“I, Polybius of Megalopolis, was born at a time when the Romans were laying the foundations of their great empire—when they conquered Greece. When they entered the Peloponnese and took Megalopolis, I was captured and taken to Rome as a hostage. There, I began to write the history of the known world up to my own time…”
The fourth and final part of Polybius’ valuable historical narrative (3rd century BC) is presented by the program “Narratives” – “Stories and Tales for Children and Adults”on Saturday, 02 May 2026, from 17:00 to 18:00 (Athens time), on Voice of Greece.
Following earlier chapters—“The First Roman Ship,” “The Libyan War,” “The Geography of Italy,” and “The Celts”—the series concludes with “The Battle of Sellasia.” In this final chapter, Polybius vividly recounts the dramatic fall of once-invincible Sparta at the hands of Antigonus III Doson, king of Macedon.
The adaptation is based on the book “Stories from Polybius for Young and Older Readers: The Greek and Roman World in the 3rd Century BC” (Kedros Publications), adapted by Anthi Leousi and Andreas Spyrou, in a translation by N. D. Triantafyllopoulos, the modern Greek translator of Polybius. The book’s distinctive illustrations are by Elli Spania.
According to historiography, at a time when the known world had greatly expanded—first under Alexander the Great and later under Rome—Polybius (c. 203–120 BC) set out to write a Universal History. He wanted his History to have “truth as its guiding eye,” aiming to instruct rather than merely entertain or impress. In this first book, he presents the determined Romans and the exotic Celts, describing gripping events and harsh wars. He recounts how, when, and by whom the once-impregnable Sparta was first conquered. And since History always goes hand in hand with Geography, Polybius vividly unfolds before our eyes the Geography of the world—he was not a desk-bound historian. He traveled whenever he had the opportunity and gained firsthand knowledge of many regions of Asia, Europe, and Africa. [From the book’s back cover.]
Produced and presented by Maria Karagiannaki Iona
Broadcast: Saturday, 02 May 2026, 17:00–18:00 (Athens time)
