Charles F. Smith, Commentary on Thucydides Book 7

1. παρεσκευάσατο: St. has adopted from two Mss. παρεσκεύαστο, on the ground that Gylippus did not himself prepare the fleet. But it is sufficient that he had general direction in the matter.

ἀγαγὼν στρατιάν: very generally used of setting out with an army. Cf. c. 84. 2; iv.93.3. He set out under cover of night (ὑπὸ νύκτα) and waited until the expected sea-fight should offer the favourable moment for attack. Cf. c. 23. § 1.—αὐτὸς μὲν...ἔμελλε...αἱ δὲ τριήρεις...ἐπέπλεον...περιέπλεον : paratactic const., “while he held himself ready for an attack by land, the two divisions of ships made a simultaneous onset.”— 4. αἱ δὲ τριήρεις τῶν Συρακοσίων: the whole 80, after which follow the parts in the same case. See on ii.95.5; iii.13.17.—ἅμα καὶ ἀπὸ ξυνθήματος: at the same time and on a preconcerted signal. Cf. iv.67.20; vi.61.10.

αἱ δὲ πέντε: Cl. explains the art. as signifying the fleet that is ready and stationed in definite number in the smaller harbour, while the 35 triremes from the greater harbour do not comprise all the ships that are getting ready there. But better St. the remainder, the art., which has the same force as in τὰ δὲ δύο, c. 24. 4, and in αἱ δὲ ἕνδεκα, c. 25. 6, implying that the whole number was 80. Kr. Spr. 50, 2, 8.

τὸ νεώριον: the harbour of the war-ships with the necessary appurtenances of wharves and docks. See Holm, H. p. 382.— περιέπλεον: i.e. around the old city (the Nasos). On the omission of καί before περιέπλεον, see App.

πρὸς τὰς ἐντὸς προσμίξαι: Schol., ταῖς ἰδίαις ταῖς ἐντὸς τοῦ μεγάλου λιμένος ξυμμίξαι.

ἀμφοτέρωθεν : i.e. both by land and sea. We find it with θορυβεῖσθαι also in iii.26.5; v.10.33.

10. ἀντιπληρώσαντες: having manned in turn, with reference to c. 21. 26.— 11. ταῖς μέν, ταῖς δ᾽ ἐπιλοίποις: the art. with numbers used as parts of a whole. See on 6 above. Cf. i.116.2.

ταῖς ἐπιλοίποις: i.e. 35. ἐπίλοιπος is found only here in Thuc., who uses elsewhere ὑπόλοιπος.

οἱ μέν : sc. οἱ Συρακόσιοι.