The Predictability of Evil: on Polybius 15, 20, 6 and the Mutual Betrayal of Philip V and Antiochus III

A complex Polybian chapter (15, 20) contains an allusion to a mutual betrayal of Philip V of Macedonia and Antiochus III of Syria, which nullified their agreement to partition the power of the child king Ptolemy V of Egypt. In Eckstein’s words, this was a "coordinated attempt to destroy the Hellenistic system of balance of power that had endured since around 280". Given the historical and even metahistorical importance of this page as a whole, little attention has been paid to considering whether the mutual betrayal corresponds to actual events or is to be regarded as a mere attribute in the image of the contenders. My aim is to offer a fresh interpretation of 15, 20. This will ultimately be useful for a better understanding of the allusion itself.