History of the Peloponnesian War

[*]( The object of this chapter, as Arnold observes, "is merely to bring in what Thucydides had forgotten to mention in its proper place, namely, the greatest naval force, and the greatest war expenditure, which Athens had ever been able to employ and support; just as he had mentioned, II. 31. 3, the greatest stand army which she had ever sent cut on one service.) At the time that this squadron was at sea, they had about the largest number of ships they had ever possessed at once, [*]( Literally, effective, in fine condition; with handsomeness, as Bloomfield renders it; whose interpretation of the passage I prefer to either Göller's or Poppo's.) in effective and fine condition : (though they had as many, or even more, at the beginning of the war.)

For a hundred kept guard round Attica, Euboea, and Salamis, while another hundred were cruising about the Peloponnese, besides those at Potidaea and in other places; so that altogether there were two hundred and fifty [in service] in the course of that one summer. And it was this, in conjunction with Potidaea, that most exhausted their revenues.

For at Potidaea the number of heavy-armed that kept guard at two drachmas a day,

(for each man received one for himself and another for his servant,) was at first three thousand; and not fewer than these remained there to the end of the siege, besides one thousand six hundred with Phormio, who went away before it was concluded while all the ships, too, received the same pay. In this way then was their money heedlessly lavished at first; and such was the largest number of ships manned by them.