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The reading (cf. 89. 2 n.) ὀγδώκοντα καὶ ὀκτακόσια (for the τεσσαράκοντα καὶ πεντακόσια of most MSS.; vid. app. crit.) seems almost certain. For (a) the sum total of all the tributes (less the 140 talents spent in Cilicia, 90. 3) is 7,600 Babylonian talents. This—taking the ratio of 60:78 (89. 2)—gives 9,880 Euboic talents. (b) If the value of the Indian gold be added, i. e. 360 x 13 = 4,680, we have the total 14,560 talents.

This reading then both preserves the proper relation of gold and silver, and makes the addition of H. correct, while the other text does neither. For the ratio of the precious metals (really 13.3, not 13) cf. Böckh, i. 38 seq.; it varied, but was often reckoned as 10 : 1 (Lys. xix. 42-3, property of Conon; Xen. An. i. 7. 18, 3,000 darics = 10 tals. = 60,000 drs.; Liv. xxxviii. 11). The modern proportion is about 15 1/2 : 1. As the Persian gold was the purest (cf. iv 166. 2), H. rightly gives a higher ratio than the usual.

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