Deconstructing Polybius - an example

[Domen]

At Magnesia, the Roman legions were defeated by Antiochos while the battle was won by the auxiliaries under Eumenes. The phalanx retreated orderly in squares with the Romans unable and unwilling to do harm by frontal attack. Again the Romans defeated them indirectly when the elephants were put to flight.

At Magnesia the only part of Seleucid army which was victorious was not their phalanx, but their cataphracts (3000) and Agema cavalry (1000). However, their success was by no means defeating the entire Roman army - they defeated only one legion. All other legions won the battle - not just the auxiliaries of Eumenes.