Again on the Elephants of Raphia: Re-examining Polybius' Historical Method in the Light of a DNA Survey

Abstract

A recent DNA survey carried out in Eritrea provides the starting point for this article. It has been established that the elephants still roaming in the Gash Barka area are members of the species Loxodonta africana (or savannah elephant). This conclusion has unexpectedly challenged the commonly accepted opinion that the Ptolemies used elephants of the smaller species Loxodonta cyclotis (or forest elephant). This idea has long prevailed among historians because it gives a satisfactory explanation of a problematic passage by Polybius, but now it seems difficult to sustain. Thus this genetic study affords the opportunity of reexamining Polybius’ reasoning. I argue that his statement about the allegedly smaller Ptolemaic elephants, far from being mistaken, was an attempt by Polybius to explain their defeat with the best argument acceptable to his audience. In other words, the fundamental point is that he wanted to provide his readers with a reasonable explanation and demonstration, not with a factual statement.