C.E. Graves, Commentary on Thucydides: Book 4

CHAPTER CXVI

ἐπιφερόμενος—iii. 23, αὐτοῖς ἐπεφέροντο.

τοίς πλοίοις—the merchant vessels in the harbour.

προσβάλλειν—so Poppo, Krüger, etc. Most manuscripts have βάλλειν, which may possibly mean ‘to throw (fire)’, from the machine spoken of in ch. 115, 6. πρώτῳ is joined with a participle, like τελευταῖος, ch. 38, 17.

ἀπέδωκεν—‘paid’, as being due: see note on this force of ἀπό in composition, ch. 39, 15. ἐς τὸ ἱερόν—in usum fani (Poppo).

ἀνασκευάσας—the converse of κατασκευάσας. After dismantling (καθελών) the fortifications, Brasidas cleared away the remains of the military and secular occupation of the place. Göller understands it of removing the furniture of the houses. In i. 18, ἀνασκευασάμενοι is used of the Athenians who dismantled their abodes when invaded by the Persians.

τέμενος ἀνῆκεν—‘dedicated it all as sacred ground’. ἁνίημι, to leave untilled, give up as sacred: Isocr. Plat. 302 τὴν χώραν άνεῖναι μηλόβοτον, of the soil of Plataeae: Hdt. ii. 65, ἀνεῖται τὰ ἱρά. Note ἅπαν in agreement with τέμενος.