The commons of the Thespians also, this same summer, and not long after what has been mentioned, having attacked those in office amongst them, did not get the better; but Theban succours having arrived, some of them were made prisoners, and others fled the country and went to Athens.
The Syracusans, the same summer, hearing that the cavalry had joined the Athenians, and that they were about to march against them, and thinking that unless the Athenians were masters of Epipolae, a precipitous tract, and lying right above their city, they could not, even if defeated in battle, be easily circumvallated, they determined to guard τὰς προσβάσεις αὐτῶν,] i. e. the openings in the cliff at different points by which the ridge might be ascended, and particularly the ascent by Euryclus. —Arnold. On the topography of Syracuse, and the military operations before it, see his excellent Memoir in his third volume; as well as the other authorities quoted by Poppo in his note on ch. 98. 2. the approaches to it, that the enemy might not gain the heights without their observation; for in no other way could they, as they thought, effect it.