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.

ἀφικομένης . . ἀγουσῶν—edd. say ἀγουσῶν must be plur. because both ships had πρέσβεις on board. Yet we find pred. in sing. applying to several subjects; I. 42, 1, IV. 31, 2, VI. 31, 1, VII. 44, 6, 58, 4. For the attraction cf. e. 72, 2.

καταστάντων—sc. τῶν πρέσβεων.

ξυγκείμενα—it was a defensive alliance only.

πρότερον means before the convention with Athens, when Corcyra had been on good terms with the Pel., though not in alliance with any one.

ἦν γὰρ . . ὑπάγουσιν—the reason stated in advance in parenthesis; cf. c. 107, 3.

ἐθελοπρόξενος—only mentioned here; it prob. means that P. had not been appointed by Athens; and hence he could be prosecuted for his Athenian sympathies.

προειστήκει—unofficial leader.

χάρακας—‘vine-poles,’ Corcyra having many vineyards. The sites of the τεμένη are unknown. Alcinous is the Homeric king.

στατήρ—of silver, worth 2 1/2 Attic drachmas, the only form of stater coined in Corcyra.

ταξάμενοι ἀποδῶσιν—‘pay by a mutual arrangement,’ prob. on the instalment system.

τῷ τε νόμῳ ἐξείργοντο—nothing is to be supplied; ‘the law forced them, allowed them no escape.’ Cf. Herod. IX. 111 ὑπὸ τοῦ νόμου ἐξεργόμενος.

τοὺς αὐτοὺς . . νομίζειν—i.e. to substitute a ξυμμαχία, offensive and defensive alliance, for the existing ἐπιμαχία.

τῆς αὐτῆς γνώμης—sc. ὄντες.