“I, Polybius of Megalopolis, was born in Megalopolis and lived at a time when the Romans were laying the foundations of their great empire—when they conquered Greece as well. When the Romans entered the Peloponnese and took Megalopolis, I was captured and taken as a hostage of the conquerors to Rome. There, I began to write the history of the known world up to my own time. Since the days of Alexander the Great, the known world had expanded eastward. In my time (2nd century BC), with the rise of the Romans, it began to expand westward as well. Great roads connected bustling cities from East to West. Swift ships crossed the seas, sailing toward the most distant ports of the Mediterranean and the Black Sea…”
A valuable historical narrative is presented by the program “Narratives” – “Stories and Tales for Children and Adults”, on Saturday 04 April 2026, 17:00–18:00 (Athens time), on Voice of Greece. The broadcast features the first book published by Kedros, “Stories from Polybius for Children and Adults: The Greek and Roman World in the 3rd Century BC”, adapted by Anthi Leousi and Andreas Spyrou and translated by N. D. Triantafyllopoulos, the translator of Polybius into Modern Greek. The outstanding illustrations of Polybius’ narratives are by Elli Spania.
According to historiography, at a time when the known world had greatly expanded—first through Alexander the Great and later through Rome—Polybius (c. 203–120 BC) set out to write a Universal History. He wanted his work to have “truth as its guiding eye” and to instruct, not merely to entertain or impress. In this first book, he presents the determined Romans and the exotic Celts, describing gripping events and brutal wars. He recounts how, when, and by whom the supposedly 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, as he was not a desk-bound historian. He travelled whenever the opportunity arose and gained first-hand knowledge of many regions across Asia, Europe, and Africa. [From the book’s back cover.]
Produced and presented by Maria Karagiannaki Iona
Broadcast: Saturday 04 April 2026, 17:00–18:00 (Athens time)
