Humanitext Reader

Polybius · The Histories §25.1.1-25.1.2

Exaggeration of Gracchus' Deeds and Falsehoods in History

Passage 1065 of 1311 · Greek

Summary

The author introduces a critic's mockery of Polybius' exaggerated claim that Gracchus conquered three hundred cities, where the critic argues that Polybius called mere towers "cities" to flatter Gracchus, and the author agrees that such historical and military embellishments are common.

§25.1.1Πολυβίου δʼ εἰπόντος τριακοσίας αὐτῶν καταλῦσαι πόλεις Τεβέριον Γράκχον, κωμῳδῶν φησι τοῦτο τῷ Γράκχῳ χαρίσασθαι τὸν ἄνδρα, τοὺς πύργους καλοῦντα πόλεις, ὥσπερ ἐν ταῖς θριαμβικαῖς πομπαῖς.
While Polybius says that Tiberius Gracchus destroyed three hundred of their cities, [the critic] says in a mocking tone that the man made a present of this to Gracchus, calling the towers "cities," just as in triumphal processions.
§25.1.2καὶ ἴσως οὐκ ἄπιστον τοῦτο λέγει· καὶ γὰρ οἱ στρατηγοὶ καὶ οἱ συγγραφεῖς ῥᾳδίως ἐπὶ τοῦτο φέρονται τὸ ψεῦσμα, καλλωπίζοντες τὰς πράξεις.
And perhaps what he says is not incredible; for both generals and historians are easily carried away to this kind of falsehood, embellishing their achievements.

Notes

  1. §25.1.1τοῦτο τῷ Γράκχῳ χαρίσασθαι τὸν ἄνδρα — The accusative `τὸν ἄνδρα`, acting as the subject of the infinitive `χαρίσασθαι`, refers back to Polybius. The verb `χαρίζομαι` here carries the nuance of "to grant as a favor" or "to curry favor with," conveying the critic's claim that Polybius biased his historical account to please Gracchus.
  2. §25.1.1τοὺς πύργους — Meaning "towers" or "forts." It satirizes the Roman custom in triumphal processions where minor fortresses or watchtowers were represented in paintings or models as if they were major cities.
  3. §25.1.2καὶ ἴσως οὐκ ἄπιστον τοῦτο λέγει — The subject of `λέγει` is the critic, and the author admits the plausibility of his point. The double negative `οὐκ ἄπιστον` ("not incredible") is justified in the following clause by a general statement about how easily generals and historians yield to vanity.

Cite this passage

Polybius, The Histories §25.1.1-25.1.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:25.1.1-25.1.2

Please note the AI-draft status of the translation and the date accessed.

Translation, notes and summary are AI-generated drafts, revised through reader feedback.