Reginald Walter Macan, Herodotus, The Seventh, Eighth, & Ninth Books with Introduction and Commentary

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ἅπαντα γὰρ προσκεψάμενολ καὶ ἐπιλογισθέντες ὅτι κτλ.: cp. προσκεψάμενος ἐπὶ σεωυτοῦ, c. 10 supra, where the act is a purely mental one. It would, however, give a stronger sense here, and avoid a false antithesis between προ- and ἐπι-, to take the word in more concrete sense; after inspecting, spying out— ‘after full inspection, and careful reflexion.’ προσκέψομαι τὸν Παφλαγόνα, Aristoph. Kn. 154, is of actual sight. Cp. προσκοπή Thuc. 1. 116; “πρόσκοπος” Xen. Resp. Lac. 12. 6, Kyrop. 5. 2. 6. The evidence afforded of the careful and scientific strategy of the Greeks is acceptable. The enemy's vast numbers and his cavalry are what they have mainly in view; but what of the fleet? Hdt.'s rationale relapses on to the isolated defence of Thermopylai.

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ἕξουσι χρᾶσθαι: be able to use (fully); cp. Index s. v. ἔχω.

ταύτῃ σφι ἔδοξε: an anacoluthon. Tbis is the third time Hdt. has made the statement; cp. cc. 175, 176. Perhaps originally it occurred only here and in c. 175.

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ὡς δὲ ἐπύθοντο ... ἐν Πιερίῃ: though they had, according to c. 174, occupied Tempe before Xerxes crossed the Hellespont, they wait until they hear that he is in Pieria (c. 131 supra) before occupying ThermopylaiArtemision, or rather before breaking up from the Isthmos, for the purpose of effecting that occupation. This is much the more probable synchronism of the two. Hdt. writes as though the forces, both terrene and maritime, had been assembled at the Isthmos awaiting a decision: that is not likely. What broke up at the Isthmos was the Hellenic Council; the plan of defence was now decided, after hot debate (cp. c. 175); the Probouloi returned home, presumably; some of them would be in command of contingents; the hegemony in the field and on the water passes to Sparta.