Life and Career

Polybius (Polybios) was born c. 200 BC in Megalopolis (Arcadia, at that time a member of the Achaean League). His approximate date of birth may be deduced from his term as the Achaean League’s hipparch (cavalry commander, a role probably first available to men in their thirties) in 170/69 BC. His father was Lycortas, a follower of Philopoemen, the leading Achaean statesman of the epoch, and himself several times strategos (general) of the Achaean League. Polybius received an education appropriate to a boy of high society as well as to a future statesman (he claimed to be an expert in strategy and tactics, philosophy, hunting, cavalry and horse-riding).

Polybius (Polybios) was born c. 200 BC in Megalopolis (Arcadia, at that time a member of the Achaean League). His…

2031 words

Citation: Rzepka, Jacek. "Polybius". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 29 January 2018 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=13941, accessed 28 March 2024.]

13941 Polybius 1 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

Save this article

If you need to create a new bookshelf to save this article in, please make sure that you are logged in, then go to your 'Account' here

Leave Feedback

The Literary Encyclopedia is a living community of scholars. We welcome comments which will help us improve.