Livy

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

Anything Livy can do, Polybius can do better

Word.

Although Polybius shouldn't be taken at face value either. There is an issue with his account of Hanabal's march on Rome, a case where Livy may have been right.

As to throwing out the first five books, they're slightly more/less accurate that the Iliad, which is to say much of the basic plot, and the rough dates, can be supported. For example, Livy says the Republic was founded in 510 BC, archaeology suggests he's off by about three years or so