Emma Nicholson
I am a Senior Lecturer at the University of Exeter and my research interests surround Hellenistic history and historiography, Polybius, Philip V of Macedon, the Antigonid dynasty, and interstate relations.
I am the director of the Antigonid Network (http://blogs.exeter.ac.uk/theantigonidnetwork/) and the Centre of Hellenistic and Later Greek Studies at the University of Exeter.
My book, "Philip V of Macedon in Polybius' Histories: Politics, History and Fiction", was recently published with OUP. I am also co-authoring a book, "Ancient Macedon's Last Dynasty: A History of the Antigonids", contracted with Routledge; and co-editing a volume entitled "Literary Genre and Leadership Values in Antiquity" contracted with Bloomsbury.
Supervisors: Federico Santangelo, John Moles, Andrew Erskine, Brian McGing, and April Pudsey
I am the director of the Antigonid Network (http://blogs.exeter.ac.uk/theantigonidnetwork/) and the Centre of Hellenistic and Later Greek Studies at the University of Exeter.
My book, "Philip V of Macedon in Polybius' Histories: Politics, History and Fiction", was recently published with OUP. I am also co-authoring a book, "Ancient Macedon's Last Dynasty: A History of the Antigonids", contracted with Routledge; and co-editing a volume entitled "Literary Genre and Leadership Values in Antiquity" contracted with Bloomsbury.
Supervisors: Federico Santangelo, John Moles, Andrew Erskine, Brian McGing, and April Pudsey
less
Related Authors
InterestsView All (36)
Uploads
Books by Emma Nicholson
Journal Articles by Emma Nicholson
engaged with each other through their textual choices to shape the memory and reputation of this leader and the Achaean League for their own purposes. It also investigates how these literary reconfigurations contributed to the transformation of the historical Aratus into a symbol of heroism, brilliant leadership, and pride for the Achaean League and Peloponnese in the centuries after his death.
Book Chapters by Emma Nicholson
Book Reviews by Emma Nicholson
168. Hardback, €97.00/$116.00. ISBN 978-90-04-42611-5.
Conference/Seminar Papers by Emma Nicholson
engaged with each other through their textual choices to shape the memory and reputation of this leader and the Achaean League for their own purposes. It also investigates how these literary reconfigurations contributed to the transformation of the historical Aratus into a symbol of heroism, brilliant leadership, and pride for the Achaean League and Peloponnese in the centuries after his death.
168. Hardback, €97.00/$116.00. ISBN 978-90-04-42611-5.
"
This paper, however, will attempt to refute both of these claims. Only two passages within Polybius’ Histories are used by Dreyer to substantiate the assertion that Philip was indecisive at crucial moments, and shortcomings can be found in both of these examples. The evidence for this characteristic in Perseus is also problematic as it does not necessarily reveal moments of indecision, but rather ruthlessness, stinginess, cowardice and despair. Moreover many of the examples are based off judgements made by Polybius in pursuit of producing a didactic and cohesive work explaining cause and effect, and will be tainted by his interpretation and structuring of events and characters. It will also be illustrated that Polybius, even if he believed the kings to possess this characteristic, did not think it an important factor in the destruction of the Macedonian empire.
This paper is a reaction to this perception and hopes to prove that there is still a lot more scholarly life in the field.
A recent resurgence of interest in the ancient historian Polybius and the resulting changes in attitude towards his methodology, reliability, and consistency has not yet been followed by substantial reconsiderations of Philip V as he stands within the context of Polybius’ Histories, and there remains a large area of potential investigation in light of these changes. One such potential area will be discussed in the course of this paper in detail - the episode at Messene in 215 BC, which Polybius views as a crucial turning-point in the king’s character and conduct. It will be suggested that the event’s significance within the Histories owes more to Philip’s role as an educational model of caution and Polybius’ bias towards the Achaean League rather than from a genuine real-life transformation in the monarch. By realising that Polybius has over-emphasized the importance of this moment within Macedonian and Greek history, we may understand better how he has constructed the overall depiction of Philip within his Histories, and, perhaps extricate a more realistic image of Philip and Macedonian policy.
Philip V was one of the last kings of ancient Macedonia and the first to come into direct conflict with Roman forces. His defeat at the Battle of Cynoscephalae (197 BC) and that of his son, Perseus, at the Battle of Pydna (168 BC) would mark the end of the Macedonian monarchy and the beginning of Roman control over Macedonian territory. The ancient historian, Polybius, is our main literary source for this turbulent period as well as for Philip V; his presentation of the king is therefore very influential in our understanding of this monarch and his role within the historical context.
This paper investigates Polybius’ claim that the episode at Messene marked the change in the Macedonian king, suggesting that its significance within Polybius’ Histories owes more to Philip’s role as an educational model of caution and Polybius’ bias towards the Achaean League rather than from a genuine radical transformation in the monarch. By establishing that Polybius has over-emphasized the importance of this moment within Macedonian and Greek history, we may understand better how he has constructed the overall depiction of Philip within his Histories, and, perhaps draw out a more realistic image of Philip and Macedonian policy.
While the Antigonids were an important part of the political scene in the Hellenistic period, study of them has been largely overshadowed by that of the Ptolemies, Seleucids and Attalids, which (other than the Attalids) were longer-lasting and saw a greater engagement with non-Greek peoples. This lack of attention has obscured the significance of this dynasty in the politics and culture of the ancient Mediterranean. It is the aim of this conference, therefore, to pave the way to rectifying this situation as the first event of a new international Antigonid Network. Alongside conference papers touching on a range of different aspects, discussion sessions will help build relationships between individuals and institutions, as well as offer the space to develop collaborative projects and resources.
This Centre (previously named the Centre for Hellenistic and Romano-Greek Culture and Society) encompasses a range of research focusing on the Greek world from the Hellenistic period and beyond. It was originally set up in 2001 with a £1.25 million grant from the Leverhulme Trust and since then has remained the aegis for individual and collaborative research in these areas at Exeter.
In the last couple of years, this Centre has been renamed, redefined, and revitalised with new members and interests. The forthcoming conference aims to celebrate its relaunch, showcase some of the research taking place at Exeter, and engage with the wider scholarly community working on the Greek world after Alexander the Great.
The theme of the conference is “Innovation and Discovery in the Hellenistic World and Beyond”, and it aims to explore various instances, aspects, attitudes towards, and conditions of innovation, invention, renewal and discovery in the Greek world from the Hellenistic period onwards.
More info on http://blogs.exeter.ac.uk/changeandresilienceinantiquity/