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ἵππαρχοι: three apparently in number, each commanding a myriad (nominal strength) and attached to one of the three army-corps, and presumably subordinated to the στρατηγοί (cp. cc. 81, 82). As the ‘Persians’ supplied one (probably commanded by Pharnouches, to whom Masistios succeeded, see below), the two sons of Datis, the Mede, divided the command of the two myriads supplied by the lest of the nations. (If there were finally only two ‘Hipparchs’ in all, there were probably only 20,000 cavalry in all.) Ἁρμαμίθρης τε καὶ Τίθαιος Δάτιος παῖδες: nothing more is known of them; for the father cp. c. 74 supra. Hdt. does not repeat the note upon his name.
Φαρνούχης: probably a Persian, but not elsewhere mentioned. He was presumably in command of the Persian horse, as it left Sardes, cc. 40, 41 supra; it is curious that the ominous disaster which occurred to him was not reported there, or in c. 57. Cp. note to c. 37 supra.
ἐπὶ συμφορὴν περιέπεσε ἀνεθέλητον: the construction is unusual; but cp. App. Crit. For ἀνεθέλητος, c. 133 infra; the word of positive mischief is avoided, cp. use of ἄχαρις, c. 36 supra. This is cuphemism.
ἐς φθίσιν περιῆλθε ἡ νοῦσος: perhaps the earliest example of φθίσις f<*> a disease; cp. Aristot. Eth. N. 7. 8. 1 = 1150 b “ἔοικε γὰρ ἡ μὲν μοχθηρία τῶν νοσημάτων οἷον ὑδέρῳ καὶ φθίσει ὴ δ᾽ ἀκρασία τοῖς ἐπιληπτικοῖς”. The more usual Attic term was φθόη, vid. L. & S. τὸν δὲ ἵππον κτλ. Was the treatment of the horse an act of stupid revenge, or of superstitious sacrifice? The horse as a sacrificial animal, c. 113 infra.
τῆς ἡγεμονίης. Presumably Masistios succeeded him (9. 20), though Hdt. does not expressly say so.
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