Latest / The History of Greece: Philosophy, Empire, and Endless Reinvention — Fexingo History
The Melian Dialogue: Realism and Atrocity in the Peloponnesian War
In 416 BCE, during the Peloponnesian War, Athens sent a fleet to the neutral island of Melos and demanded its surrender. The Melians refused, appealing to justice and neutrality. The Athenians replied that the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must. This conversation, recorded by Thucydides in his History of the Peloponnesian War, is one of the most chilling statements of realpolitik in Western literature. After the Melians held out, Athens besieged and captured the island, executed all men of military age, and enslaved the women and children. In this episode, we explore…
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