Polybius c.205-c.123BC
Greek historian

Born in Megalopolis, Arcadia, he was one of the 1,000 noble Achaeans who, after the conquest of Macedonia in 168BC, were sent to Rome and detained as political hostages in honourable captivity. He was the guest of Lucius Aemilius Paullus and became the close friend of his son, Scipio Aemilianus, who helped him to collect material for his great historical work. In 151 the exiles were permitted to return to Greece, but Polybius rejoined Scipio, followed him in his African campaign, and was present at the destruction of Carthage in 146. The war between the Achaeans and Romans called him back to Greece, and, after the taking of Corinth by Rome (146), he procured favourable terms for the vanquished. In furtherance of his historical labours he travelled to Asia Minor, Egypt, upper Italy, southern France and Spain. His History, which shows why all the civilized countries of the world fell under the dominion of Rome, covers the period 221-146. Of 40 books only the first five are preserved complete.