Polybius sought information close to events and interviewed people connected with decisions, making him unusually valuable for reconstructing the war. Yet many of those informants were Roman commanders who were also politicians managing their reputations. A victor benefits when the defeated opponent appears highly skilled and the odds look overwhelming. The result is valuable evidence that still requires attention to the political interests behind it.
Notable Point · 25:53-27:17
Polybius and the politics of victory narratives
Polybius preserved valuable testimony close to events, but Roman commanders had reasons to portray their enemies as formidable and the odds as desperate.