Ger m any .
5For t he educat i ve val ue of hi st or y i n Pol y bi us, see especi al l y S. Mohm , Unt er suchungen zu
den hi st or i ogr aphi schen Anschauungen des Pol y bi us (di ss., Saar br uck en 1977) 183- 229 ("Di e
For m en der Bel ehr ung").
407

PHOENIX, VOL. 40 (1986) 4.

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408 PHOENIX

t hat t he speci al vi r t ue of hi st or y i s i t s pr ai se and posi t i ve r ecal l of not e-

wor t hy conduct (2.61.6). To Pol y bi us, t hen, i t i s sur pr i si ng t hat t he nar r a-
t or s of f oundat i on hi st or i es (KTi UELS) shoul d gi ve pr eci se descr i pt i ons of how
var i ous ci t i es w er e i nst i t ut ed, whi l e i gnor i ng t he educat i on and t he goal s of
t hose m en w ho had over al l com m and of t he pr oject s. Si nce m en desi r e t o
em ul at e ani m at e hum an bei ngs r at her t han i nani m at e const r uct i ons, so t oo
nar r at i ve w hi ch concent r at es on t he f or m er w i l l be m or e ef f ect i ve i n t he
r eader 's i m pr ovem ent (er r xav6p0oxr s, 10.21.3- 4). The Rom ans, i n Pol y bi us'
vi ew , had appr eci at ed t he r ol e of exem pl ar s and, f or i nst ance, by est abl i sh-
i ng t he cust om of f uner al or at i ons had encour aged t hei r y out h t o em ul at e t he
deeds of t hei r ancest or s (6.53). As a r esul t , t hei r y oung m en w er e br aver
and, ul t i m at el y , m or e successf ul i n w ar t han t hose of Car t hage (6.52.10).
Hence, because of t hei r super i or soci al or gani sat i on, t he Rom ans becam e t he
f i r st r ace t o r ul e t he w hol e oi k oum ene (1.2.7).
As a r esul t of t hi s bel i ef i n t he di dact i c val ue of i ndi vi dual l i ves, Pol y bi us
f r equent l y of f er s br i ef car eer sum m ar i es w hi ch f eat ur e m or al and soci al
judgem ent s at t he deat hs of l eadi ng pol i t i cal f i gur es. These deat h not i ces
seem par t i cul ar l y w or t h i nvest i gat i ng because t hei r appeal t o t he By zant i ne
excer pt er s has l ed t o t hei r enjoy i ng an appar ent l y hi gh sur vi val r at e i n t he
f r agm ent ar y book s of Pol y bi us.6 Thus t hey can be used t o r eveal speci f i c
exem pl ar y t r ends i n t he hi st or i an's t hought , w hi l e i ndi cat i ng t he l i m i t at i ons
of hi s hi st or i cal out l ook .
Onl y a sel ect gr oup of hi st or i cal f i gur es ear n such eval uat i ons. Thi s i s
del i ber at e pol i cy . Pol y bi us i ndi cat es t hat w hi l e he i s per f ect l y happy t o
r et ar d hi s nar r at i ve f or di scussi on of m at t er s w hi ch he t hi nk s i m por t ant
(22.3.7; f r . 67), especi al l y w hen i t i s appr opr i at e t o t he gl or y of t he deceased
and t he encour agem ent of post er i t y t o f i ne deeds (23.14.12), he consi der s i t a
w ast e of i nk t o devot e an obi t uar y t o som eone l i k e Agat hocl es, t he advi sor
of Pt ol em y Phi l opat or . Bet t er t o consi der Agat hocl es of Sy r acuse i nst ead
(15.35.1), especi al l y as he had a l ong and successf ul car eer w hi ch w on t he
adm i r at i on of Sci pi o Af r i canus (15.36.6). The Egy pt i an, on t he ot her hand,
di d not have cour age i n w ar , out st andi ng abi l i t y , envi abl e success i n hand-
l i ng af f ai r s, or even a cour t i er 's nat i ve cunni ng and except i onal sk i l l i n
m i schi ef - m ak i ng (15.33.3- 4). Thus i t w oul d appear t hat t o ear n ext ensi ve
t r eat m ent even vi l l ai ns m ust be i m pr essi ve i n t hei r evi l . Fur t her m or e, t her e
i s a m or al object i on t o t he r eady por t r ay al of evi l Pol y bi us per cei ved i n hi s
pr edecessor s' w r i t i ngs: he object s t hat sensat i onal i st account s of char act er s
such as Agat hocl es w i l l not r ouse t he audi ence t o em ul at i on, and, w hi l e
ear ni ng som e i ni t i al i nt er est , w i l l f i nal l y onl y pr oduce a f eel i ng of di sgust
(15.36).7

6The col l ect i on of Const ant i ni an excer pt s De vi r t ut i bus et vi t i i s (P) i s par t i cul ar l y usef ul i n
pr eser vi ng obi t uar i es- e.g., 7.7- 8 (Hi er ony m us, Hi er o, and Gel o); 23.12- 14 (Phi l opoem en,
Hanni bal , Sci pi o); 32.8 (Eum enes); 36.15 (Pr usi as); 36.16 (Masi ni ssa).
7Cf . K. Sack s, Pol y bi us on t he Wr i t i ng of Hi st or y (Ber k el ey and Los Angel es 1981) 164- 165.

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 POLYBIUS' DEA TH NOTICES 409

So f or Pol y bi us w r i t i n g h i st or y i s a ser i ous busi n ess an d t h e h i st

r espon d w i t h due gr av i t y an d con cer n f or t h e w el l - bei n g of h i s au
i s t o be r egr et t ed t h at Th eopom pus, w h o cl ai m s t o h av e w r i t t e
pi ca because of t h e ex t r aor di n ar y n at ur e of Ph i l i p, son of A m y n t a
t h e k i n g as a w om an i ser , m i sch i ev ous t ow ar ds f r i en ds an d al l i es, t
t o f or ei gn st at es, an d a dr un k ar d (8.9.2- 4, FGr Hi st 115 F 27).9 W
Ti m aeus' accoun t of Dem och ar es w h i ch suggest s pr act i ces sur
st ock - i n - t r ade of t h e por n ogr aph er s. To Pol y bi us, t h i s m er el
h i s pr edecessor 's obscen i t y (cx i k x poX ow ax ) an d com pl et e i n dec
ct v act Lx v v v c: 12.13.1- 3 = FGr Hi st 566 F 35). Pr opr i et y i s a n ecessi t
h i st or i an , t o be con si der ed ev en w h en deal i n g w i t h t h e out r ageous.
l on g descr i pt i on of t h e t ast el ess m usi cal con t est st aged at Luci
t r i um ph , Pol y bi us r ef r ai n s f r om t el l i n g about t h e t r av est y i n f l i ct
t r agi c act or s, i n or der , h e say s, n ot t o seem t o be m ock i n g h
(30.22.12). It i s r at h er m or e di f f i cul t f or t h e h i st or i an t o con t
w i t h a pr aet er i t i o w h en h e h appen s upon A n t i och us IV of Sy r i a, a
sh ow ed i n suf f i ci en t r egar d f or h i s h i gh of f i ce by con v er si n g w i t h
gat ecr ash i n g sy m posi a, best ow i n g gi f t s r an gi n g f r om l ar ge sum s o
k n uck l ebon es, an d m i x i n g w i t h h i s subj ect s at t h e publ i c bat
of such deeds, Pol y bi us dr y l y n ot es, t h e k i n g w oul d be r i gh t l y
Epi ph an es, but Epi m an es (26.1.1).10
Pol y bi us, t h en , w i l l on l y deal w i t h ex am pl es w h i ch m eet h i s
dar ds of pr opr i et y an d, f ol l ow i n g h i s t en et s on m or al an d pol i t i cal
m en t , h e t en ds n ot t o dw el l on t h ose w h ose bad en ds ar e m er
con sum m at i on of t h ei r l i v es. Di caear ch us, t h e A et ol i an , w h en se
t h e A egean as a f r eeboot er by Ph i l i p, h ad w or sh i pped as di v i n i t
n ess (IIapot v ooi a) an d Im pi et y ('A aepei t , 18.54.10). Hi s deat h by
f or t ak i n g par t i n a con spi r acy agai n st Pt ol em y Epi ph an es w as
pun i sh m en t due on beh al f of al l Gr eek s. In deed t h e gods t oo
r ev en ge- h av i n g di r ect ed h i s l i f e con t r ar y t o n at ur e, Di caear c
sui t abl y un n at ur al f at e (18.54.7- 11). Pol y bi us can i n t h i s m an n e
t o h i s h at r ed of al l A et ol i an s an d si m ul t an eousl y w ar n h i s r ead
such con duct .11 Vi car i ous r ev en ge i s al so n ot i ceabl e i n h i s t r eat m en
v i l l ai n s. Her m ei as, t h e adv i sor of A n t i och us, assassi n at ed by h

8See especi al l y , M . Isn ar di , " T'X v - q e 'T0o; n el l a m et odol ogi a st or i ogr af i ca di

Cl assi ci e Or i en t al i 3 (1955) 102- 110, on t h e m or al i n t egr i t y essen t i al f or t h e t r u
Pol y bi us' opi n i on .
9G. Sh r i m pt on , " Th eopom pus' Tr eat m en t of Ph i l i p i n t h e Ph i l i ppi ca, " Ph oe
123- 144, ar gues t h at Th eopom pus' i r on y i n h i s t r eat m en t of Ph i l i p h as been m
but Pol y bi us w oul d n ot , on e suspect s, be an y m or e ch ar i t abl e t o i r on y , t h e m ar k
w h o i s i n suf f i ci en t l y cr ov 8oai os (cf . SVF 3.161.4 = St ob. 108.5 W ).
10On e w on der s w h at Pol y bi us w oul d h av e m ade of A n t i och us Cy zi cus' sk i l l
(Di od. 34/ 35.34).
" Cf . X en oph on 's por t r ai t of M en on t h e Th essal i an (A n ab. 2.6.21- 29), a t
t h r ough out h i s car eer , w h o w as n ot ex ecut ed w i t h t h e ot h er gen er al s by A r t a

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410 PHOENIX

cour t i er s, suf f er ed a puni shm ent whi ch coul d i n no way m at ch hi s deeds

(5.56.13). Apel l es, t he banef ul i nf l uence on Phi l i p, com m i t s sui ci de w hen
hi s t r eason has been f ound out - a t hor oughl y deser ved end, si nce he suf -
f er ed what he had i nt ended t o i nf l i ct on hi s col l eagues (4.87.11). Such ar e t he
r ew ar ds of gr eed, st upi di t y (r r XEovEi cL, &4po(r vr q, 4.87.11), and r eck l ess
i nt r i gue (&(TEX^y Ei x, 5.28.9) agai nst Pol y bi us' her o, Ar at us. The Egy pt i an
of f i ci al Dei non, by f ai l i ng t o pr event t he m ur der of Ar si noe, coul d be hel d
r esponsi bl e f or al l t he t r oubl es i n t he cour t whi ch f ol l owed. But Nem esi s
gave hi m a f i t t i ng end (15.26a.2): when Agat hocl es l ear nt t hat Dei non was
havi ng af t er t hought s, he had hi m k i l l ed, t he "just est of hi s cr i m es."12
Ar chi as, gover nor of Cy pr us, can al so be used t o i l l ust r at e a pi ece of pr over b-
i al wi sdom .13 He at t em pt ed t o bet r ay t he i sl and t o Dem et r i us of Sy r i a f or
f i ve hundr ed t al ent s, but when di scover ed had no r ecour se except t o hang
hi m sel f by hi s cur t ai n r ope. Ty che shoul d not be bl am ed f or t hi s; r at her , t hi s
shows t hat "em pt y heads devi se vai n schem es" (33.5.3). Scopas t he Aet ol i an
had "del i ver ed hi s l i f e over t o m oney " (13.2.5): af t er l osi ng of f i ce i n Aet ol i a,
he had t r i ed t o r ecoup hi s f or t unes i n Egy pt , but per i shed pl ot t i ng agai nst
Pt ol em y Epi phanes (18.54.6). He not onl y of f er s a w ar ni ng t o t he r eader
agai nst t he dest r uct i ve vi ce of avar i ce (13.2.2), so pr eval ent am ong t he
Aet ol i ans i n Pol y bi us' opi ni on (e.g., 4.3.1), but al so shows how f ew m en ar e
capabl e of car r y i ng out a dar i ng schem e. Unl i k e Cl eom enes of Spar t a, who
had pr ef er r ed t o r i sk a gl or i ous deat h r at her t han cl i ng t o hope when hi s
pl ans w er e f ound out , Scopas showed hi m sel f i ncapabl e of act i on when hi s
conspi r acy w as det ect ed (18.53.1- 6). Or opher nes of Cappadoci a i s anot her
exam pl e of a per son over com e by gr eed, who has spent hi s l i f e on m oney
(32.11.1).14 He dul y l ost hi s k i ngdom and hi s l i f e as a consequence.
In al l t hese cases, m en ar e r esponsi bl e f or t he out com e of t hei r ow n
act i ons. Ther e i s no poi nt , Pol y bi us st at es, i n at t r i but i ng what happens t o a
f i ck l e and i nescapabl e Ty che, as som e wr i t er s had done wi t h Agat hocl es, t he
guar di an of Pt ol em y Epi phanes (15.34.2).15 Whi l e Sosi bi us, hi s pr edecessor
as f or ce behi nd t he t hr one, by hi s own shar p- w i t t edness had m anaged t o

seem ed t oo qui ck a deat h. Inst ead he was t or t ur ed f or a y ear t i l l he m et a m ost wr et ched end
(2.6.29).
12Pol y bi us r epeat s t hi s t hem e el sewher e: 4.87.7 and Suda 4.577.12, whi ch m ust be a f r agm ent
of Pol y bi us (M. L. West , "Two Unnot i ced Fr agm ent s of Pol y bi us," CR 23 [1973] 9- 10).
O3n Pol y bi us' use of pr over bs, see K. Zi egl er , "Pol y bi us," RE 21.1 (1900) especi al l y 1552-
1555, "Al l gem ei ne Ref l exi onen," who concl udes t hat whi l e Pol y bi us' m or al i st i c t r eat m ent i s
of t en not or i gi nal but based on ol der l i t er ar y or or al i deas, he al way s r eshapes t hese bel i ef s f or
hi s own pur poses.
14T6 vTTEVcot a 'TTpoCr eOU'Kc TOt S Xpr i (Loct v- a pl ay on Tpocr TL0TILL XpcLaTr oa, "spend
m oney " as i n Dem ost h. 18.239 (LSJ s.v. 7TPOUTL0q1L A.I.2)?
'5Cf . 36.17: onl y i n t r ul y i r r at i onal cases shoul d t he cause of event s be at t r i but ed t o Ty che
and Hei m ar m ene. For a sum m ar y of Pol y bi us' vi ews on Ty che, see Wal bank 1.16- 26; cf . al so
A. Rover i , "Ty che i n Pol i bi o," Convi vi um 24 (1956) 275- 293.

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 POLYBIUS' DEA TH NOTICES 411

h ol d pow er ov er a l on g an d ban ef ul per i od (15.25.1; 15.34.3- 4),

by h i s cow ar di ce an d i n dol en ce l ost con t r ol of af f ai r s, h i s l i f
r eput at i on as w el l (15.34.6). Nor does ch an ce deser v e t o be bl am
en d of Dem et r i us of Ph ar os- h i s deat h i n a sur pr i se at t ack on M
i n l i n e w i t h t h e r est of h i s l i f e, w h er e bol dn ess w as com bi n ed w i t h
i n g dar i n g an d a t ot al l ack of j udgem en t (3.19.9- 10).
In such m an n er Pol y bi us i s abl e t o m ak e br i ef , di dact i c com m
en d of t h e v i l l ai n s, w i t h out r om an t i ci si n g t h ei r car eer s or i n t r odu
n al el em en t s. In t h ose cases w h er e Ty ch e does m ak e h er pr esen c
usual l y a case of m en 's si n s an d er r or s cat ch i n g up w i t h t h em . So,
seen , a due f at e bef el l Her m ei as, A pel l es, an d Scopas. Th e l esson
gen er al , on e sh oul d at t em pt t o l i m i t t h e r i sk f r om ch an ce ev en
sh oul d al w ay s be bor n e i n m i n d t h at r at i on al cal cul at i on w i l l n
pr ot ect us agai n st t h e act i on s of ot h er s, but on e sh oul d t r y t o
con sequen ces of m i sch an ce. Th i s l esson A ch aeus l ear n t t o h i s co
w h en h e r ebel l ed agai n st A n t i och us t h e Gr eat . Hi s f at e of f er s t w o
l esson s: n ot t o t r ust on e's f el l ow m en t oo r eadi l y (si n ce h e w
by t h ose w h om h e ex pect ed t o r escue h i m ); an d si n ce ci r cum st
ch an ge, n ot t o be ov er con f i den t i n success (si n ce h i s pr osper i t y
decl ar e h i m sel f k i n g an d br ough t about h i s ev en t ual dow n f al l ).
For t un e m ay seem t o be r espon si bl e f or t ur n i n g l egi sl at or s' i deas a
agai n st t h em sel v es, t h e r eal bl am e m ust l i e w i t h t h ei r ow n f ai l ur e
ber t h e h um an con di t i on . W h en t h e A ch aean pol i t i ci an Cal l i cr at
por t r ai t s w er e r epl aced by t h e on es of h i s r i v al Ly cor t as, w h i c
v i ousl y been r em ov ed on Cal l i cr at es' l ead. Her e on e m ay speak
i n v ol v em en t - but on l y t o t h e degr ee t h at Cal l i cr at es, by t h e ex a
set , h ad br ough t t h i s f at e on h i m sel f (36.13.12).16
In t h ese ex am pl es, i t h as been possi bl e t o f or m a Her odot ean j udg
t h e subj ect f r om h i s en d. But Pol y bi us al so k n ow s t h at , i r r at i on al l y
t h e ev i l doer s m ay be r edeem ed by a gl or i ous en d. Ly ci scus t h e A
a m an of m eddl esom e an d t r oubl e- m ak i n g n at ur e, but , un deser
v i l l ai n , h e di ed n obl y (32.4.1- 3). W h i l e t h i s h er oi c deat h seem s
t h e ov er r i di n g i n f l uen ce of Ch an ce, r at h er t h an a ben ef i cen t For t u
h i st or i cal pr ocess, t h e ex cept i on t o t h e n or m al deser v ed en d
h i gh l i gh t s t h e n or m al r egul ar i t y of Pol y bi us' t r eat m en t of h i st or i
t h e con cl usi on sh oul d cor r espon d t o t h e gen er al t on e of t h e car eer
Ly ci scus' ev i l n at ur e i s t h e cause of h i s v i ol en t deat h - i t i s si m pl y u
t h at h e sh oul d m eet h i s en d so w el l .
In deed, t h e gen er al con si st en cy of Pol y bi us' posi t i on on t h e f
doer s can be m ade cl ear by a con si der at i on of t h r ee passages i
Si cul us w h i ch sh ow a di f f er en t t r eat m en t of For t un e. In t h e w ar a
'6Con t r ast w i t h t h i s t h e m or e com m on Hel l en i st i c depi ct i on of an av en gi n g Ty
Per i l aos, w h o bui l t t h e bul l of Ph al ar i s, i s i t s f i r st v i ct i m (Di od. 32.25).

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412 PHOENIX

m er cenar i es, t he Car t hagi ni an gener al Ham i l car def eat ed and cr uci f i ed hi s
adver sar y Spondi us; but l at er t he r ebel l eader Mat hos had t he oppor t uni t y t o
nai l t he capt ur ed Car t hagi ni an l eader , Hanni bal , t o t he sam e cr oss. Accor d-
i ng t o Di odor us, For t une seem ed t o be del i ber at el y gi vi ng al t er nat e vi ct or i es
and def eat s t o t hese of f ender s agai nst hum an nat ur e (Di od. 25.5.2). Thi s i s a
por t r ai t of a m or al l y dom i nant For t une, such as can al so be seen i n t he
expl anat i on Di odor us gi ves f or t he downf al l of Ant i gonus I: not cont ent
wi t h For t une's gi f t s, he had unjust l y t r i ed t o conquer t he k i ngdom of t he
ot her di adochoi as wel l , l osi ng k i ngdom and l i f e as a r esul t (Di od. 21.1.1).
Fi nal l y , Di odor us of f er s a vi vi d pi ct ur e of Agat hocl es, t y r ant of Sy r acuse,
dy i ng a si ngul ar l y hor r i bl e deat h f r om poi son. Because of t he num er ous
di f f er ent m ur der s f or whi ch he was r esponsi bl e i n hi s r ei gn and hi s i m pi et y
t owar ds t he gods as wel l , hi s m anner of deat h f i t t ed hi s l awl ess l i f e (Di od.
21.16.4). Pol y bi us hi m sel f r ecor ds t he deat hs of Spondi us and Hanni bal ,
and r em ar k s t hat For t une seem ed del i ber at el y f or pur poses of com par i son
(dCT7r Ep er Tvl T es s EK WapaOEo(exS) t o gi ve each t he chance t o i nf l i ct excessi ve
puni shm ent on t he ot her . Whi l e Pol y bi us por t r ay s For t une her e as cr uel ,17
hum an r esponsi bi l i t y i s not r educed- onl y peopl e w ho w er e w i l l i ng t o
i nf l i ct such at r oci t i es woul d have r esponded as t hey di d. Agai n, i f w e com -
par e Di odor us' account of Agat hocl es' end wi t h Pol y bi us' por t r ay al of t he
deat h of Di caear chus, i t i s cl ear t hat bot h hi st or i ans t ak e pl easur e i n t he due
puni shm ent of t he of f ender ; but wher eas i n Di odor us t he act m ust be at t r i b-
ut ed t o t he m or al i nt er est of t he di vi ne and t he i r r at i onal , t hat i s, t o al l we
w oul d consi der as Pr ovi dence, i n Pol y bi us t he i ndi vi dual nat ur e of t he gui l t y
par t y i s i n i t sel f suf f i ci ent under l y i ng cause f or t he event s whi ch br i ng about
hi s dow nf al l . As a r esul t , despi t e al l hi s Achaean bi as, Pol y bi us' psy chol ogi -
cal depi ct i on can be accept ed as an expl anat i on based on hi st or i cal causat i on,
w hi l e Di odor us' t r eat m ent , r el y i ng on t he i r r at i onal f or i nt er pr et i ng hum an
event s, f ai l s as an i nvest i gat i ve m et hod on hi st or i cal , t hough not necessar i l y
on m or al , t er m s.18

Ther e coul d har dl y be a gr eat er cont r ast t o t he sel f - ser vi ng act i ons of t he
vi l l ai nous Gr eek l eader s who have just been under di scussi on t han t hat
of f er ed by t he soci al l y - or i ent ed deeds of Pol y bi us' Rom ans. It i s Rom an
publ i c m or al i t y whi ch under pi ns t he m et hods and t he gover nm ent al sy st em

'7See Wal bank 1.19, l i nes 25- 26 and hi s not e on 1.86.7. Not e t hat Pol y bi us qual i f i es Ty che's
i nt er vent i on wi t h dx7r ep- he w i l l not decl ar e t hat t hi s need be t he wor k of an avengi ng
Pr ovi dence.
'8Thi s i s not t o say t hat Pol y bi us i s w hol l y consi st ent i n hi s t r eat m ent of cause and ef f ect - as
Wal bank , 1.17- 18, not es, Pol y bi us' whol e vi ew of causat i on t ends i n i t sel f t o encour age t he r ol e
of Ty che as a secondar y cause. Mor eover , i t i s no acci dent t hat Ty che's r ol e i s downpl ay ed i n
t he cases of t hose w hom Pol y bi us wi shes t o condem n- whi l e t he deat h of Phi l opoem en, t he
Achaean her o, i s at t r i but ed t o a m al i ci ous Ty che (23.12.3).

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 POLYBIUS' DEA TH NOTICES 413

by w h i ch Rom e ach i ev ed w or l d dom i n at i on (1.1.5). In con t r ast t o t

st at es descr i bed i n Book 6, Rom e possesses an i n n at e bal an ce of
w h i ch h av e en sur ed h er success (6.18; 6.52). Per h aps because of t h e
i n t er est s of Pol y bi us, but al so because of t h e v al ue pl aced on i t b
soci et y , t h e v i r t ue w h i ch i s m ost pr om i n en t i s cour age (31.29.1).
- an d ach i ev em en t - of a Rom an educat i on w as t o pr oduce m en
en dur e an y t h i n g t o obt ai n a r eput at i on f or cour age (6.52.11). So, t o pi
m ost st r i k i n g ex am pl e, Hor at i us Codes, af t er def en di n g t h e br i dg
h i m sel f i n t o t h e Ti ber an d per i sh ed, ch oosi n g f ut ur e gl or y ov er l
pr esen t (6.55.3).19
Gi v en t h i s em ph asi s on v al our , i t i s per h aps n ot sur pr i si n g t h at
t h e n ot i ces f or Rom an s com m en t on t h ei r cour ageous en ds. A em i l
l us, t h e con sul w h o f el l at Can n ae, w as a m an w h o ser v ed h i s co
t h r ough out h i s l i f e an d, m or e t h an an y on e el se i n t h at con f l i ct , a
(3.116.11). Th e con sul ar s M ar cus A t i l i us an d Gn aeus Ser v i l i us al so
t h er e, good m en an d w or t h y of Rom e i n t h e bat t l e (3.116.11).20 T
t i on al em ph asi s on sh ow i n g on esel f cour ageous, as an ci v t p i y a066
n ot , h ow ev er , bl i n d Pol y bi us t o t h e dan ger s i n h er en t i n such gl or y - s
W h en M ar cel l us got h i m sel f k i l l ed r econ n oi t r i n g t h e en em y 's po
act ed l i k e a si m pl et on , n ot a gen er al (10.32.7). Sci pi o A f r i can us,
con t r ar y , af t er sh ow i n g h i s br av er y w h i l e st i l l i n t h e r an k s by r escu
f at h er at t h e Ti ci n us, av oi ded un n ecessar y r i sk s i n h i s l at er pos
com m an d (10.3.7). A em i l i an us, t oo, set about obt ai n i n g a r eput at
v al our as a y oun g m an (cf . 31.29.9); h i s l at er con duct i n ch al l
Span i sh ch i ef t o si n gl e com bat sh ow ed dan ger ous r ash n ess (35.5.1
t h e t i m e of t h e A f r i can cam pai gn , h e t oo h ad l ear n ed w h en t o sh ow r
(36.8.4- 5).
But w h i l e t h er e ar e t i m es w h en a good gen er al m ust k n ow w h en
(l i k e Ham i l car Bar ca af t er t h e def eat at t h e A egat es Isl an ds, 1.62.3), t h
ot h er t i m es w h en i t ser v es n o pur pose f or h i m t o pr eser v e h i s l i f e. H
at t h e M et aur us ear n s speci al m en t i on as w or t h y of r espect an d e

19Cf . 6.39.1- 11 an d W al ban k 's n ot es f or t h e r egul ar r ew ar ds f or v al our i n t h e Rom

20In f act M . A t i l i us appear s t o h av e sur v i v ed t o be cen sor i n 214 (Li v y 24.11.6).
21Th e f or m ul a i s com m on i n Hel l en i st i c i n scr i pt i on s, as i s n ot ed by A . Sch ul t e,
quae i n t er cedi t i n t er Pol y bi um et t abul as publ i cas (di ss., Hal l e 1909). On e m ay c
deat h n ot i ce f or M ar gus of Car y n ei a (2.10.5) an d t h e m or e ex t en si v e n ot i ce f or t
adm i r al , Th eoph i l i scus (16.9.2), w h o h ad com m i t t ed t h e Rh odi an s t o t h e bat t l e o
t h us f or ced A t t al us t o cease del ay i n g h i s en t r y i n t o t h e w ar . Hen ce h e w as dul y h o
t h e Rh odi an s af t er deat h i n such a w ay as t o en cour age n ot on l y t h e l i v i n g but
gen er at i on s t o sei ze t h e oppor t un i t y t o ben ef i t t h ei r coun t r y (16.9.5). It w oul d be i n
w e coul d sh ow t h at Pol y bi us der i v ed h i s accoun t f r om an i n scr i pt i on , but t h e t h em e o
y Ev 6R, uEv os &dy aOos i s, as Sch ul t e n ot es, as ol d as Ty r t aeus 20, occur s f r equen t l y i n t h e
Her odot us (e.g., 9.75 on t h e deat h of t h e A t h en i an gen er al Soph an es at Dr abescu
f r equen t i n A t t i c f un er al or at i on s (N. Lor aux , L'In v en t i on d'A t h en es [Par i s 1981]

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 414 PHOENIX

(11.2.1- 4). He had show n hi m sel f a f i ne l eader i n avoi di ng r i sk s i n t he past ,

but , when f aced by a hopel ess si t uat i on, di d al l he coul d per sonal l y t o t r y t o
achi eve vi ct or y or at l east di e i n a m anner wor t hy of hi s pr evi ous car eer
(11.2.9- 10). Hi s end of f er s a m odel f or publ i c l eader s, who shoul d not dash
t he hopes of t hose w ho have put t hei r t r ust i n t hem by r ash act i ons (as di d
Mar cel l us) and, especi al l y , shoul d not m ak e t hei r downf al l di sgr acef ul and
sham ef ul by cl i ngi ng t o l i f e (11.2.11). Her e Pol y bi us i s sur el y cont r ast i ng
t he cour ageous deat hs of Car t hagi ni ans and Rom ans i n t he Second Puni c
War w i t h t he l ack of deci si on shown by Gr eek l eader s af t er Py dna.22 In
par t i cul ar , Per seus' cl i ngi ng t o l i f e af t er t he bat t l e woul d gai n hi m no cr edi t
f r om t he hi st or i an who expect s hi s m onar chs t o r i sk al l and be pr epar ed t o
per i sh nobl y .23
Apar t f r om t hose w ho di e i n bat t l e and t hus i l l ust r at e Pol y bi us' i deas on
t he pr oper conduct f or a f i ght er , f ew Rom ans ar e gi ven deat h not i ces. Possi -
bl y t hi s i s because Rom an act i ons wer e seen by hi m as t he r esul t of a
com m unal r at her t han an i ndi vi dual ef f or t . But i t seem s m or e l i k el y t hat
Pol y bi us had di f f i cul t y i n assessi ng i nt er nal Rom an pol i t i cs.24 The deat h of
Aem i l i us Paul l us, conquer or of Per seus, i s used as an oppor t uni t y t o com -
m ent on t he f or m er 's st r i k i ng l ack of avar i ce, i n whi ch he r i val l ed an Ar i st -
i des or an Epam i nondas (31.22.6- 7), but t he pur pose her e i s not so m uch t o
r evi ew Paul l us' car eer as t o of f er t he oppor t uni t y f or a di gr essi on on Sci pi o
Aem i l i anus (31.23.1). Al t hough t he por t r ai t s of t hese t w o m i ght be t ak en as
i l l ust r at i ng t he i ncor r upt i bi l i t y of at l east som e Rom ans, i n cont r ast t o
Gr eek pr act i ces (18.34.7; 18.35.2; cf . 31.25.9), t he i nt ent i on i s pr obabl y not
t he m or al educat i on of t he r eader . Som e aspect s of Pol y bi us' account suggest
t hat he coul d be of f er i ng Aem i l i anus as a m odel case of a car ef ul l y pl anned
car eer i n Rom an pol i t i cs (under t he t ut or shi p of Pol y bi us hi m sel f ). But t he
r eal pur pose i s pl ai nl y st at ed- t o l ay t he f oundat i ons f or t he t al e of Aem i l -
i anus' achi evem ent s i n t he book s t o f ol l ow (cf . 36.8.6).
So t oo Pol y bi us' sum m ar y of Af r i canus' abi l i t y as a l eader (23.14) f ai l s t o
sat i sf y or adequat el y set t he gr eat m an i n hi s pol i t i cal m i l i eu. In par t , t hi s

2230.6- 9, especi al l y 30.6.4 w i t h Wal bank 's not e on t he t ext . Cf . Pol y bi us' wor ds on t he
pol i t i ci ans of Gr eece and Car t hage of hi s t i m e (28.8.14) and hi s por t r ay al of Hasdr ubal 's
cowar di ce i n 38.20. Al so f r . 164.
23Per seus had deci ded t o conquer or di e at Py dna, but i n bat t l e hi s cour age f ai l ed hi m
(29.12.3); cf . hi s pat het i c desi r e t o l i ve i n pr i son i n Al ba (Di od. 31.9), and cont r ast Cl eom enes
of Spar t a who r esol ved t o di e nobl y and w i n t he adm i r at i on of post er i t y (5.38.9) and i n t hi s way
showed hi m sel f a nat ur al l eader and k i ng (5.39.6).
24See, f or i nst ance, A. Mom i gl i ano, Al i en Wi sdom . t he Li m i t s of Hel l eni sm (Cam br i dge 1975)
41- 49, on Pol y bi us' i nabi l i t y t o under st and t he Rom an st at e; i t i s i ndi cat i ve t hat Pol y bi us
st r esses t he ci vi c nat ur e of t he l audat i ones f unebr es, whi l e i gnor i ng t hei r i m por t ance f or t he
i nt er nal r i val r y wi t hi n t he r ul i ng el i t e (M. I. Fi nl ey , Pol i t i cs i n t he Anci ent Wor l d [Cam br i dge
1983] 95).

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 POLYBIUS' DEA TH NOTICES 415

m ay be due t o t h e con t ex t i n w h i ch h e con si der s h i s car eer . In

A ch aean l eader , Ph i l opoem en , w as t ak en pr i son er by t h e M es
poi son ed i n capt i v i t y ; t h at Han n i bal an d Sci pi o m et t h ei r en ds
y ear ex ci t es Pol y bi us t o com m en t on t h e car eer s of al l t h r ee.25 In
h e sees t h em as i l l ust r at i n g t h e con duct appr opr i at e t o l eader s
m ai n t y pes of soci al or gan i sat i on s: dem ocr acy , ar i st ocr acy , a
m on ar ch y .26 Ph i l opoem en spen t f or t y y ear s i n pur sui t of gl o
cr acy , y et av oi ded popul ar h ost i l i t y , al t h ough h e gen er al l y spo
bel i ev ed r at h er t h an t o pl ease t h e cr ow d (23.12.8- 9). Han n i bal i
y ear s on cam pai gn abr oad so w on t h e con f i den ce of h i s f or ei gn
despi t e t h ei r di f f er en t cust om s an d l an guages t h ey r em ai n ed a un i
an d n on e of h i s al l i es ev er pl ot t ed agai n st h i m or deser t ed (23.1
Sci pi o, seek i n g h on our an d gl or y l i k e t h e ot h er t w o, but i n an
gai n ed t h e goodw i l l of t h e peopl e an d t h e t r ust of t h e Sen at e.
i l l ust r at ed by t h e w ay h e br ok e up a pr oposed t r i al i n t h e publ i c a
cl ai m i n g t h at n o on e sh oul d l i st en t o t h e accuser s, si n ce i t w as due
t h at t h ey ev en h ad t h e ch an ce of speak i n g t h er e. Th en , i n t h e Sen
t h e quaest or i n ch ar ge of t h e t r easur y r ef used t o un l ock i t t h a
bol dl y t ook t h e k ey s an d r espon si bi l i t y f or t h e open i n g upon h i m
l at er h e w as ask ed t o accoun t f or t h e f un ds h e r ecei v ed f r om A n t i
den i ed t h at t h er e w as an y n eed t o of f er a st at em en t . On bei n g
h ad t h e book s pr oduced, t h en t or e t h em up, pr ocl ai m i n g t h e i n j ust
h av i n g t o accoun t f or t h e m on ey f r om A n t i och us w h en t h e sen at e
r em em ber ed w h o h ad w on 15, 000 t al en t s of i n dem n i t y f r om A n t i o
con t r ol ov er n ot m er el y A si a, but A f r i ca an d Spai n as w el l (23.1
m essage appear s t o be t h at n at ur al l eader sh i p qual i t i es w i l l sh i n e t h
pol i t i ci an w h o st eer s an i n depen den t cour se- be i t i n Han n i bal
un ex pect ed at t ack s on t h e Rom an s w i t h h i s r agt ag ar m y (23.13.
m en 's f r an k n ess i n A ch aean pol i t i cs, or Sci pi o's bol dn ess w h en
Rom e. But i s t h i s sat i sf act or y ? In par t i cul ar , Sci pi o's act i v i t i es
l ay ed an d per h aps ex acer bat ed t h e at t ack s on h i m sel f an d h i s
Luci us.27 Nor i s t h e dow n f al l of t h ese m en adequat el y ex pl ai n e

25See W al ban k 's n ot e on 23.12.1- 14.12 f or t h e pr obl em s i n v ol v ed w i t h t h e

her e.

2623.12.8 (Philopoem en): 4t LXobo^(cTaxs iv 8n%LOKp0t TLK6 KOL ITOXr ok UeLi r r LTOTr EvC(aTL;
23.14.1 (Scipio): (LXoboqolcr r aS iv dt PL(TOKpaTLK TOXLaTEV(aTL; 23.13.1 (Hannibal): Tr VaCEL
r Tv t v8pct Tr ovr oV qYECt LOVLK6v, a descr ipt ion which can be com par ed wit h t hat of Cleom enes
(5.39.6: i1y EIOVt LK6o Ki Pot t LXLKOS TKS 4Yu0EL). While Car t hage it self was consider ed by
Poly bius t o have had a m ixed const it ut ion (6.51) and so not t o have been gr eat ly dissim ilar t o
Rom e as pr edom inant ly an ar ist ocr acy , Hannibal's posit ion as gener al abr oad was equivalent t o
t hat of an aut ocr at ic r uler .
27See Walbank 's not e on 23.14.4-when Scipio lef t t he com it ia, he appear s t o have conceded
def eat and t o have wit hdr awn t o exile at Lit er num .

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 416 PHOENIX

m en f el l vi ct i m t o For t une at l ast (23.12.3),28 Pol y bi us t el l s us, but t her e i s

not hi ng t o suggest t hat she i s r esponsi bl e f or t he dow nf al l of t he ot her t w o.29
A com par i son w i t h Di odor us Si cul us (29.18- 27) suggest s t hat t he ex-
cer pt er s of Pol y bi us m ay have consi der abl y abbr evi at ed t he or i gi nal t ext ,30
par t i cul ar l y t he por t r ay al of Hanni bal (= Di od. 29.19). It i s, how ever ,
hi ghl y debat abl e w het her Di odor us, hi m sel f onl y f r agm ent ar y at t hi s poi nt ,
of f er s any r eal el uci dat i on of Pol y bi us. Whi l e i t m ay seem t hat Di odor us
pr eser ves t hem es no l onger ext ant i n our pr esent t ext of Pol y bi us, i t i s m or e
l i k el y t hat subst ant i al var i at i ons ar e i nst ead due t o Di odor us' expandi ng t he
account he had bef or e hi m .31 The st at em ent i n Di odor us t hat Sci pi o, because
of t he gr eat ness of hi s deeds, appear s t oo i nf l uent i al f or t he di gni t y of hi s
count r y (Di od. 29.21) m i ght appear t o be an expl anat i on of Sci pi o's down-
f al l . But i n Di odor us t hi s i s used t o i nt r oduce t he anecdot es of Sci pi o's
i nf l uence w hen on t r i al i n t he assem bl y , hi s openi ng of t he t r easur y , and hi s
behavi our when cal l ed t o account i n t he Senat e. Si nce t hese anecdot es ar e
f or Pol y bi us i l l ust r at i ve of Sci pi o's abi l i t y t o m ai nt ai n t he goodwi l l of hi s
f el l ow- ci t i zens (23.14.1), i t m ay be pr esum ed t hat Pol y bi us di d not at t r i but e
Sci pi o's dow nf al l t o hi s i m m ense pr est i ge i n Rom e (whi ch shoul d be an i dea
devel oped by Di odor us), but l ef t hi s l oss of power unexpl ai ned.
Pol y bi us seem s m uch happi er assessi ng t he Hel l eni st i c m onar chs of hi s
day . Possi bl y t hi s i s because t her e exi st ed a w el l - def i ned set of r oy al at t r i -
but es f am i l i ar t o Gr eek r eader s w hi ch t he hi st or i an coul d appl y , at t r i but es
w hi ch he f ound m i ssi ng or di f f i cul t t o use when eval uat i ng Rom an l eader s.32
Cer t ai nl y Pol y bi us' deat h not i ces f or Hi er o of Sy r acuse (7.8), At t al us of
Per gam um (18.41), and t he Num i di an k i ng, Masi ni ssa (36.15), of f er a r i ch-
ness of det ai l whi ch i s l ack i ng i n hi s Rom an or Car t hagi ni an por t r ai t s.
Pol y bi us' account of Hi er o's car eer wi l l m ak e hi s expect at i ons i n a r ul er
cl ear er . Hi er o gai ned power over t he Sy r acusans and t hei r al l i es by i ndust r y

28Cf . Di od. 29.18, pr obabl y based on a Pol y bi an account of honour s pai d t o t he dead her o
(cf . 8.12.7 on Ar at us' honour s at deat h f r om t he Achaeans, gr at ef ul f or hi s ser vi ces), but wi t h
Di odor an, non- Pol y bi an, em phasi s on a r ewar di ng Pr ovi dence.
29Li vy 39.52.7- 9 uni t es al l t hr ee by t he t hem e of a l onel y deat h away f r om t hei r hom el ands-
but t hat seem s m or e l i k el y t o be a r het or i cal expansi on by t he Rom an hi st or i an or based on an
ear l i er sour ce (Rut i l i us, nam ed i n 39.52.1?), r at her t han adapt ed f r om any l ost sect i on of
Pol y bi us' account .
30Sour ces her e ar e De vi r t . et vi t . [P] f or 12.7- 12; 13.2; 14.1- 4; De sent . [M] f or 12.3- 6;
13.5- 11; and Suda f or 13.1- 2; 14.1- 4.
31Di odor us' i nt er est i n t he eval uat i on of t he gr eat dead i s a not abl e f eat ur e of hi s wor k - cf .
11.46.1 on hi s i nt ent i on t o i ncr ease t he f am e of t he good and censur e t he bad (wi t h r ef er ence t o
Pausani as), 10.21 (Lucr et i a), 11.23.4 (Gel on, Pausani as, Them i st ocl es), 15.81 (Pel opi das), et c.
32Ther e was, of cour se, a Rom an sy st em of eval uat i on whi ch was appl i ed i n t he l audat i ones
f unebr es (see W. Ki er dor f , Laudat i o f unebr i s [Mei senhei m - am - Gl an 1980]) and of whi ch Pol y -
bi us w as aw ar e (6.53.1- 54.3). But t he f or m of t he speeches m ay have appear ed t oo det ai l ed (i n
account s of of f i ces hel d) and t oo Rom an i n t he em phasi s on soci al vi r t ues f or use i n a wor k
ai m ed pr i m ar i l y at a Gr eek audi ence.

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 POLYBIUS' DEA TH NOTICES 417

al on e- n ot because of w eal t h , r eput at i on , or an y gi f t of For t u

He di d n ot k i l l , ban i sh , or h ar m i n an y w ay an y ci t i zen , y et h
becom e k i n g of Sy r acuse t h r ough h i s ow n ef f or t s, an d, ev en m
t o m ai n t ai n h i s r ul e i n t h i s w ay f or f i f t y - f our y ear s.34 He k ept h i
peace ex t er n al l y , an d i n t er n al l y di d n ot n eed t o w or r y about r i v a
agai n st h i s per son . In f act , al t h ough h e of t en w an t ed t o gi v e u
h e w as pr ev en t ed by t h e con cer t ed opposi t i on of t h e gr at ef u
Sy r acuse. He sh ow ed h i m sel f desi r ous of con f er r i n g ben ef i t s i n o
a h i gh r eput at i on f r om t h e Gr eek s, 35 an d t h i s al so pr oduced gen e
t ow ar ds t h e peopl e of Sy r acuse. M ost sur pr i si n gl y , t h ough h e
ex t r av agan ce, h e m ai n t ai n ed a sober l i f est y l e w h i ch i s ev i de
con t i n ui n g t o be i n f ul l possessi on of h i s f acul t i es t i l l ov er n i n et y
on e can see f r om t h i s Pol y bi us' con cept of t h e i deal r ul er : h e
sel f - m ade m an , pr ov i n g h i s r i gh t t o t h e t h r on e; h e sh oul d t r eat h
w el l an d gi v e n o gr oun ds f or dom est i c con spi r aci es; h e sh ou
ex t er n al l y , i n par t i cul ar sh ow i n g h i m sel f a ben ef act or of ci v
st at es; an d, i n gen er al , h e sh oul d h ol d out agai n st t h e con st an
cor r upt i on f r om pow er . On such gr oun ds Hi er o's son , Gel o, w i
r ej ect i n g t h e t em pt at i on s of pow er an d w eal t h an d m ai n t ai n i n g h
an d l oy al t y t ow ar ds h i s par en t s (7.8.9), w h i l e h i s son , Hi er on y
sh or t r ei gn , sh ow s t h e begi n n i n g of t h e cor r upt i on w h i ch w oul d
dow n f al l of Sy r acuse at Rom an h an ds (7.7). Th e l at t er 's r ei gn
m or e at t en t i on f r om w r i t er s because of i t s sen sat i on al n at ur e, bu
decl ar es, t h e r ei gn s of h i s gr an df at h er an d f at h er of f er m or e
i n st r uct i v e m at er i al f or t h e i n t er est ed r eader (7.7.6- 8). Un doub
bi us i s n ot h appy w i t h t h e sen sat i on al i st t r eat m en t of Hi er on y m u
t h e m on ogr aph er s on such t h eor et i cal gr oun ds as w e h av e seen app
ev al uat i on of A gat h ocl es t h e Egy pt i an ;36 but on e f eel s t h at h
w h er e, pol i t i cal con si der at i on s pl ay a l ar ge r ol e i n f or m i n g Pol
m en t . W h i l e Hi er on y m us f or m ed a di sast r ous al l i an ce w i t h Car t h a
Rom e, Hi er o ear l y i n h i s r ei gn pl aced h i m sel f un der Rom an pr ot e
by ai di n g h i s n ew al l i es i n t i m es of n eed, m ai n t ai n ed h i s r ul e o

33In f act h e m ay h av e begun h i s car eer w i t h subst an t i al r esour ces- W al ban k a

347.8.4: 'r Ti y dp 'TEVTi 'KOVTt KCX TETTr r apt pat 3oA T r as, a st at em en t w h i ch
di f f i cul t i es. A f t er t h e pr ev i ous accoun t of h ow Hi er o becam e k i n g by h i s ow n ef f or
KaTcOT'q 8t ' acv r ov ), on e i s t em pt ed t o t ak e pa3cLX Ei r uaos l i t er al l y , begi n n i n
i m m edi at el y af t er t h e bat t l e of t h e Lon gan us i n 269 B.c. (so K.- E. Pet zol
M et h ode des Pol y bi us [M un i ch 1969] 153). But t h e m or e gen er al use of Por uLX E- 3
t h e l en gt h of t i m e t h e r ul er h el d pow er i n h i s l an d i n 18.41.8 m ak es t h i s v er y u
357.8.6, ?E'pY7EETLKj TLTaTO an d cLX o80ToTar os can al m ost be t r an sl at ed as " pu
but w i t h t h e em ph asi s on r eci pr ocal accl ai m w h i ch i s m i ssi n g i n our m oder n
C. Pr eaux , Le m on de h el l en i st i que (Par i s 1978) 1.181- 294, " Le Roi , " f or Hel l e
of k i n gsh i p; al so P. Vey n e, Le pai n et l e ci r que (Par i s 1976) 228- 230 (" Les don
36Sack s (abov e, n . 7) 140- 177, " Tr agi c Hi st or y , " esp. 163- 164.

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418 PHOENIX

unt hr eat ened, t r eat i ng t he Gr eek s i n such a way as t o wi n gl or y and cr owns

of honour (1.16.10). Si nce an eval uat i on of Rom an r ul e i s a pr i m e concer n of
Pol y bi us' (cf . 3.4), an eval uat i on whi ch i s i n t he m ai n posi t i ve,37 i t i s not
sur pr i si ng t hat Pol y bi us shoul d r egar d hi ghl y t hose who wor k ed wi t h Rom e
t o t hei r advant age and censur e t hose who opposed Rom an expansi on and
br ought r ui n on t hem sel ves. Hi er o showed bot h t he t r adi t i onal vi r t ue of
phi l hel l eni sm and t he m or e m oder n di pl om at i c vi r t ue of cooper at i on wi t h
Rom e,38 w hi l e hi s gr andson's r ei gn i s t oo shor t f or per f or m i ng m ajor act s of
k i ndness and r egr et t abl e i n i t s f or ei gn pol i cy .
A si m i l ar pat t er n em er ges i n Pol y bi us' t r eat m ent of t he At t al i ds. At t al us I
at t he begi nni ng of hi s car eer had no ext er nal advant age ot her t han m oney
(18.41.2),39 w hi ch can be r ui nous i f not used wi t h f or et hought and ent er -
pr i se. Yet he showed hi s t r ue nobi l i t y by r ef r ai ni ng f r om t em pt at i on and
usi ng hi s weal t h t o gai n a k i ngshi p, t he gr eat est and t he f i nest of possessi ons
(18.41.5). Thi s he achi eved not onl y by shower i ng f avour s on hi s sup-
por t er s, but by k i ngl y deeds i n war , def eat i ng t he Gaul s. The r est of hi s
r ei gn conf or m s t o t hi s gl or i ous st ar t : he r ul ed f or f or t y - f our y ear s,40 show-
i ng hi m sel f t o be a r espect abl e, even devot ed f at her and husband, and t r ust -
w or t hy t o al l i es and cour t i er s (18.41.8- 9).41 He di ed engaged i n t he m ost
gl or i ous of act i vi t i es, st r i vi ng f or t he l i ber t y of t he Gr eek s, and l ef t f our
adul t sons and t he adm i ni st r at i on so wel l ar r anged t hat t he k i ngdom coul d
pass wi t hout di sput e t o hi s gr andchi l dr en. We see her e t he i deal Hel l eni st i c
k i ng, w ho gai ns t he t i t l e by hi s own ef f or t , conf i r m ed by m i l i t ar y vi ct or y ;
shows r est r ai nt when i n a posi t i on of absol ut e power (cont r ast t he i m pi ous
f euds w i t hi n t he var i ous Macedoni an f am i l i es); i s t r ust wor t hy i n dom est i c
and ext er nal af f ai r s (agai n cont r ast t he Macedoni an cour t s); and concer ns
hi m sel f wi t h a peacef ul successi on.42 Com bi ned wi t h t hi s i s a m or e anci ent
vi ew of hum an pr osper i t y - l i k e Tel l us t he At heni an, At t al us l ed a f ul l l i f e,

37F. W. Wal bank , "Pol y bi us bet w een Gr eece and Rom e," i n Pol y be (Vandoeuvr es- Geneva
1973) 1- 31.
38Wal bank suggest s (on 1.16.10) t hat t hi s pr ai se goes back t o Fabi us Pi ct or 's account of t he
Fi r st Puni c War . Whi l e t hat i s possi bl e, t he t hem e of phi l hel l eni sm seem s Pol y bi an and t he
f avour abl e por t r ai t of Hi er o's r el at i ons wi t h Rom e f i t s wel l wi t h Pol y bi us' vi ews on t he subject .
39In f act At t al us cam e f r om a l i ne of Per gam ene despot s- E. V. Hansen, The At t al i ds of
Per gam on2 (It haca, N.Y. 1971) 14- 25.
4?18.41.8: t hough t hi s seem s t o be cal cul at ed f r om At t al us' t ak i ng power i n Per gam um (241
B.C.), not f r om hi s pr ocl am at i on as k i ng, whi ch woul d have f ol l owed hi s vi ct or y over t he
Gal at i ans at t he bat t l e of t he Kai k os (ca 238- 235 B.C.)- R. E. Al l en, The At t al i d Ki ngdom
(Oxf or d 1983) 34.
41The (i XoL her e ar e pr obabl y not "f r i ends" (so Pat on's Loeb t r ansl at i on), but "cour t i er s."
42Cf . Pol y bi us' appr ovi ng por t r ai t of t he pr o- Achaean Ant i gonus of Macedon, who showed
hi m sel f a f i ne r ul er i n l i f e and al so at hi s deat h m ade spl endi d ar r angem ent s f or t he f ut ur e i n al l
r espect s (4.87.7). The r ever se of t hi s i s t he st r uggl e bet ween Per seus and Dem et r i as at t he end of
Phi l i p V's r ei gn (Li vy 40.23- 24). Int er est i ngl y , Pol y bi us has Phi l i p ci t e Eum enes and At t al us as
an exam pl e of f r at er nal har m ony f or hi s sons t o em ul at e (23.11.6).

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 POLYBIUS' DEA TH NOTICES 419

l ef t h i s ch i l dr en an d ci t y pr osper ous, an d di ed a gl or i ous dea

w h er e h i s coun t r y w as successf ul .43 Th i s com bi n at i on of h i st or
t r adi t i on an d con t em por ar y v al ues w oul d be n ot abl e i n i t sel f ,
st r an d i s added, t h at of Pol y bi an an al y si s. Th e i n t er est i n t h e c
use of w eal t h i s h ar dl y or i gi n al w i t h Pol y bi us, 44 but h e h as ada
h i s di dact i c pur poses i n h i st or y . A t t al us t h us al so ex em pl i f i es t h e
of m on ey , j ust as A r ch i as an d Scopas h av e appear ed as w ar n i n g ex e
i t s m i suse.45
A t t al us' son , Eum en es, t oo sh ow s w h at a k i n g sh oul d be. On c
t h em e of ear n i n g on e's r i gh t t o r ul e i s t o t h e f or e- A t t al us i s por t r
i n dust r i ous an d abl e k i n g, en l ar gi n g h i s r eal m (32.8.4), t h ough i n r
ex pan si on of Per gam um sh oul d be con si der ed t h e r esul t of Rom an
br eak i n g t h e pow er of t h e M acedon i an k i n gdom s an d as t h e r esul t
ben ef act i on s, par t i cul ar l y af t er t h e w ar w i t h A n t i och us (21.18-
t er n al l y , Eum en es w on con si der abl e r eput e f r om h i s ex t en si v e
Gr eek ci t i es an d i n di v i dual s- y et h er e t oo on e m ust r eal i se t h at
w er e n ot com pl et el y al t r ui st i c. He n eeded di spl ay t o l egi t i m i se h i s
par t i cul ar l y t ak i n g adv an t age of h i s i m pov er i sh ed r i v al s.46 Fur t h e
Per gam en e k i n gdom ear n ed especi al r egar d f r om t h e Gr eek s af
w i t h Per seus w h en i t becam e appar en t t h at Rom e h ad w i t h dr aw
por t f or h er al l y ; t h us Eum en es coul d appear as a ch am pi on o
i n t er est s agai n st en cr oach i n g Rom an pow er .47 Not sur pr i si n gl
ex cl udes t h i s f r om h i s n ot i ce. Fi n al l y , Eum en es di d m an age t o m

43Hdt . 1.30.4- 5. Her odot us al so adds t h at t h e A t h en i an s bur i ed Tel l us at pub

w i t h gr eat h on our s w h er e h e f el l . Such h on our s w er e pr obabl y m en t i on ed by
om i t t ed by t h e ex cer pt er (P) as n ot r el ev an t t o v i r t ues an d v i ces. Pol y bi us, r el at i n g t
A r at us t h e El der , decl ar es t h at h e w as gi v en sacr i f i ces an d h er oi c h on our s an d ev e
m ak es a m an 's m em or y i m m or t al , so t h at i f t h er e i s an y aw ar en ess am on g t h e d
t ak e pr i de i n t h e gr at i t ude of t h e A ch aean s an d h i s l abour s an d per i l s i n l i f e (8.1
t o Di od. 29.18 (f r om Pol y bi us), Ph i l opoem en t oo r ecei v ed h on our s such as t h o
gods i n com pen sat i on f or t h e m i sf or t un es w h i ch occur r ed at h i s deat h . Th er
v ot ed i n com m on by t h e A ch aean s, w h i l e h i s n at i v e ci t y set up an al t ar an d an an
an d i n st i t ut ed pr ai ses of h i s v i r t ue an d h y m n s t o be sun g by t h e ci t y 's y out h .
appar en t l y based on t h e M egal opol i t an decr ee set t i n g up t h ese h on our s (Sy l l .3 62
a si m i l ar sour ce i s t h e or i gi n of Pol y bi us' l i st of A r at us' h on our s.
44Cf . A r i st . Pol . 5.10.9 on t h e di f f er en ce bet w een a k i n g an d a t y r an t - t h e t y r
m on ey , t h e k i n g at h on our . Th i s w h ol e sect i on of A r i st ot l e i s suggest i v e f or
Pol y bi us' v i ew s on k i n gsh i p.
45Cf . al so 28.8.9 (" l ov e of m on ey i s t h e h an gi n g- peg f or ev i l " ) an d 29.9 on
Eum en es' bl i n dn ess t h r ough av ar i ce.
46Cf . 5.90.5- 6 w h er e Pol y bi us con t r ast s t h e gen er osi t y sh ow n by t h e Hel l en i st
t h e Rh odi an ear t h quak e of 224 B.C. w i t h t h e st i n gi n ess of m oder n k i n gs an d t h e
t h e h on our s best ow ed on t h em i n r et ur n . For ex am pl es of Eum en es' ben ef i cen ce
an d 301.
47M . M . A ust i n , Th e Hel l en i st i c W or l d f r om A l ex an der t o t h e Rom an Con quest
1981) 331; cf . Pol . 31.6.6.

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420 PHOENIX

secur i t y of hi s dy nast y by k eepi ng t he suppor t of hi s t hr ee br ot her s. Thi s i s

per haps best i l l ust r at ed by Pol y bi us' account of At t al us' f r at er nal concer n
f or t he r est or at i on of Eum enes' honour s i n t he Pel oponnese i n 170 B.C., a
r egar d whi ch was i nst i t ut i onal i sed by At t al us' l at er adopt i on of t he epi t het
Phi l adel phus.48 Yet t hi s br ot her l y af f ect i on was sor el y t est ed by Rom an
i nt r i gue when l eadi ng senat or s t r i ed t o per suade At t al us t o cl ai m a separ at e
k i ngdom f or hi m sel f (30.1- 3). Int er nal har m ony w as pr eser ved w hen i t w as
poi nt ed out t o hi m t hat t o r ui n Eum enes woul d be t o r ui n hi m sel f , whi l e
concor d enabl ed At t al us t o i nher i t t he k i ngdom i nt act . But af t er hi s deat h
pal ace conf l i ct br ok e out . The r ei gn of At t al us III, Di odor us t el l s us, w as
cr uel and bl oodt hi r st y , wi t h t he m ur der of hi s advi sor s l eadi ng al l hi s
subject s t o hope f or r evol ut i on (Di od. 34/ 35.3). The successi on m ay have
passed peacef ul l y t hr ough t wo gener at i ons af t er At t al us, but onl y just .
The l ast of t he At t al i ds t o r ecei ve a per sonal not i ce i s Apol l oni s, wi f e of
At t al us I and m ot her of Eum enes and At t al us II. The cont ext of t he passage
i s uncl ear (see Wal bank 3.13), but t he i nt ent i on of sum m ar i si ng Apol l oni s'
w hol e l i f e i s obvi ous. She deser ves par t i cul ar not i ce because, havi ng r i sen
f r om pr i vat e st at us t o t hat of queen, she m ai nt ai ned a ci t i zen's sensi bl e
r est r ai nt and goodness, r at her t han ai m i ng f or pow er t hr ough dubi ous
m et hods of per suasi on (22.20.1- 2). Fur t her m or e Apol l oni s i s t he m odel
queen m ot her : gi vi ng bi r t h t o f our sons, she k ept t hei r goodwi l l and l ove
unt i l her deat h (cf . OGIS 307 and 308). Thi s i s i l l ust r at ed by t he account of a
vi si t of At t al us and anot her of her sons t o Cy zi cus- t he t w o on ar r i val
escor t ed t hei r m ot her ar ound t he t em pl es t hr oughout t he ci t y , accom pani ed
by t hei r ent i r e r et i nue. Whi l e t he i ni t i al account of Apol l oni s' vi r t ues
m ak es use of of f i ci al Per gam ene i nscr i pt i ons, Pol y bi us dr aws on t he hi st or i o-
gr aphi c t r adi t i on f or hi s concl usi on t o t hi s exem pl ar y t al e of m at er nal and
f i l i al devot i on- at t he si ght , t he spect at or s of t hi s pr ocessi on wer e l ed t o
r ecal l Cl eobi s and Bi t on. What advant age t he l at t er pai r had i n t he zeal of
t hei r devot i on w as m at ched by t he gl or y of t he Per gam ene br ot her s' r oy al
st at i on. If pr osper i t y i s m easur ed by t he end, t hen bot h At t al us and hi s wi f e,
by m ai nt ai ni ng pr i vat e vi r t ues whi l e ser vi ng t hei r subject s, achi eve a Her o-
dot ean eudai m oni a such as el uded k i ng Cr oesus.
The f i nal m odel of r oy al excel l ence i s Masi ni ssa, k i ng of Num i di a. He i s
t o be consi der ed t he best and m ost bl essed of k i ngs i n Pol y bi us' l i f et i m e,
si nce he r ul ed f or m or e t han si xt y y ear s, r eachi ng a m ost advanced age i n t he
f i nest of heal t h (36.16.1- 2). A k i ng shoul d appear r egal and Masi ni ssa, wi t h
hi s i nnat e st r engt h (36.16.3), cer t ai nl y qual i f i es: he coul d st and, si t , or r i de a
hor se day and ni ght wi t hout i l l ef f ect , and when he di ed at ni net y , hi s vi r i l i t y
w as at t est ed by hi s l eavi ng a f our - y ear - ol d son. In addi t i on, he t ook t hought
f or hi s dy nast y , k eepi ng hi s t en chi l dr en on af f ect i onat e t er m s so t hat no

4827.18.1- 3 wi t h Wal bank 's not es ad l oc.; 28.7.

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 POLYBIUS' DEA TH NOTICES 421

dom est i c f euds h ar m ed h i s k i n gdom (36.16.6). Fi n al l y , h e w as t h

sh ow t h at Num i di a, pr ev i ousl y t h ough t i n f er t i l e, w as capabl e o
dom est i c cr ops, an d l ef t each son an est at e of f er i n g al l sor t s of pr od
an ex t en si on of ci v i l i sat i on i s t o Pol y bi us t h e gr eat est an d m ost
M asi n i ssa's deeds (36.16.7). Pur e bodi l y st r en gt h coul d be posses
bar bar i an , but i n h i s con cer n f or an or der l y successi on an d esp
i n cr easi n g t h e pr osper i t y of h i s k i n gdom , h e sh ow s h i m sel f a t r ue H
m on ar ch .49
By con t r ast , Pr usi as of Bi t h y n i a f i t s t h e pat t er n f or a bar bar i a
A l t h ough h e w as qui t e capabl e i n sch em i n g, h e w as on l y h al f a
appear an ce an d degen er at e an d w om an l i k e w h en i t cam e t o w ar
For , i n addi t i on t o h i s cow ar di ce, h e av oi ded h ar dsh i ps an d w as
ef f em i n at e i n spi r i t an d body t h r ough out h i s l i f e. Lack i n g an y i
educat i on an d ph i l osoph y an d t h ei r t each i n gs, h e h ad n o i dea of w h a
i n l i f e (36.15.5), but bei n g accor di n gl y un r est r ai n ed i n h i s ph y si c
h e l i v ed t h e l i f e of a Sar dan apal l us n i gh t an d day . It i s n ot sur pr i si n
w ar l i k e Bi t h y n i an s l eapt at t h e f i r st ch an ce of r ebel l i n g. It i s per h ap
pr i at e t h at a despot so l ack i n g i n sav i n g gr aces sh oul d be t r eac
m ur der ed, a suppl i an t at t h e al t ar of Zeus, by h i s ow n son Ni com
t h e f ul l suppor t of t h e Bi t h y n i an s.50
Less appal l i n g, but n ev er t h el ess sal ut ar y , i s t h e car eer of Pt ol em
m et or . W h i l e som e f el t t h at h e w as w or t h y of gr eat pr ai se an d r em
t o ot h er s h e seem ed qui t e t h e opposi t e. He w as m er ci f ul an d good i n
con t r ast t o h i s pr edecessor s (39.7.3), n ei t h er ex ecut i n g h i s cour t i er s
pun i sh i n g h i s br ot h er f or h i s r ev ol t an d con spi r aci es agai n st h i m
h ad oppor t un i t i es t o do so. But success an d good f or t un e caused
r el ax h i s spi r i t an d h e sl i pped i n t o Egy pt i an i n dol en ce (39.7.7). Th
w i t h di sast er i n bat t l e w i t h t h e Sy r i an k i n g, appar en t l y v i ol at i n g
adv i ce on gen er al sh i p- al t h ough t h e Egy pt i an s w er e v i ct or i ous,
w as t h r ow n f r om h i s h or se an d di ed soon af t er (Li v y Ep. 52). P
gr an df at h er , Ph i l opat or , al so sh ow s t h i s t y pi cal l y " Egy pt i an " f a
t ot al l y un ex pect edl y r ecov er i n g Coel e- Sy r i a, h e w as gl ad t o m ak e pea
A n t i och us because of h i s cust om ar y i n dol en ce an d t h e depr av i t
l i f est y l e (5.87.3). A s Pol y bi us n ot es i n a f am ous passage, Egy pt i s
w h i ch h as a ban ef ul ef f ect on peopl e (34.14).

49For M asi n i ssa's ar r an gem en t of t h e successi on on t h e basi s of Hel l en i st i c pow

con t r ar y t o Num i di an cust om , see W al ban k on 36.16.10. Th e k i n g's ph i l h el l en i sm
i n h i s en t r i es i n t h e Pan at h en i an gam es, h i s don at i on s at Del ph i , an d h i s suppor t f o
II i n r ecov er i n g t h e Bi t h y n i an t h r on e i n 149 (F. Dur r bach , Ch oi x d'i n scr i pt i on s de
1921, Hi l desh ei m 1976] 91- 92; 158- 159).
50A pp. M i t h r . 7; Di od. 32.21. A n t i och us Epi ph an es t oo m eet s an appr opr i at e e
sm i t t en by m adn ess br ough t on by t h e gods as pun i sh m en t f or h i s t r y i n g t o r ai d t
A r t em i s i n El y m ai s (31.9).

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422 PHOENIX

When si gni f i cant hi st or i cal f i gur es di ed, Pol y bi us was at l i ber t y si m pl y t o

r ecor d t hei r ends and cont i nue wi t h t he nar r at i ve. On occasi on he appear s t o
have done just t hat - t her e i s no si gn of a deat h not i ce f or Phi l i p or f or hi s
son Per seus.51 But usual l y Pol y bi us f eel s obl i ged t o pause: just as t he deat hs
of i m por t ant m en ar e m ar k ed by publ i c f uner al s and m em or i al i nscr i pt i ons,
so t oo t he hi st or i an m ust i ndi cat e hi s r espect f or t he dead. It w oul d be
possi bl e just t o r ecor d publ i c gr i ef , as he does at t he deat h of Aem i l i us
Paul l us (31.22- 30.4), or t o r ecor d and sum m ar i se t he wor ds of t he m onu-
m ent s.52 But t o Pol y bi us, al t hough hi st or y i s a m em or i al t o r ecal l t he deeds
of t he dead and encour age f ut ur e gener at i ons,53 hi s wor k has a m or e gener al
educat i onal nat ur e. He f eel s abl e t o com m ent on w ar ni ng exem pl ar s and
oppose t he com m on pr act i ce of Hel l eni st i c hi st or i ans of r ecor di ng sensa-
t i onal dow nf al l s i n det ai l as t he wor k i ngs of Ty che.54 He can al so i ndul ge hi s
i nt er est i n m i l i t ar y af f ai r s by expoundi ng t he cor r ect conduct of a gener al on
cam pai gn and, especi al l y , when f aced by def eat , and dr aw par al l el s whi ch
hi s pol i t i cal l y - m i nded r eader s shoul d t ak e t o hear t .55
Most ext ensi ve and i n m any way s, m ost sat i sf act or y , ar e hi s not i ces f or
t he Hel l eni st i c k i ngs of hi s age. What ever t he sour ces whi ch Pol y bi us m ay
have dr aw n on, a conf used and m ai nl y i nsol ubl e pr obl em ,56 hi s t r eat m ent s
have a hom ogeneous f l avour whi ch m ust be t he hi st or i an's own. Pol y bi us,
al t hough r el i ant on ear l i er wr i t er s on gover nm ent al f or m s f or hi s i deas, has a
per sonal i nt er est i n i ncor por at i ng pol i t i cal t heor y i nt o hi st or i cal wr i t i ng.
Ki ngshi p seem s t o have par t i cul ar l y at t r act ed hi s i nt er est 57 and hi s not i ces
f or pr om i nent m onar chs ar e cor r espondi ngl y det ai l ed. By l i nk i ng pol i t i cal
t heor y wi t h ol der Gr eek et hi cal vi ews on pr osper i t y , Pol y bi us her e achi eves
a m i xt ur e w hi ch bot h pr eser ves t he t r adi t i ons of Gr eek t hought f or t he

5125.3.9- 10 on Phi l i p's l ast act i ons pr obabl y der i ves f r om a com par i son bet ween hi m and hi s
son (Wal bank , Com m ent ar y 3.21); Li vy , who gl adl y bor r ows f r om Pol y bi us' obi t uar i es (e.g.,
f or At t al us [33.21] and Masi ni ssa [Per . 50]), of f er s no com m ent i n hi s account of Phi l i p's deat h
(40.54- 57.1).
52Inscr i pt i onal m at er i al , per haps i ndi r ect l y used, seem s t o l i e behi nd Pol y bi us' assessm ent of
Apol l oni s (Wal bank ad 22.20.1- 8) and m i ght i nf l uence hi s depi ct i ons of t he ot her At t al i ds as
wel l .
53Cf . 16.9.5 on t he Rhodi an t r i but e t o Theophi l i scus, wi t h Pol y bi us' com m ent s i n 18.41.1;
22.20.1; 23.14.12; and 36.16.9.
540n t hi s t opi c, cf . t he concl usi ons of K. Mei st er , Hi st or i sche Kr i t i k bei Pol y bi us (Wi esbaden
1975) 191- 192.
55Especi al l y 11.2 and 30.6.
56For a gener al t r eat m ent of Pol y bi us' sour ces, whi ch i ncl ude publ i c ar chi ves and num er ous
l ocal hi st or i ans as wel l as or al account s, see Wal bank , Com m ent ar y 1.26- 35.
57See 6.6- 7 on t he devel opm ent of t r ue k i ngshi p and i t s downf al l , and on k i ngshi p i n
Pol y bi us i n gener al , K.- W. Wel wei , Koni ge und Koni gt um i m Ur t ei l des Pol y bi us (di ss.,
Col ogne 1963), especi al l y 123- 184 ("Das Her r scher bi l d des Pol y bi us").

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 POLYBIUS' DEA TH NOTICES 423

pl easur e of h i s r eader s an d sh oul d be of pr act i cal adv an t age t o m an

as wel l .58
Yet r eser vat i ons m ust al so be expr essed. Pol y bi us' por t r ai t s of t he k i ngs
ar e of t en m or e car ef ul l y cr af t ed t o f i t t he t heor y t han accur at e i n r espect of
t he hi st or i cal event s.59 Hi s war ni ng exam pl es t oo ar e as of t en used t o set t l e
ol d scor es as t hey ar e t o i nst r uct . But m ost wor r i som e i s hi s i nabi l i t y f i nal l y
t o of f er a m odel of t he Rom an st at esm an. Per haps Pol y bi us vi ewed Rom e
as, i n essence, anot her Hel l eni st i c k i ngdom wi t h whom t he Gr eek s woul d
have t o l i ve.60 But even i f Rom e had appear ed as a benef act or of Gr eek s at
t he Ist hm i an Gam es of 196 B.C. (18.46.14- 15),61 f ew i n t he Hel l eni c wor l d
coul d be under any i l l usi ons of Rom e's al t r ui sm af t er t he dest r uct i on of
Cor i nt h. And, even i f Rom e was i n ext er nal af f ai r s a t y pe of k i ngdom , her
l eader s wer e not by any st r et ch of t he i m agi nat i on Hel l eni st i c k i ngs. Rom e,
t hen, r em ai ns t he gr eat unk nown about whi ch al l r evol ves, despi t e Pol y bi us'
at t em pt s t o r eveal her cul t ur e and val ues t o hi s r eader s. For Gr eece, t her e i s
now, unhappi l y , no pol i t i cal f ut ur e. Yet what ever Pol y bi us' f ai l i ngs i n hi s
at t em pt s t o expl ai n t he r easons f or t he evi l s of hi s l i f et i m e, i t gi ves som e
pl easur e t o not e t hat t he gr at ef ul ci t i es of Achaea m ar k ed t he passi ng of t hat
l ast gr eat Gr eek hi st or i an of ant i qui t y wi t h t he dedi cat i on t o hi m of t he
f i nest of honour s62- Pol y bi us woul d have appr eci at ed t he m em or i al .
DEPARTMENT OF CLASSICS
VICTORIA UNIVERSITY OF WELLINGTON
WELLINGTON, NEW ZEA LA ND

58See abov e 418- 420 f or Pol y bi us' use of Her odot us an d of f i ci al Hel l en i st i c pr opagan da i n h i s
por t r ai t s of A t t al us an d A pol l on i s.
59See t h e r eser v at i on s expr essed about Pol y bi us' por t r ay al of Eum en es (abov e, 419)
60Cf . J . S. Ri ch ar dson , " Pol y bi us' Vi ew of t h e Rom an Em pi r e," PBSR 47 (1979) 1- 11.
61See n ow , E. Gr uen , Th e Hel l en i st i c Wor l d an d t h e Com i n g of Rom e (Ber k el ey an d Los
A n gel es 1984), especi al l y Ch apt er 4 (132- 157), " Sl ogan s an d Pr opagan da: t h e 'Fr eedom of t h e
Gr eek s'."
6239.5.4 w i t h Wal ban k 's n ot e on t h e post h um ous edi t or 's con t r i but i on h er e.

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