Polybius' Death Notices

Abstract

W ITH HIS PORTRAYAL OF CROESUS, Herodotus, father of history, initiated an interest in exemplary figures which was to continue throughout classical historiography.1 By the fourth century such characterisation, stressing models to be followed or fates to be avoided, had become one of the most important requirements of an historian. The trend, noticeable in Xenophon's strong emphasis on moral evaluation,2 is even more marked in his successors.3 Theopompus' portrait of Philip (FGrHist 115 F 225 = Pol. 8.9) and Timaeus' treatment of Agathocles, tyrant of Syracuse (FGrHist 566 F 124 = Pol. 12.15, 15.35) were notorious examples of the vogue. Indeed appropriate character portraits seem to have come to be expected of an historian-so much so that Dionysius of Halicarnassus, praising Thucydides' concern for the truth and his unbiased evaluation of great men, states that the historian's ability is shown by the way he passes due judgement on Nicias, Alcibiades, and Demosthenes (De Thuc. 8). In fact, Thucydides never specifically judges Demosthenes; but it is indicative that Dionysius presumably thought that he ought to have done so and thus erred through his preconception of what historical writing should be. Given this Hellenistic interest in the evaluation of great men, it is no surprise that the greatest of the historians of this period should frequently pass judgement on his characters. Throughout his work, one can see Polybius' strong belief in the educational value of history with resulting moral and political benefit.4 Since knowledge of past deeds is self-evidently a corrective guide (8L6pOoxLs) to conduct in the present (1.1.1),5 one may claim