συνέδρου καὶ τυρ. κύκλου,= “κύκλου τῶν συνεδρευόντων βασιλέων”: cp. Il. 18. 503“οἱ δὲ γέροντες ι εἵατ᾽ ἐπὶ ξεστοῖσι λίθοις ἱερῷ ἐνὶ κύκλῳ” (of judges). The Homeric “βουλή” consists, not of all the chiefs, but of a select number, specially summoned: cp. Il. 10. 195“Ἀργείων βασιλῆες, ὅσοι κεκλήατο βουλήν”. In Il. 10. 108 ff. the number indicated is about nine. 750 Calchas is present at this council, as he is at that in the first book of the Iliad ( Il. 1. 69). He knew by inspiration that, if Ajax could be kept in his tent for that one day, all would be well. Leaving the circle of the chiefs, he went to Teucer, who was awaiting the result in the neighbourhood. They sat down apart (cp. 780). The messenger was near them, and heard what Calchas said to Teucer. οἶος Ἀτρειδῶν δίχα: cp. 464 n.
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Sophocles: The Plays and Fragments, with critical notes, commentary, and translation in English prose. Part VII: The Ajax. Sir Richard C. Jebb. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press. 1907.
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