Polybius - which translation should I go for?

[Ian61]

Having been browsing the surprisingly named 'child board' listings of many major battles I am tempted to add one on Ilipa 206BC.

Having read Goldsworthy's involving account in his 'In the name of Rome' I have been rereading my Livy but have noted that both refer to Polybius as a source. 

There appear to be several translations of his 'Histories' and I am minded to go for a complete (as much as is possible with forever bits missing) version rather than the individual books - unless I am missing a point and these are superior (if much more costly!). I have noted; 'The Complete Histories of Polybius (Author), W. R. Paton (Translator)  and The Histories (Oxford World's Classics) by Polybius, Trans - Brian McGing and Robin Waterfield.  Has anyone here read either and have an opinion or can recommend I search for another?

Ian

[tadamson]

Well I'd start with the 1927 Loeb (Paton) as it's good, free and on-line  http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Polybius/home.html

Perseus  and Archive have Shukburg's 1889 translation on-line, she is easier to read.
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0234
https://archive.org/details/historiespolybi00hultgoog

Waterfield's new translation was very well received and if you want a hardcopy for reference is probably a good buy (given that you can get the Greek on-line).

If you want some clarification, it's worth reading the Greek (if you can), or multiple translations, as translators often find it hard to decide on what to put for Greek military terms. You can also ask here as well.

Tom..

[Ian61]

Tom, Thank you for your excellent and informative reply...
I have a smattering of modern Greek from astronomy and recent holidays - enough to cope with basics and signs but alas little more.  I have just had a glance at that Perseus online version-brilliant.  I will probably still look for a decent copy as I am still a fan of real books, so that looks like a sale for Waterfield et al. but I will wait a day or so before committing to see if there is any counter view. (As a scientist I am not sure I really want to get too bogged down in textural analysis I much prefer teaching Chemical Analysis (my day job).
Ian