Polybian Exhortations: The Ambiguity of the Roman Constitution in Book VI

This paper examines the tension of Polybius’s classification of the Roman constitution in Book VI of the Histories. Polybius is known for his contrast of the sequence of simple regimes in his theory of anacyclosis with the stable mixed regime consisting of kingship, aristocracy, and democracy. In Book VI, Polybius identifies the Roman constitution as both aristocratic and mixed. This appears to be a blatant mistake for a man of Polybius’s political pedigree and experience. The tension in Rome’s ambiguous identity is linked to the dual purpose of Book VI. The first purpose is to blame Greek resignation of Roman ascendency and resilience by using the familiar concept of the mixed constitution. The second is to encourage steadfastness or even exhort daring action on the part of his fellow Greeks. At the height of its power Polybius boldly predicts Rome’s inevitable decline by situating their constitution near the end of his revised version of the anacyclosis.