Charles F. Smith, Commentary on Thucydides Book 7

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In consequence of this letter, the Athenians appoint from those in the army two men to share the command temporarily with Nicias, and determine to send him strong reinforcements of ships and troops, as well as of money. Demosthenes and Eurymedon are chosen generals, and the latter sets sail for Sicily in the beginning of the winter.

2. οὐ παρέλυσαν τῆς ἀρχῆς: did not release from his office. The verb occurs also in viii.54.9.

αὐτοῦ ἐκεῖ: emphatic designation of place, on the very spot. Observe the use of the corresponding prons. αὐτὸς ἐκεῖνος in c. 1. 8. Cf. Soph. O. C. 78, τῶν ἐνθάδ᾽ αὐτοῦ; Hdt. i.189.20, αὐτοῦταύτῃ; v.19.7, αὐτοῦ τῇδε. The Schol. is therefore wrong in explaining, τῶν στρατιωτῶν αὐτοῦ, ἤγουν τοῦ Νικίου. τῶν αὐτοῦ ἐκεῖ means out of the number of men of prominence present with the army before Syracuse. Of the two, only Euthydemus has been mentioned before (v.19.9; 24. 6).

ὅπως...ταλαιπωροίη : that he might not have to bear the burden alone in his sickness, the νόσος νεφρῖτις of c. 15. 9.

ἐπεψηφίσαντο: Vat., instead of ἐψηφίσαντο. ἐπι- has the same force as in ἐπιπληροσώμεθα, c. 14. 6. The compound is found certainly in Aeschin. 11. 68; elsewhere the Mss. are uncertain (e.g. Xen. Anab. vii.6.14).

ἐκ καταλόγου: i.e. from the military list of the three highest classes of citizens. See on vi.43.9.

Δημοσθένην: last in active service, iv. 66-69.— Εὐρυμέδοντα: after the unsuccessful expedition in Sicily in the year 424 B.C., he had been punished with a fine (iv.65.12).

10. τὰς χειμερινάς: Diod. (xiii. 8) wrongly says τὰς θερινὰς τροπάς. Cf. Plut. Nic. 20, διὰ χειμῶνος.

εἴκοσι τάλαντα : that this sum did not in the remotest degree suffice for the necessities of Nicias is clear; for 20 talents were only a month's pay for 20 ships. Valla gives centum viginti; Diod. xiii. 8, ἑκατὸν τεσσαράκοντα. Hence Boeekh (P. E. p. 395) conjectures that Eurymedon first carried over 20 talents, Demosthenes later (c. 20. § 2) 120 talents. This view might seem to be favoured by the promise ὅτι . . . ἐπιμέλεια αὐτῶν ἔσται. But it is hardly possible that Thuc. should have mentioned the smaller sum and said nothing of the larger. The best solution of the difficulty seems to be, with Kr. and St., to follow Valla and one Ms. (h; Cl. says no Ms. has ἑκατόν) and read εἴκοσι καὶ ἑκατόν.