E.C. Marchant, Commentary on Thucydides: Book 3

ἄνωθεν—from the interior, where the Sicels dwelt: τὰ μέσα καὶ τὰ πρὸς βορρᾶν τῆς νήσου ἔχουσι (VI. 2). Σικελῶν τῶν for Σικελιωτῶν is fairly certain: the Siceliots were being hard pressed by Syracuse.

τὰ ἔσχατα—Freeman says that the extreme eastern part of the Himeraean land must be meant.

ἐπὶ τὰς ναῦς διάδοχον—it is hardly necessary to supply a partic.: διάδοχον in itself implies ταχθέντα. It appears that Laches, on retorning to Athens, was prosecuted for embezzlement of public money.

ξύμμαχοι—the Siceliots.

ἔπεισαν—plup. in sense.

ὡς οὐ περιοψόμενοι—with παρεσκευάζοντο.

καταλυθήσεσθαι—by establishing themselves in Sicily.

μελέτην . . ποιεῖσθαι—it has been pointed out that this is prob. intentional irony on the part of Thuc., who repeats the statements of the war-party of the day. There was an unlimited field for Athenian naval activity round the coasts of Peloponnese without sending fleets to Sicily.

Πυθόδωρον—the three commanders are mocked at by Aristoph. Acharn. 598.

φρούριον—see c. 99.