Polybius’ Distortions of the Roman ‘Constitution’

Polybius' account of the mixed constitution of Rome in Book 6 has recently been viewed through the lens of debate over whether oligarchic or democratic elements predominate. It is important, however, to see Book 6 as written in the light of two axioms of great importance: Polybius' belief that the Roman constitution was responsible for her rise to power, and that the mixed constitution was the best of all constitutions. These determining principles are the reason for the various distortions which make up Polybius’ account of the mixed constitution, such as the exaggerated account of the power of popular assemblies: even within Polybius' own account the senate's predominance emerges strongly, in spite of his desire to emphasize the mixed nature of Rome's constitution.

Constitution · Genealogy · Political science · American Constitutional Law and Politics · Classical Antiquity Studies · History · Law