Thus, in the episode that concerns

Thus, in the episode that concerns us, the arrival of Gylippus has the effect of reaffirming Syracusan morale (7.2.2: They were reinvigorated). The same word, or other forms of the same word, stress, from one end of book 7 to the other, the development of this “morale”. This, when the episode concludes, has been greatly strengthened (7.7.4) among the Syracusans; and the same effect occurs among the Corinthians when they learn of it (7.17.3) and especially among the Lacedaemonians (7.18.2). When Demosthenes arrived, it was the Athenians’ turn to be encouraged (7.42.2). But, as his arrival itself changed nothing, the Syracusans were comforted (7.46). This time the affair was decisive, and Thucydides falls back on the rare word X, for example, intrudes to break the homogeneity. If we add to this fact that the first of these compounds is presented, before this episode, in order to mark the renewed confidence that Alcibiades’ advice gives the Lacedaemonians (6.93.1), we must conclude that this homogeneity is meaningful. To a great extent it renders sensible the progression leading, step by step, to the Athenian collapse, and also to the reversal that could, during that progression, momentarily cast doubt on the outcome.