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

ἦλθον αὐτοῖς—see on c. 5.

ἐκ τῶν . . ναυμαχιῶν—there were two battles fought near the islands called Sybota. 250 of the principal Corcyreans were taken prisoners in the second battle, and were conveyed to Corinth, where they remained about five years.

ὀκτακοσίων—the ransom for not more than 250 men is very high, but the prisoners were very important. The price paid for a man varied very much, of course, as it does still. The lowest heard of is two minas (Herod. v. 77), the highest— in the case of an ambassador of Philip—nine talents. The sum here mentioned need not be thought so great as to rouse suspicion.

τοῖς προξένοις—i.e. the Corinthian representatives of Corcyra had gone bail for them.