Philip V of Macedon in Polybius' Histories: Politics, History, and Fiction

Philip V of Macedon is examined in Polybius' Histories: Politics, History, and Fiction from a historical and literary perspective. It investigates how Polybius' political, historical, and didactic goals influenced the king's portrayal, focusing on the embedded Achaean perspective and how this shaped his image. The book also explores how Polybius develops his interpretation of the king through ideological and literary means, such as cultural politics, the tragic mode, and tensions between narrative and commentary. It concludes by resituating Philip in the broader context of the Histories and comparing his portrait to that of other kings and leaders.

Format: Hardback
Length: 416 pages
Publication date: 16 February 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press

In his work "Philip V of Macedon in Polybius' Histories: Politics, History, and Fiction," Philip V of Macedon is examined in a historical and literary context by Polybius. The book's goal is to improve our understanding of both the Macedonian monarch and the historian. It adopts a chronological and thematic approach, examining how Polybius' political, historical, and pedagogical goals influenced the king's portrayal throughout. The first half of the book focuses on political and rhetorical aspects, highlighting the narrative's embedded Achaean perspective and how it shaped Philip's image. It reevaluates key character-defining episodes, such as the sack of Thermum and the attempt on Messene. It also questions Polybius' claim that Philip became increasingly treacherous and tyrannical towards the Greeks after 215 BC.

The second half of the book explores how Polybius develops his interpretation of the king through ideological and literary means. It investigates how Polybius uses cultural politics to blacken Philip's image and justify the exchange of Macedon and Rome as hegemonic powers in the Greek world. It rationalizes his use of a tragic mode for Philip's last years, examining the implications this styling has for our historical understanding of the king. It also considers how tensions between Polybius' narrative and commentary on Philip may be the result of his combination of historiographical and biographical modes of presentation.

The book concludes by resituating Philip in the broader context of the Histories, drawing comparisons between his portrait and that of other kings and leaders, and discussing how kings are shaped by and contribute to the arguments in the Histories. Overall, "Philip V of Macedon in Polybius' Histories: Politics, History, and Fiction" provides a comprehensive and insightful analysis of Polybius' portrayal of Philip V and his role in the Histories. It sheds light on the complex relationship between history, literature, and power and offers valuable insights into the historical and cultural context of the ancient world.

Weight: 782g
Dimension: 242 x 167 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780192866769