Polyaenus orPolyenus (/ˌpɒliˈiːnəs/POL-ee-EE-nəs; seeae (æ) vs. e;Ancient Greek:Πoλύαινoς,romanized: Polyainos, "much-praised") was a 2nd-century Roman Macedonian author and rhetorician,[1] known best for hisStratagems in War (Ancient Greek:Στρατηγήματα,romanized: Strategemata), which has been preserved. He was born inBithynia,Asia Minor. TheSuda[2] calls him arhetorician, and Polyaenus himself writes that he was accustomed to plead causes before theRoman emperor.[3] Polyaenus dedicatedStratagems in War to the two emperorsMarcus Aurelius (r. 161–180) andLucius Verus (r. 161–169), while they were engaged in theRoman–Parthian War of 161–166, about 163, at which time he was too old to accompany them in their campaigns.[4]
This work is divided into eight books: the first six contain accounts of thestratagems of the most celebratedGreek 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.[5]
The book has survived in a single copy made in the 13th century, although there exist five abridged versions. The full copy once belonged toMichel Apostolios.[6] It contains a vast number of anecdotes respecting many of the most celebrated men in antiquity, and has uniquely preserved many historical facts.[7]
Polyaenus was first printed in aLatin translation, executed byJustus Vulteius, atBasel, 1549. Thefirst edition of the Greek text was published byIsaac Casaubon,Lyon, 1589; the next byPancratius Maasvicius,Leyden, 1690; the third bySamuel Mursinna,Berlin, 1756; the fourth byAdamantios Korais, Paris, 1809.[8] The work has been translated into English by R. Shepherd,London, 1793; into German by Seybold,Frankfurt, 1793–94, and by Blume,Stuttgart, 1834.
Polyaenus also wrote several other works, all of which have perished. TheSuda has preserved the titles of two,On Thebes (Περὶ Θηβῶν) andTactics, in three books (Τακτικά).Stobaeus makes a quotation from a work of Polyaenus, Ὑπὲρ τoῦ κoινoῦ τῶν Mακεδόνων[9] (For thekoinon of Macedonians), and from another entitled Ὑπὲρ τoῦ Συνεδρίoυ[10] (For theSynedrion). Polyaenus likewise mentions his intention of writing a work on the memorable actions of M. Aurelius and L. Verus.[11]
Smith, William, ed. (1870)."Polyaenus (4) the Macedonian".Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. Vol. 3.