Origins
editPolybius was born around 203 BC in Megalopolis, Arcadia which at that time was an active member of the Achaean League. His father Lycortas was a prominent landowning politician. Polybius developed an interest horseriding and hunting which helped later to commend him to his Roman captors. In 182 BC Polybius was chosen to carry the funeral urn of Philopoemen which was quite an honor as Philopoemen was the most eminent Achaean politician of his generation. In 170 or 169 BC Polybius was elected hipparch or cavalry leader an office which usually presaged election to the annual strategia or post of general.