αὐτῶν αὑτῶν: grammatical commentary requested

[hlawson38]

Thucydides 1.112.2

καὶ Ἑλληνικοῦ μὲν πολέμου ἔσχον οἱ Ἀθηναῖοι, ἐς δὲ Κύπρον ἐστρατεύοντο ναυσὶ διακοσίαις αὑτῶν τε καὶ τῶν ξυμμάχων Κίμωνος στρατηγοῦντος. (Perseus)

The 1928 revised edition of LCL, instead of αὑτῶν, gives αὐτῶν.

How should we think about the different choices made by editors?

[mwh]

Since it refers to themselves, the reflexive αὑτῶν (=ἑαυτῶν) is in order, and I would expect that to be editorially preferred. But I’m not sure that αὐτῶν can positively be said to be wrong. The manuscripts are unreliable in such matters, and there’s often inconsistency among editors.

[hlawson38]

Since it refers to themselves, the reflexive αὑτῶν (=ἑαυτῶν) is in order, and I would expect that to be editorially preferred. But I’m not sure that αὐτῶν can positively be said to be wrong. The manuscripts are unreliable in such matters, and there’s often inconsistency among editors.

Many thanks, Michael. I will think exactly that. From this work, it was nice to learn that ἑαυτῶν is sometimes spelled αὑτῶν. Now if I can just remember that!