10-17-2019, 02:05 PM
It`s jolly nice to know that we`re not alone in our doubts about Polybius` reliablilty. As we have pointed out here and on other threads, there is material evidence that not only contradicts events in Polybius` history but also support other accounts of the north African campaigns:
And the evidence is in the following:
The pottery finds in excavations by the British Mission dating the circular harbour to the early C2nd BC. - after the peace treaty of 201 BC.
"Review of Excavations at Carthage The British Mission etc... The International Journal of the Nautical Archaeology 1995"
The Rylands Papyrus III 491 which is likely to be part of Pictor`s history, but presents a different perspective of the events leading to Carthage`s peace delegation to Rome in 203 BC.
Polybius and the Papyrus: The Persuasiveness of "P. Rylands" III 491 by Dexter Hoyos
at: https://www.jstor.org/stable/20190797?se...b_contents
There were two military monuments in present-day Tunisa built by Massinissa and his successor Micipsa
The BAR publication on Kbor Klib by Duncan Ross - you`ll find the reference for this on this thread above.
Dating evidence is included in this - this may have been missed by readers here who have access to the publication.
I started a new thread on the monument at Chemtou which was similar in structure to the one at Kbor Klib, close to Zama and I made the connection with the date of the battle given by Livy, the dedication of a temple built on the site and Saturnalia.
https://www.romanarmytalk.com/rat/showth...?tid=31176
I feel that the burden of proof is on the followers of Polybius to present evidence to support his version of the battle as a Roman victory.... a tropaion; a Roman monument to Roman dead would be a start.
And the evidence is in the following:
The pottery finds in excavations by the British Mission dating the circular harbour to the early C2nd BC. - after the peace treaty of 201 BC.
"Review of Excavations at Carthage The British Mission etc... The International Journal of the Nautical Archaeology 1995"
The Rylands Papyrus III 491 which is likely to be part of Pictor`s history, but presents a different perspective of the events leading to Carthage`s peace delegation to Rome in 203 BC.
Polybius and the Papyrus: The Persuasiveness of "P. Rylands" III 491 by Dexter Hoyos
at: https://www.jstor.org/stable/20190797?se...b_contents
There were two military monuments in present-day Tunisa built by Massinissa and his successor Micipsa
The BAR publication on Kbor Klib by Duncan Ross - you`ll find the reference for this on this thread above.
Dating evidence is included in this - this may have been missed by readers here who have access to the publication.
I started a new thread on the monument at Chemtou which was similar in structure to the one at Kbor Klib, close to Zama and I made the connection with the date of the battle given by Livy, the dedication of a temple built on the site and Saturnalia.
https://www.romanarmytalk.com/rat/showth...?tid=31176
I feel that the burden of proof is on the followers of Polybius to present evidence to support his version of the battle as a Roman victory.... a tropaion; a Roman monument to Roman dead would be a start.
