1,722,608 research outputs found
Polybius' concept of pragmatike historia: constitution decline and the struggle for the Peloponnese
Full text linkThis thesis will contend that Polybius' stress on Achaean unity was
related to his need to contrast how tyche and anacyclosis, the two vital
supernatural forces that he believed influenced historical events, had
influenced the Achaean system of polity detrimentally. Examining the
rationale behind Aetolian intervention in the Peloponnese during the
Hellenistic period, it will contend that the Aetolians and their allies in Elis and
Sparta were engaged in a struggle for control over the Peloponnese against
the Macedonians and their Arcadian allies, a situation the Romans exploited.
During the Second Macedonian War Polybius presents the Achaean
league and Rome acting as equals; this was related to his desire to show the
eventual decline in Greece that allowed the Romans to gain control. In reality
Flamininus exploited Megalopolitan fears over Aetolian and Spartan interests
to ensure the Peloponnese remained stable during the Aetolian/Syrian War.
Afterwards Polybius took the question of the Spartan exiles, a relatively
unimportant question, and presented its resolution as the decisive turning
point in the relationship between Rome and the Achaean league, Callicrates'
speech in front of the senate marking the onset of the final stage of anacyclosis
in Achaean democracy. This process continued in his portrayal of later events;
Polybius was detained by the Romans because of his sympathy for Perseus
during the Third Macedonian War; however he blamed Callicrates because at
this point he wished to present the corruption and decline that was occurring
in the Achaean league. This process ended with the destruction of Corinth in
146BC, where Polybius emphasises the madness and irrationality of the
Achaean mob and leadership. This was to provide his readers with the
consolation that their society would emerge renewed and strengthened at a
time that the Roman Republic began its eventual decline through the
resumption of anacyclosis
Moral vision in the Histories of Polybius
No full textArthur Eckstein's fresh and stimulating interpretation challenges the way Polybius' Histories have long been viewed. He argues that Polybius evaluates people and events as much from a moral viewpoint as from a pragmatic, utilitarian, or even "Machiavellian" one. Polybius particularly asks for "improvement" in his audience, hoping that those who study his writings will emerge with a firm determination to live their lives nobly. Teaching by the use of moral exemplars, Polybius also tries to prove that success is not the sole standard by which human action should be judged
Polybius' characterisation of Hannibal. A study on personality, character and narrative identity in the Histories
Full text linkThis research offers a re-evaluation of Polybius’ literary style through an analysis of his
characterisations. Using narratology, psychology, and philosophy I study the depiction of Hannibal
Barca to illustrate some of the complexities of Polybius’ writing technique in the Histories. My
research aims to move beyond the historical analysis of the text and instead examine its literary
features. I have studied the characterisation of Hannibal since he is one of the most prominent
individuals in the Histories especially in the surviving books.
The study of the characterisation of Hannibal will be based on the portrayal of three essential
concepts, personality, character, and narrative identity as the complex of psychological features
that combine innate traits with the learned behaviour and customs of the historical agents.
The thesis is divided into six chapters: Chapter 1 introduces the topic and explores Polybius’ use
of characterisation in books 1 and 2 (known as Prokataskeue). The emphasis here is on the stylistic
and thematic differences between these first books and the main narrative of the Histories,
particularly in the characterisation of significant historical figures. Chapter 2 explores Polybius’
initial characterisation of the Barcid clan (Hamilcar, Hasdrubal and Hannibal) and the central
themes of the Second Punic War. Additionally, I examine the ‘inherited war’ theme to which
Polybius refers on several occasions. Chapter 3 analyses emotions in the narrative of the Histories
as a way of understanding the characterisation of the historical agents; particular emphasis will be
placed on the relationship between emotions, character and personality as a mark of
characterisation. Chapter 4 treats the use of viewpoint and focalisation to explore the interiority of
the agents; I shall argue that Polybius interchanges the viewpoint and focalisation of the narrative
not only to add dynamism to the narrative but also to explore the psychology of the historical
agents. Chapter 5 deals with speeches and how they reflect the character and personality of the
speakers. Finally, chapter 6 deals with the concept of narrative identity and how the agents define
themselves based on the memories of their past experiences.
Polybius’ writing has much to offer to narratological and literary studies, the object of my research
is to contribute with an interdisciplinary approach to Polybian scholarship. Via a combination of
narratology, philosophy and psychology I aim to shed light on the Histories as a text whose literary
significance is equivalent to the historical. Polybius’ characterisations are full of enargeia, of
vividness. My research hopes to illustrate how Polybius’ writing style seeks to reflect the
complexities of human psychology and how it affected the history of the Mediterranean
Item Epitome sequentium librorum usque ad Decimumseptimum
No full textNicolao Perotto Episcopo Sipontino interprete ; Item Epitome sequentium librorum usque ad Decimumseptimum / Vuolfgango Musculo interprete ; Rerum ... et verborum ... IndexMit DruckermarkeErscheinungsjahr gemäss Kolophon: "BASILEAE, PER IOANNEM HERuagium, Anno M. D. XLIX. Mense Martio.
Polybius, Rome and the Hellenistic World
No full textThis volume contains nineteen of the more important of Frank Walbank's essays on Polybius and is prefaced by a critical discussion of the main aspects of work done on that author. Several of these essays deal with specific historical problems for which Polybius is a major source. Five deal with Polybius as an historian and three with his attitude towards Rome; one of these raises the question of 'treason' in relation to Polybius and Josephus. Finally, two papers discuss Polybius' later fortunes - in England up to the time of John Dryden and in twentieth-century Italy in the work of Gaetano de Sanctis. Several of these essays originally appeared in journals and collections not always easily accessible, and all students of the ancient Mediterranean world will welcome their assembly within a single volume.</jats:p
Polybius and the Legacy of Fourth-Century Historiography
No full textAn exam of some of Polybius’ crucial statements on the aims of history writing, on methodology of research, and on aetiology, suggests that Polybius’ views on history and historical methodology were mainly influenced by post-Thucydidean historians (Ephorus and Theopompus especially). The A. suggests that those very instances where Polybius seems to recall Thucydides are due to the mediation of fourth-century historians, confirming that the modern view that Greek historiography suffered a decline after Thucydides must be rejected
Polybius and Sallust
No full textThis chapter examines Thucydides’ influence on Polybius and Sallust. It demonstrates the various ways in which these two authors drew on and adapted the concepts, methods and ideas, style, and narrative technique of their famous predecessor as part of the creation of their own original interpretations of the past. In respect to Polybius, the chapter argues that the Thucydidean paradigm had a marked effect both on Polybius’ conceptions of historical causation and on his style. In the case of Sallust, the paper argues that Thucydides provided a writing style and ethical concepts with which to describe the crisis of the late Roman Republic. However, neither author simply “imitates” Thucydides. Both engage creatively and often critically with the various aspects of his work. They rewrite, elaborate on, and “correct” Thucydides as much as they are inspired by him.</p
Historiae <dt.>
No full textPolybios [Übers. von Johann Friedrich Christian Campe]Übersetzer erschlossenAus: Polybius Historiae 6, 19-5
Polybius
No full textThis chapter offers a thorough analysis of the moral-didactic lessons and moralising techniques of Polybius. It finds that practical, political, and moral didacticism are confluent in his Histories, and that moral actions are often shown to result in practical benefits for the moral actor. It also establishes that Polybius’ moral lessons are largely traditional, except for a lack of interest in piety and a high tolerance for brutal actions of war which are routinely labelled ‘cruel’ by other historiographers.</p
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