[*] 243. Aorist of actions of long duration. The aorist is often used for rapid, individual action. But it is rather the tense of momentum than the tense of momentary action. No matter how long the action, it may be represented by the aorist, and it must be represented by the aorist when it is summed up. With definite numbers the aorist is the rule except as set forth in sections 208-10. (Complexive Aorist.) “Εὐκτήμων . . . ἐβίω ἔτη ἓξ καὶ ἐνενήκοντα”, ISAE. 6.18; Euctemon lived ninety-six years. LYCURG.72: “ἐνενήκοντα . . . ἔτη τῶν Ἑλλήνων ἡγεμόνες κατέστησαν”. DEM.38.12: “τούτων . . . ἐπίτροπος . . . ἐγένεθ᾽ ἑκκαίδεκ̓ ἔτη”, Of these he was (not became) guardian sixteen years. ISAE. 6.18 (see above). LYS.12.4: “ἔτη δὲ τριάκοντα ᾤκησε” . ANDOC.3.4: “ἡμῖν εἰρήνη ἐγένετο . . . ἔτη πεντήκοντα, καὶ ἐνεμείναμεν ἀμφότεροι ταύταις ταῖς σπονδαῖς ἔτη τριακαίδεκα”. THUC.2.2: “τέσσαρα μὲν γὰρ καὶ δέκα ἔτη ἐνέμειναν αἱ τριακοντούτεις σπονδαί”. 4.6.2: “ἡμέρας . . . πεντεκαίδεκα ἔμειναν ἐν τῇ Ἀττικῇ” , They remained fifteen days in Attica. HDT.2.157: “Ψαμμήτιχος . . . ἐβασίλευσε Αἰγύπτου τέσσερα καὶ πεντήκοντα ἔτεα”. AR. Pl. 846: “οὔκ, ἀλλ᾽ ἐνερρίγως᾿ ἔτη τριακαίδεκα”. HOM. Il. 6.174: “ἐννῆμαρ ξείνισσε” (209).
Syntax of Classical Greek from Homer to Demosthenes. Basil L. Gildersleeve. New York. American Book Company. 1900.
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