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ἔξοδος, metaphorical; also a certain emendation. Cp. App. Crit. ἔδεε γάρ: that the word of the god might be fulfilled! Cp. 7. 141 for the θεοπρόπιον in qnestion, 5. 33 for the formula.
πᾶσαν τὴν Ἀττικὴν τὴν ἐν τῇ ἠπείρῳ: a curious qualifieation, for where was there any Ἀττική except ἐν τῇ ἠπείρῳ? Salamis was no part of Attica; cp. c. 49 supra. Cp. also 6. 139. Perhaps Ἀττική = Ἀθῆναι = Ἀθηναῖοι. γενέσθαι ὑπὸ Π.: cp. 7. 11.
ἔμπροσθε ... πρὸ τῆς ἀκροπόλιος, ὄπισθε δὲ τῶν πυλέων καὶ τῆς ἀνόδου: the position is further defined just below by the grotto of Aglauros. The place described is no doubt the north side, towards the west end. It is curious that Hdt. does uot specify the poiut of the compass, or rather the quarter of the heavens, but Leake asserts that the north side is spokeu of as ‘the front’ —so it might appear to the modern Atheuiau, the towu lying mainly ou the north side; so also to a Greek, perhaps, of Hdt.'s time, when the larger quarter of the town was ou that same side; so to invaders, like the Persiaus, who had approached, perhaps, from the north side, or were laagering to a great extent there. The gates of an ancieut citadel were seldom iu ‘the frout,’ but rather to the side; the case of the Atheniau Akropolis, especially as we know it, may be peculiar, if uot uuique; aud eveu at the time of the Persiau siege the πύλαι may have presented a very differeut appearance, and oue less suggestive of a frout, or frontage, thau the glorious buildiug of Mnesikles. πρό looks de trop, but is plaiuly local.
ἀνθρώπων: to ascend by that route one had ueeds be ἢ θηρίον ἢ θεός!
τὸ ἱρὸν τῆς Κέκροπος θυγατρὸς Ἀγλαύρου: for Kekrops cp. c. 44 supra, 7. 141. Aglauros was one of three sisters (Herse, Pandrosos); Pausan. 1. 18. 2. Atheua entrusted to their charge an ark, containing Erichthonios, with strict orders not to look therein Pandrosos obeyed, the other two opeu<*> the ark, went mad, and cast themselve headlong dowu from the Akropolis, <*> ἦν μάλιστα ἀπότομον. There, or there under, was no doubt the sauctuary ὑπὲρ δὲ τῶν Διοσκούρων τὸ ἱερὸν Ἀγλαύρο τέμενός ἐστιν, Pausau. l.c. It probably commuuicated with the Akropolis by <*> flight of steps; Wachsmuth ap. Pauly Wissowa i. 1829. Cp. E. A. Garduer Anc. Ath. 526. Hdt. seems to th<*> that the Persians elambered up the inaccessible eliff; possibly they ascende<*> the steps. There were Atheniaus wit<*> them who might show the way—t<*> suspiciou of a betrayal is hard to resist<*> καίτοι περ is a strong expression καίπερ or καίπερ τοι would be less su<*>r prising. Hdt. evidently supposes th<*> party of Persians to have scaled the rocl<*> Curiously enough the garrison attempts according to Hdt., no resistance, son<*> leapiug down from the wall to certain destruction, others takiug refuge in the Megaron, where they were presently butchered.
τῶν δὲ Περσέων κτλ.: there is son<*> obscurity or confusion in this passage What ‘gates’ did these Persians open If the gates of the Akropolis, we should expect them to admit the maiu for<*> before slaughtering the suppliauts. Did the suppliants too forgo all resistauce A good deal seems left here to the imagination. Who was there to te<*> the story if uone of the Athenians escaped? Is this story from Athenian sources?
κατέστρωντο: 9. 76 infra. τὸ ἱρόν: there is nothing to distinguish this from τὸ μέγαρον just above, or to show that Hdt. would have recognized the existenee of more than one temple of Athene; cp. cc. 41, 51 supra.
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