Polyaenus or Polyenus (/ˌpɒliˈiːnəs/POL-ee-EE-nəs; see ae (æ) vs. e; Greek: Πoλύαινoς, translit.Polyainos, "much-praised") was a 2nd-century CE Greek author, known best for his Stratagems in War (Greek: Στρατηγήματα, translit.Strategemata), which has been preserved. He was born in Bithynia. The Suda[1] calls him a rhetorician, and Polyaenus himself writes that he was accustomed to plead causes before the Roman emperor.[2] Polyaenus dedicated Stratagems in War to the two emperors Marcus Aurelius (r. 161–180) and Lucius Verus (r. 161–169), while they were engaged in the Roman–Parthian War of 161–166, about 163, at which time he was too old to accompany them in their campaigns.[3]
This work is divided into eight books: the first six contain accounts of the stratagems of the most celebrated Greek generals and rulers, the seventh book contains stratagems of non Greeks and Romans, and the eighth book those of the Romans and of illustrious women. Parts, however, of the sixth and seventh books are lost, so that of the 900 stratagems which Polyaenus described, 833 have survived.
The book has survived in a single copy made in the 13th century, although there exist five abridged versions, which will be discussed below. The full copy once belonged to Michel Apostolios and is now in the Laurentian Library in Florence. The work is written in a clear and pleasing style[citation needed], though somewhat tinged with the artificial rhetoric of the age[clarification needed]. It contains a vast number of anecdotes respecting many of the most celebrated men in antiquity, and has uniquely preserved many historical facts.
There are no less than five Byzantine abridgments of this work, the most important one of which is held in the same library of the original, the Laurentian. This compendium, titled Ὑπoθέσεις ἐκ τῶν στρατηγικῶν πράξεων, contains 58 chapters and 354 stratagems, and is useful to elucidate and explain many passages of the original, lost or not. Despite the existence of the abridgements, Polyaenus' treatise was not popular in the Middle Ages. The original is rarely cited by Byzantine sources, which suggests that it had ceased to circulate, and that the abridgements had replaced it. To this it must be added that only the Ὑπoθέσεις derives directly from the original, while the other four versions seem to be summaries of the first.
Polyaenus was first printed in a Latin translation, executed by Justus Vulteius, at Basel, 1549. The first edition of the Greek text was published by Isaac Casaubon, Lyon, 1589; the next by Pancratius Maasvicius, Leyden, 1690; the third by Samuel Mursinna, Berlin, 1756; the fourth by Adamantios Korais, Paris, 1809.[4] The work has been translated into English by R. Shepherd, London, 1793; into German by Seybold, Frankfurt, 1793–94, and by Blume, Stuttgart, 1834.
Other worksEdit
Polyaenus also wrote several other works, all of which have perished. The Suda has preserved the titles of two, On Thebes (Περὶ Θηβῶν) and Tactics, in three books (Τακτικά). Stobaeus makes a quotation from a work of Polyaenus, Ὑπὲρ τoῦ κoινoῦ τῶν Mακεδόνων[5] (For the koinon of Macedonians), and from another entitled Ὑπὲρ τoῦ Συνεδρίoυ[6] (For the Synedrion). Polyaenus likewise mentions his intention of writing a work on the memorable actions of M. Aurelius and L. Verus.[7]
Polyaenus, Stratagems of War, Translated by E. Shepherd, 1793 (excerpts: those stratagems concerning Alexander and some of the Diadochi)
Stratagems of War (complete translation)
Eduard von Woelffin 1887 edition at the Internet Archive
October 19, 2023
polyaenus, other, uses, disambiguation, polyenus, nəs, greek, Πoλύαινoς, translit, polyainos, much, praised, century, greek, author, known, best, stratagems, greek, Στρατηγήματα, translit, strategemata, which, been, preserved, born, bithynia, suda, calls, rhet. For other uses see Polyaenus disambiguation Polyaenus or Polyenus ˌ p ɒ l i ˈ iː n e s POL ee EE nes see ae ae vs e Greek Polyainos translit Polyainos much praised was a 2nd century CE Greek author known best for his Stratagems in War Greek Strathghmata translit Strategemata which has been preserved He was born in Bithynia The Suda 1 calls him a rhetorician and Polyaenus himself writes that he was accustomed to plead causes before the Roman emperor 2 Polyaenus dedicated Stratagems in War to the two emperors Marcus Aurelius r 161 180 and Lucius Verus r 161 169 while they were engaged in the Roman Parthian War of 161 166 about 163 at which time he was too old to accompany them in their campaigns 3 Polyaenus Stratagems in War 1821 Contents 1 Stratagems 2 Other works 3 Notes 4 Further reading 5 External linksStratagems EditThis work is divided into eight books the first six contain accounts of the stratagems of the most celebrated Greek generals and rulers the seventh book contains stratagems of non Greeks and Romans and the eighth book those of the Romans and of illustrious women Parts however of the sixth and seventh books are lost so that of the 900 stratagems which Polyaenus described 833 have survived The book has survived in a single copy made in the 13th century although there exist five abridged versions which will be discussed below The full copy once belonged to Michel Apostolios and is now in the Laurentian Library in Florence The work is written in a clear and pleasing style citation needed though somewhat tinged with the artificial rhetoric of the age clarification needed It contains a vast number of anecdotes respecting many of the most celebrated men in antiquity and has uniquely preserved many historical facts There are no less than five Byzantine abridgments of this work the most important one of which is held in the same library of the original the Laurentian This compendium titled Ὑpo8eseis ἐk tῶn strathgikῶn pra3ewn contains 58 chapters and 354 stratagems and is useful to elucidate and explain many passages of the original lost or not Despite the existence of the abridgements Polyaenus treatise was not popular in the Middle Ages The original is rarely cited by Byzantine sources which suggests that it had ceased to circulate and that the abridgements had replaced it To this it must be added that only the Ὑpo8eseis derives directly from the original while the other four versions seem to be summaries of the first Polyaenus was first printed in a Latin translation executed by Justus Vulteius at Basel 1549 The first edition of the Greek text was published by Isaac Casaubon Lyon 1589 the next by Pancratius Maasvicius Leyden 1690 the third by Samuel Mursinna Berlin 1756 the fourth by Adamantios Korais Paris 1809 4 The work has been translated into English by R Shepherd London 1793 into German by Seybold Frankfurt 1793 94 and by Blume Stuttgart 1834 Other works EditPolyaenus also wrote several other works all of which have perished The Suda has preserved the titles of two On Thebes Perὶ 8hbῶn and Tactics in three books Taktika Stobaeus makes a quotation from a work of Polyaenus Ὑpὲr toῦ koinoῦ tῶn Makedonwn 5 For the koinon of Macedonians and from another entitled Ὑpὲr toῦ Synedrioy 6 For the Synedrion Polyaenus likewise mentions his intention of writing a work on the memorable actions of M Aurelius and L Verus 7 Notes Edit Suda p 1955 Polyainos Polyaenus praef lib ii praef lib viii Polyaenus praef lib i Polyaenus Stratagems ELINEPA 2019 Stobaeus xlviii 43 Stobaeus xlviii 53 Polyaenus praef lib viFurther reading EditBayle Pierre 1740 Polyaenus Dictionnaire historique et critique Amsterdam permanent dead link Brodersen Kai ed 2010 Polyainos Neue Studien Polyaenus New Studies Berlin Verlag Antike ISBN 978 3 938032 39 8 Brodersen Kai 2017 Polyainos Strategika in Greek and German Berlin amp Boston De Gruyter ISBN 978 3 11 053664 5 Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Polyaenus Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 22 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 17 Dain A Les Cinq adaptations Byzantines de les Stratagemes de Polyen Revue des etudes anciennes 321 346 Polyen Ruses de guerre Site de Philippe Remacle in French Retrieved 9 October 2018 Gui Alexis Lobineau traducteur Paris 1840 Seyffert Oskar 1894 Polyaenus Dictionary of Classical Antiquities nbsp Smith William ed 1870 Polyaenus 4 the Macedonian Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology Vol 3 External links EditLivius Polyaenus by Jona Lendering Polyaenus Stratagems of War Translated by E Shepherd 1793 excerpts those stratagems concerning Alexander and some of the Diadochi Stratagems of War complete translation Eduard von Woelffin 1887 edition at the Internet Archive Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Polyaenus amp oldid 1176735739, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
