Pindaric Construction. A masculine or feminine plural subject occasionally is used with ἔστι, ἦν, γίγνεται, as: ἔστι καὶ ἐν ταῖς ἄλλαις πόλεσιν ἄρχοντές τε καὶ δῆμος
there are in the other cities too rulers and populace R. 462e. The verb usually precedes, and the subject is still undetermined; hence the plural is added as an afterthought. (Cp. Shakesp. “far behind his worth | Comes all the praises.”) In Greek poetry this construction is rarely used with other verbs. On ἔστιν οἵ, see 2513.
a. ἦν was originally plural (464 e. D), and seems to survive in that use.