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Though Polybius wrote his Histories in a style, which at expense of readability was rather complex and acribic, he kept himself within the boundaries of the Hellenistic literary style, therefore the idea of a special ‘chancellery’ style must be abandoned. Yet since the epigraphical prose style developed distinctive features in Hellenistic times, as shown by Jonas Palm, one cannot exclude the possibility that those features had a certain influence on contemporary historiography. Direct influence can be shown in the way the word ‘stele’ is used, which plays a prominent role in Polybius’ narrative on the Achaean policy of unifying the Peloponnesus in the 2nd century BCE. This term he borrowed directly from the official use of the Achaean political language. As demonstrated by comparison with the only epigraphically preserved document of sympoliteia from the Achaean league (SIG³ 490), the term ‘stele’ was used to officially designate the treaties (homologia), with which new members were accepted to the league. |
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