First who founded and uptowered the seat of seven-gated Thebes.”
These may suffice from a whole host of citations in Unger. Vol. I. p. 254-6, and Pausan. IX. 8. 3.
“. . . a foreign-speaking foe!”
This appears strange, as both besieged and besiegers were Greeks, differing no more in dialect than the Prussians and the Austrians, or we Scotch from our English neighbours. I agree with E. P. that it is better not to be over-curious in such matters, and that Butler is right when he says that ἐτερόφωνος is only paullo gravius dictum ad miserationem—that is, only a little tragic exaggeration for hostile or foreign.
“. . . the painted gods upon the prow.”
The general practice was, that the tutelary gods were on the poop, and only the figure-head on the prow (Dict. Antiq., Ships and Insigne), but, as there was nothing to prevent the figure-head being itself a god, the case alluded to by Æschylus might often occur.—See the long note in Stan.
“Who knows not