POLYBIUS, a celebrated Greek historian, was born at Megalopolis, in Arcadia, about the year 203 before Christ. He was the on of Lycortas, a praetor of the Achean re public. Having been educated as a statesman and a sol :tier, he was one of the deputies sent to negotiate with Ptolemy Epiphanes. He obtained great distinction while fighting against the Romans in Macedonia, and, when Perseus had been conquered, he was taken to Rome as a prisoner of war. His bravery and learning were, fortu nately for himself, well known and highly appreciated, and he received great kindness from Scipio and Fabius. After seventeen years absence from his native country, he was permitted to return with his fellow prisoners ; but, dread ing to witness the humiliation of his native land, he ac companied Scipio Emilianus into Africa, and was present at the taking of Carthage and Numantia. Upon the death of Scipio he returned to Megalopolis, where he spent the remainder of his life, amidst the gratitude and esteem of his countrymen. In consequence of a fall from his
horse, he died at the age of eighty two.
A great part of the leisure of Polybius was occupied in the composition of a history, commencing at the second Punic war, and terminating with the subversion of the Macedonian kingdom, a space of fifty three years. It was contained in thirty eight hooks; and two introductory ones, containing an epitome of Roman history, from the taking of Rome by the Gauls. The first five books only of this work remain entire with large fragments of the next twelve. Though the stile is not good, the work has been admired for its accuracy and fidelity. The best editions are, that of Cassaubon, Paris, 1609, folio ; of Gronovius, 3 vols. svo. Amsterdam, 1670; and of Schwevghauser, 7 vols. 3vo. Leipsic,