The Melian Dialogue: The Strong versus The Weak
According to Thucydides, in the summer of 416 B.C. the Athenians made a voyage against the Island of Melos. The Isle is a colony of Sparta but remained neutral, after the Athenian armament of thirty-eight vessels, three hundred and twenty archers and over three thousand hoplites laid waste to their territory the Melians acquired an attitude of “open hostility”(5.84.3). The generals, positioned in their territory, sent Athenian representatives to negotiate with the Melians. Afraid of the their persuasive rhetoric, The Melians brought the envoys to negotiate in front of the magistrates and the few, rather than in front of the people (5.84) . With this approach the Athenians began,
”Since the negotiations are not to go on before the people, in order that we may not be able to speak straight on without interruption, and deceive the ears of the…show more content… ” Essentially telling the Melians not to petition for justice (“right”), but only for their survival, because justice could only be awarded to those who were equal in power. In the same token, when the Athenians added, “as we all know,” in that line, suggested that everyone in Greek culture during that time regarded this ideal of justice as law and human nature. Forthrightness and candor are concepts alluded by the Athenians, from the opening of the dialogue, as sentiments only an empire as resilient as theirs are afforded.
As the dialogue continues, the Melians recommence their plea for impartiality as neutrals, “friends instead of enemies, but allies of neither side. ” The Athenians are not willing to accept this form of “friendship” because they considered it a weak trait. They go on to further