famous Greek historian, was born at Megalopolis, a city of Arcadia; and was the son of Lycortas, chief of the republic of the Achaeans. He was sent ambassador to Rome, where he contracted a strict friendship with Scipio and Lelius; and in that city composed his excellent history, after he had made several voyages to the places of which he was to treat. This history was divided into 40 books; but there only remains the five first, with extracts of some parts of the others. It has had several editions in Greek and Latin; and there is an English translation by Mr Hampton. Polybius lived about 120 years before the Christian era, and died at the age of 82.