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For the chronology of Xerxes' march cf. vii. 37. 1 n.

Καλλιαδέω ἄρχοντος Ἀθηναίοισι. Though the regular dating by archons is believed by many to go back to the institution of the annual archonship, 683 B. C., and almost certainly extends as far back as Solon, no trace of its use is found in the fragments of historians earlier than H. H. employs it here only, and Thucydides twice (v. 25, ii. 2) Πυθοδώρου ἔτι τέσσαρας μῆνας ἄρχοντος Ἀθηναίοις; cf. Appendix XIV. 1.


τὸ ἄστυ: the lower town as opposed to the Acropolis, i. 14. 4, &c.

τῷ ἱρῷ. Here and elsewhere (cf. ch. 55 n.; v. 72. 3 n.) most naturally taken of a double temple of Athena and Erechtheus on the site of the later Erechtheum (D'Ooge, Acropolis, 43 f.; Frazer, Paus. vol. ii, Appendix). Since, however, no traces exist of any building there older than that erected during the Peloponnesian war (420-408 B. C.), Dörpfeld and his followers (including in this case E. A. Gardner, Ancient Athens, 76-83) interpret this of the old Hecatompedon; cf. v. 72. 3 n.

ταμίας ... τοῦ ἱροῦ. These officials had charge of the temple property, especially of the costly offerings and treasures kept in the temple. From 434 B. C. the lists of the treasures of Athena and inventories of the treasures in their charge are preserved on Inscriptions (Hicks, 49, 66, &c.). The treasurers (in H.'s days ten in number) were taken from the time of Solon from the richest class, Pentacosiomedemni (Ath. Pol. 7. 3, 8. 1; Gilbert, G. C. A. 241 n.).

φραξάμενοι. This barricade must have been at the western end where the Propylaea were later built; the other sides were protected by precipitous rocks and the old Pelasgic wall. Possibly the old gateways (cf. τὰς πύλας, ch. 52. 2) of the Pelargicon or ἐννεάπυλον (v. 64. 2 n.) still remained and were barricaded (D'Ooge, Acropolis, 27 f.).

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  • Commentary references from this page (2):
    • Aristotle, Constitution of the Athenians, 7
    • Aristotle, Constitution of the Athenians, 8.1
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