Next they who came from Athens nobly built, The city of Erechtheus, great of soul, Son of the teeming Earth, whom Pallas reared, That daughter of the Highest, and within Her sumptuous temple placed him, where the sons Of Athens, with the circling year’s return, Paid worship at her altars, bringing bulls And lambs to lay upon them; these obeyed Menestheus, son of Peteus, whom no chief On earth could equal in the art to place Squadrons of men and horse in due array For battle. Nestor only sought to share This praise, but Nestor was the elder chief. Fifty dark galleys with Menestheus came.

Ajax had brought twelve ships from Salamis, And these he stationed near the Athenian host.