Original research article
Palamedes

Functions of Polemic in the Composition of Polybius, Books I–V

2013, TOM 8

Leopold Hess

Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Institute of Philosophy, Department of Philosophy, Language, and Mind

Publication date

03.10.2026

Publishing model

open access

License type

CC BY 4.0 Int.

Field

Humanities

Discipline

history

Language of publication

English

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Abstract

The article examines the compositional and structural functions of polemical digressions in the first five books of Polybius's 'Histories'. The author analyzes how the criticism of earlier historians (including Fabius Pictor, Philinus, or Phylarchus) is closely linked to the realization of the concept of universal history and the explanation of the causes and beginnings of the described events. The text demonstrates that these digressions are not merely personal interjections by the author, but constitute a sophisticated methodological tool used to balance contradictory source accounts and justify the logical consistency of the entire work.

Keywords:

Polybius,Histories,polemical digressions,universal history,causes and beginnings of wars,source criticism,Hellenistic historiography