History of the Peloponnesian War

And when they saw each other, they drew up in opposite lines of battle. On the right wing of the Corcyraeans were the Athenian ships, but the rest of the line they themselves occupied, having formed three squadrons of their ships, which were commanded each by one of the three generals.

In this way did the Corcyraeans form their line. On the side of the Corinthians, the Megarean and Ambraciot ships occupied the right wing; in the centre were the rest of the allies severally; while the left wing was occupied by the Corinthians themselves with their best sailing ships, opposed to the Athenians and the right of the Corcyraeans.

As soon as the signals on each side were raised, they closed, and fought; both sides having many heavy-armed on the decks, and many bowmen and dartmen; as they were still rudely equipped in the old fashion.

And the battle was well contested; not so much in point of skill, but more like a land fight.

For whenever they happened to run on board one another, they did not easily get clear again, owing to the numbers and confusion of the ships; and because they trusted for victory, in a greater measure, to the heavy-armed on deck, who set to and fought, [*]( Bloomfield says that καταστάντες denotes maintaining the ' pugna stataria,' fighting hand to hand. Such a meaning may perhaps be inferred from the following words, ἡσυχαζουσῶν τῶν νεῶν; but I think nothing more is intended than might be otherwise expressed by ἐς μάχην κατέστησαν. Compare the expression καταστάντες ἐπολέμουν. II. 1; and V. 4, 5.) while the ships remained stationary. There was no breaking through the line, but they fought with fierceness and strength, more than with science.