Charles F. Smith, Commentary on Thucydides Book 7

3. παρετάξαντο δέ: Thuc. says nothing about the place where the Athenians took their position. But since the larger part of the army, acc. to vi.103.6, was engaged in building the double wall next to the great harbour, it must be supposed that the two armies confronted each other in the low ground between the abrupt declivity of Epipolae and the Anapus, near the Athenian fortifications.— θέμενος τὰ ὅπλα ἐγγύς: halting under arms near by. Cf. ii.2.22; iv.44.5; 68. 10; 90. 20; viii.25.22; 93. 6.— κήρυκα προσπέμπει λέγοντα: so Vat. (for προπέμπει of most of the Mss.), acc. to the usage of Thuc., iii.52.10; iv.114.5. λέγοντα is pres. part. of purpose. See on c. 25. 40. In force and const. the phrase is equiv. to the simple λέγει; hence the following nom. ἑτοῖμος with εἶναι. See App. on iii.52.11.

πέντε ἡμερῶν: within five days. Gen. of time with ἐξιέναι, as in c. 28. 19; v.14.13. G. 179, 1; 11. 759; Kr. Spr. 47, 2, 3.

6. ἐν ὀλιγωρίᾳ ἐποιοῦντο: without expressed obj., as in iv.5.2.

οὐδὲν ἀποκρινάμενοι: Plut. Nic. 19 adds: τῶν δὲ στρατιωτῶν τινες καταγελῶντες ἠρώτων εἰ διὰ παρουσίαν ἑνὸς τρίβωνος καὶ βακτηρίας Λακωνικῆς οὕτως ἰσχυρὰ τὰ Συρακοσίων ἐξαίφνης γέγονεν ὡς Ἀθηναίων καταφρονεῖν.

9. ταρασσομένους: in confusion, since they had not expected a battle so soon.

ἐς τὴν εὐρυχωρίαν: i.e. toward the east into the low ground next to the coast. From there the ascent to the ἄκρα Τεμενῖτις, when not opposed by hostile troops, was short and easy.

τῷ ἑαυτῶν τείχει: the almost completed διπλοῦν τεῖχος of c. 2. 19.

ἀπήγαγε: off to the side (northward).

τὴν ἄκραν τὴν Τεμενῖτιν: the temple of Apollo Temenites and the suburb around it, the later Neapolis. Cf. vi.75.2.

15. ἄγων: contrasted with πέμψας in 17; here he commanded in person. —τὴν πλείστην τῆς στρατιᾶς: assimilation of the articular adj. to the gender of the part. gen. G. 168, N. 1; 11. 730 e; Kr. Spr. 47, 28, 9; Kühn. 405, 5 c. Cf. i.2.13; 5. 8; 30. 10; vi.7.5; 105. 3; viii.3.5.

μὴ...ἄλλοσε : esp. not to the defence of Labdalum.

οὐκ ἐπιφανὲς τοῖς Ἀθηναίοις: since the Athenians were now on the southern declivity of Epipolae, and the fort lay on the extreme northern edge of the plateau (ἐπ᾽ ἄκροις τοῖς κρημνοῖς; see on vi.97.24), the place could be surprised without their knowing it. The loss was the more serious because Labdalum was, acc. to vi.97.27, τοῖς τε σκεύεσι καὶ τοῖς χρήμασιν ἀποθήκη.

21. ἐφορμοῦσα τῷ μεγάλῳ λιμένι: (μεγάλῳ from Vat. only) the Att. fleet, which had sailed down into the great harbour (vi.102.17), lay now in its innermost recess near the shore (ἐν μυχῷ τοῦ λιμένος, c. 4. 21). Guardships were sent out to the entrance of the harbour, which was a considerable distance off; and one of these fell into the hands of the Syracusans, who from their side could overlook every movement of the Athenians.