T. G. Tucker, Commentary on Thucydides: Book 8

τότε ‘on the occasion above stated,’ viz. c. 22 (fin.) Cf. c. 20, § 1, καταδιωχθεῖσαι τότε.

καὶ ὁπλίσας ‘and having equipped them (τοὺς Ἐρεσἰους to be supplied from τὴν Ἔρεσον) with heavy armour.’ Cf. iii. 27, ὁπλίζει τὸν δῆμον πρότερον ψιλὸν ὄντα, and inf. c. 25, § 1. Arnold remarks that under the Athenian rule there would be little use of heavy arms at Eresus.

ὁπλίτας There were no necessary hoplites, properly so called, on board ships, though each trireme usually carried from seven to ten ἐπιβάται (see Arnold on iii. 95). The ἐπιβάται, however, are sometimes reckoned among hoplites, e g. vi. 43, ὁπλίταις τοῖς ξύμπασιν ἑκατὸν καὶ πεντακισχιλίοις, καὶ τούτων Ἀθηναίων μὲν αὐτῶν ἦσαν πεντακόσιοι μὲν καὶ χίλιοι ἐκ καταλόγου, ἑπτακόσιοι δὲ θῆτες ἐπιβάται τῶν νεῶν; and on the other hand ὁπλῖται were sometimes used as ἐπιβάται, cf. inf. c. 24, § 3, εἶχον δ᾽ ἐπιβάτας τῶν ὁπλιτῶν ἐκ καταλόγου ἀναγκαστούς. Astyochus may have taken more than the usual number of fighting men, seeing that he was going to land in Lesbos.

παραπέμπει of Vat. is plainly right. παρέπλει of most MSS. is from the next sentence, and is of course impossible with the same word following. Trans. ‘but having caused Eresus to revolt, and having supplied it with heavy arms, he also sends by land along the coast the hoplites from his own ships (i.e. as well as the said Eresians).’ Dobree struck out ὁπλίτας, rendering ‘having caused E. to revolt, and having also armed the men from his own ships, he sends them along the coast.’ But τοὺς ἀπὸ τῶν νεῶν would be too comprehensive (=‘all his crews’): either τινας or τοὺς ἐπιβάτας would be required.

Ἄντισσαν which had also revolted from and been reduced by Athens B. C. 428 (iii. 18, 28).