<p rend="Plain Text">
Though it has survived only in fragmentary form, the general shape of book vi is assured by the order of the fragments in the Codex Urbinas (F). These, Nissen showed (Rh. Mus., 1871, 253 ff.; cf. Bttner-Wobst, ii. lxii–lxvi), follow the order of the original closely in i–v (the one exception is in v, where fol. 54
<emph rend="superscript">r</emph>
gives 79. 3–86. 7 and fol. 59
<emph rend="superscript">r</emph>
75. 2–6), and may therefore be presumed to do so in later books. Nor does any substantial part of the book appear to have been lost outright (cf. Ziegler, RE, 'Polybios (1)', col. 1493 n. 1). After an introduction (2), omitted by F, the book opens with some general remarks on the nature of constitutions, with special reference to the Roman, designed to lead up to a discussion of the mixed constitution and the early history of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> (3. 3 n.). P. distinguishes three types of constitution (3. 5), but adds the mixed type, as found in Lycurgan <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a> (3. 6–8), and the three associated corruptions (3. 9–4. 6). He then outlines a process by which the three constitutional forms and their three corruptions, preceded by a seventh type, primitive monarchy, follow each other in a cyclical succession <w lang="el-GR">κατὰ φύσιν</w> (4. 11); the order followed is monarchy, kingship, tyranny, aristocracy, oligarchy, democracy, and ochlocracy, and the process, outlined in 4. 7–13, is developed at length in 5. 1–9. 9. P. follows it with the statements (a) that by observing where a state is situated in this cycle one can predict its future (9. 10–11), (b) that this method will especially facilitate understanding of the development of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> (9. 12–14). How P. in fact applies this anacyclosis (9. 10) to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> is discussed below (4. 7–9. 14 n.), where it is related further to the 'biological concept' that all things, including states, follow an organic pattern of beginning, growth, acme, and decline (cf. 9. 12–14, 51. 4–8, 57). After outlining the anacyclosis P. returns to Lycurgus, who devised his mixed constitution to avoid the several corruptions implicit in the single constitutional forms of kingship into monarchy (10. 4 n.), of aristocracy into oligarchy, and of democracy into ochlocracy; and what Lycurgus achieved by reason, the Romans have achieved by choosing the better course in a series of crises and struggles, in the light of experience gained in disaster (10). This formulation leads naturally to a survey of early Roman history, carried by P. down to the time of the Decemvirate (11. 1 n.), and regarded as the process by which <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> attained to the mixed constitution (11 a n.); and this survey is followed by an analysis of the system of checks and balances operating within this mixed constitution, when at its prime (11–18). Whether P. here included a detailed description of the constitution, now lost (so Ziegler, RE, 'Polybios
<milestone unit="page" n="635">[635]</milestone>
(1)', col. 1493 n. 1), is uncertain; the reference in iii. 87. 9 ( = vi. 18. 9) to a fuller discussion of a constitutional point elsewhere perhaps points in this direction (cf. too 11 a n. at the end). There will, in any case, have been a transitional passage to the detailed account of the Roman military system (19–42), which is included as clearly relevant to the extension of Roman power, and of special interest to P. personally. For a full appreciation of the merits of the Roman constitution P. felt it necessary to adopt the traditional device of the <w lang="el-GR">σύγκρισις</w> (cf. Focke, Hermes, 1923, 348 ff.), and to compare it with certain other well-regarded constitutions, and in particular that of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a> (since the Hannibalic War offers the occasion for this digression); this comparison is made in 43–56. Finally, in 57, P. hazards some observations on the probable future development of the Roman constitution, and rounds off the book (58) with an anecdote which serves as a transition back to the historical narrative of vii.
</p>
<p rend="Plain Text">In CQ, 1943, 73–89 it was argued that those parts of vi which imply the decay of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>, and outline the scheme of the anacyclosis, belong to a later strand, which was composed after the events of 150–146, in response to the impact of political developments. This view is superseded in a more recent study, written in conjunction with C. O. Brink (CQ, 1954, 97–122). There is no evidence that any part of vi was composed substantially later than the book as a whole; and there is nothing in it which points to a date later than 150 for its composition. Indeed, its publication along with i–v about that date remains the most likely hypothesis (cf. iii. 1–5 n.). Such problems as book vi still offers on the 'unitary' hypothesis are considered in the notes which follow. In recent works on book vi the unitary view has been reasserted by E. Mioni, Polibio (<a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Padua&groupId=826&placeId=1489">Padua</a>, 1949), 49–78; H. Ryffel, <w lang="el-GR">Μεταβολὴ πολιτειῶν</w> (Bern, 1949), especially 180–228; H. Erbse, Rh. Mus., 1951, 157–79. For other recent discussion see G. B. Cardona, Polibio, Storie, vol. ii (<a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Naples&groupId=785&placeId=1422">Naples</a>, 1949), introduction, i–xliii, who accepts De Sanctis's 'separatist' position; K. Ziegler, RE, 'Polybios (1)', cols. 1489–1500, who believes in two strands of composition but a single publication before 150; and W. Theiler, Hermes, 1953, 296–302, who argues for three layers of composition. Earlier bibliography in Walbank, CQ, 1943, 73–89; Brink and Walbank, CQ, 1954, 97–122; and Ziegler, op. cit., cols. 1489–90. For recent discussion of the construction and sources of this book see Thos. Cole, Historia, 1964, 440–86; A. Roveri, Studi su Polibio (Bologna, 1964), 163–99; K. F. Eisen, Polybiosinterpretationen (Heidelberg, 1966), 24–97. W. Theiler's article is reprinted in his Untersuchungen zur antiken Literatur (Berlin, 1970), 343–50; in an additional note (p. 345) he is inclined to move the archaeologia from his second 'layer' to his first.</p>
<p rend="Plain Text">
The nine 'fragmenta' given by Bttner-Wobst e prooemio libri are no more than testimonia, and are correctly so given by Hultsch; Bttner-Wobst here follows the precedent of Schweighaeuser. Apart from the dubious instance of iii. 87. 9, there is a further reference back to vi at xviii. 28. 1, which Bttner-Wobst omits from his list. Ch. 2 gives genuine extracts from the introduction to the book, in which P. outlines his reasons for discussing the Roman constitution at this point.
<milestone unit="page" n="636">[636]</milestone>
</p>
Addenda & corrigenda
6.0.0 - 6.0.0
<p rend="Plain Text">
Introduction (pp. 635–6): p. 635, l. 1 for 'is' read 'it'. For recent discussion of the construction and sources of this book see Thos. Cole, Historia, 1964, 440–86; A. Roveri, Studi su Polibio (Bologna, 1964), 163–99; K. F. Eisen, Polybiosinterpretationen (Heidelberg, 1966), 24–97.
<milestone unit="page" n="645">[645]</milestone>
</p>
6.0.0 - 6.0.0
<p rend="Plain Text">P. 636, introductory note: W. Theiler's article is reprinted in his Untersuchungen zur antiken Literatur (Berlin, 1970), 343–50; in an additional note (p. 345) he is inclined to move the archaeologia from his second 'layer' to his first.</p>
Walbank Commentary