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

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πλὴν τῶν ἑπτά: this notice of the 35,000 Helots, who reappear almost immediately below, is necessitated by their having been introdueed in c. 28 above, where they have been expressly described as ψιλοί. The object of this chapter is to estimate the sum total of Hoplites and ψιλοί. The sum total for the Hoplites is correct, i.e. corresponds to the items, which amount to 38,700.

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ψιλῶν δέ. Hdt. has made a mistake apparently in his estimate of the light-armed, which he over-estimates by 800 on his own showing. This apparent error may have arisen from his having got totals, not from the addition of his items, but as data, in themselves correct. The 800 de trop may in short represent an item omitted in his estimate of details. The narrative in the context suggests such an omission, for unless the highly-trained Athenian τοξόται of cc. 22, 60, above and below, are included in the general total of ψιλοί ὡς εἷς περὶ ἕκαστον ἐὼν ἄνδρα, they are omitted. The addition of an allowance of 800 for these Archers makes Hdt.'s totals correct, i.e. agree with the items (A. G. Laird, Notes on Herodotus, 1904).

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τούτων πᾶς τις παρήρτητο (pl. p.) ὡς ἐς πόλεμον. Yet of this huge mass of light infantry not a single solitary shot is recorded; and in the hour of need the Spartans send to borrow the Athenian Archers!

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τῶν λοιπῶν = 33,700 (i.e. 38,700 - 5000 Spartiates). 33,700 + 800 = 34,500, which is the total given by Hdt. for the ψιλοί other than the 35,000, seven per each Spartiate. This includes 5000 Helots for the 5000 Lakedaimonian Hoplites. The allowance of one ψιλός per Hoplite is no doubt the normal Greek average: what is remarkable here is that Hdt. treats all these θεράποντες as μάχιμοι, and even more emphatically the 35,000 Helots as all equipped for war.