Herbert Weir Smyth, A Greek Grammar for Colleges

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[*] 1927. Complexive Aorist.—The complexive aorist is used to survey at a glance the course of a past action from beginning to end: ““τούτῳ τῷ τρόπῳ τὴν πόλιν ἐτείχισαν” it was in this manner that they fortified the city” T. 1.93. It may sum up the result of a preceding narrative (often containing imperfects, as T. 2.47. 4; 3. 81). The complexive aorist appears also in other moods than the indicative.

a. This is often called the ‘concentrative’ aorist, because it concentrates the entire course of an action to a single point. When used of rapid or instantaneous action this aorist is often called ‘momentary.’

b. The complexive aorist is used either of a long or of a short period of time: ““τέσσαρα καὶ δέκα ἔτη ἐνέμειναν αἱ σπονδαί” the peace lasted fourteen years” T. 2.2, ὀλίγον χρόνον ξυνέμεινεν ἡ ὁμαιχμία_ the league lasted a short time 1. 18, ἦλθον, εἶδον, ἐνί_κησα veni, vidi, vici (“Caesar's brag of came, and saw, and conquered”) Plutarch, Caes. 50.