Download Melian Dialog: Historical Context, Summary, and Results[1

Melian Dialog: Historical Context, Summary, and Results1
Historical Context
During the Peloponnesian War (431-404 BCE), between Athens and Sparta and their various allies, the island of
Melos had stayed neutral, and refused to become a subject of Athens. As the war progressed, though, Athens
encroached upon the island which responded with open hostility. In 416 BC, Athens sent Cleomedes and Tisias as
commanders to bring Melos under Athenian control, whether through submission or other means.
Summary
The Athenians, in a frank and unpretentious manner, offer the Melians an ultimatum: surrender and pay tribute to
Athens, or be destroyed. The Melians argue that they are a neutral country and not an enemy, so Athens has no need
to crush them. The Athenians counter that if they accept Melos's neutrality and independence, they would look
weak: people will think they spare Melos because they are not strong enough to conquer it. The Melians argue that
an invasion will alarm the other neutral Greek states, who will become hostile to Athens for fear of being invaded
themselves. The Athenians counter that the Greek states on the mainland are unlikely to act this way. It is the more
volatile island states and the subjects they have already conquered that are more likely to take up arms against
Athens. The Melians argue that it would be shameful and cowardly of them to submit without a fight. The Athenians
counter that the debate is not about honor but about self-preservation. The Melians argue that though the Athenians
are far stronger, there is still a chance they could win. The Athenians counter that only the strong have a right to
indulge in hope; the weak Melians are hopelessly outmatched. The Melians argue that the gods will protect them
because they are in the right, and that their Spartan kin will come to their defense. The Athenians counter that gods
and men alike respect strength over moral arguments; the strong do as they can and the weak suffer what they must.
They also argue the Spartans have nothing to gain and a lot to lose by coming to Melos's defense – mere kinship will
not motivate them. The Athenians conclude the argument by saying there is no shame in submitting to a stronger
enemy. The Melians do not change their minds and politely dismiss the envoys.
1
Adopted from http://bookcents.blogspot.com/2011/01/peloponnesian-war-melian-dialogue.html, and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melian_dialogue#Results.
Results
Ultimately, Melos refused to surrender to the Athenians. The Athenians immediately besieged Melos, as threatened.
Thucydides (in History of Peloponnesian War, 411 BCE) writes, “Our decision, Athenians, is just the same as it was
at first. We are not prepared to give up in a short moment the liberty which our city has enjoyed from its foundation
for 700 years.” With this decision, the Athenians now had the excuse they needed to destroy Melos, even though the
Melians offered them peace at the end of the Dialogue by saying, “‘We invite you to allow us to be friends of yours
and enemies to neither side, to make a treaty which shall be agreeable to both you and us, and so to leave our
country.’” The Athenians killed the men and enslaved the women and children, and further, repopulated it as an
Athenian colony.