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

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τῶν δὲ βαρβάρων covers, no doubt, Greeks on the Persian side, but would scarcely be used unless Phoenicians and other non-Hellenic folks were included.

ἐκπλεόντων πρὸς τὸ Φάληρον. If the barbarian lines had been all parallel with the Attic shore, then, when driven back and put to flight, the ships would naturally have run aground under Mount Aigaleos. The fact that they make out of the straits for Phaleron, though not perhaps in itself conclusive, favours the view that such was the natural line of retreat. Phaleron, not Peirareus, is their goal, or base; cp. cc. 85, 67 supra.

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Αἰγινῆται ὑποστάντες ἐν τῷ πορθμῷ. The Aiginetans will have made their way out of the straits to the right of Psyttaleia, unless the squadron here mentioned has come up, during the action, from home (cp. c. 46 supra), but the vessels here would surely have been αἱ ἄριστα πλεοῦσαι. ὑποστάντες suggests their being posted in ambush, lying in wait, or at least ‘waylaying the foe,’ as they would do if they were covered by Psyttaleia. ὁ πορθμός might doubtless refer to the water inside the straits (W. of Psyttaleia) primarily; but it is used, c. 76 supra, distinctly of the more open water to the east, and that interpretation seems to give a better sense here.

ἔργα ἀπεδέξαντο λ. ἄξ.: cp. 7. 211. These achievements helped to win them the prize; cp. c. 93 infra.

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ἐν τῷ θορύβῳ might almost seem to be locative, in contrast with ἐν τῷ πορθμῷ—the Athenians destroying, ramming (ἐκεράιζον, c. 86 supra) those within in the mêlée, whether offering resistance or trying to escape, the Aiginetans waylaying those who were getting out, so that if they escaped (διαφ.) the Athenians inside Psyttaleia, they fell headlong (φ. ἐσέπ.) among the Aiginetans ambushed outside.