The Peloponnesian War was fought between Athens and Sparta, two main powers in the ancient world, from 431–404 BC. Melos, an island in the Aegean Sea, was the only significant island not controlled by Athens at this time. Though the Melians stayed neutral in the war, Athens invaded Melos in the summer of 416 BC and demanded that the Melians surrender and pay tribute to Athens or face annihilation.
In his History of the Peloponnesian War, the historian Thucydides dramatizes the negotiation between the Athenians and the Melians, in the famous Melian Dialogue.
The Athenians open the negotiation by making clear they do not want to waste time arguing over the morality of the situation, because in international affairs, might makes right. They say: “For ourselves, we shall not trouble you with pretend games…and in return we hope that you…will aim at what is realistic, keeping in mind our actual viewpoints. You know as well as we do that right is only in question between those equal in power, while the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.”
The Melians respond that they will have the assistance of the gods because the Melian position is morally right while the Athenian position is not. The Melians argue: “…we trust that the gods may grant us fortune as good as yours, since we are moral men fighting against the unjust.”
The Athenians counter that the gods will not intervene because it is the natural order of things for the strong to dominate the weak. “When you speak of the favor of the gods,” the Athenians say, “we may as fairly hope for that as yourselves; our conduct here is not in any way contrary to what men believe of the gods, or practice among themselves. Of the gods we believe…that by a necessary law of their nature they rule wherever they can. …Thus, as far as the gods are concerned, we have no fear and no reason to fear that we shall be at a disadvantage.”
The dialogue ends with the Melians refusing to surrender. In response the Athenians lay siege to the city, preventing any goods from entering or leaving. Six months later in the winter, the Melians surrendered. Athens then proceeded to execute all men of fighting age, sell the women and children into slavery, and settle 500 Athenians on the island.
–DISCUSSION QUESTIONS–
Are the Athenians correct, does might make right?
What obligation did the Athenians have to the people of Melos? What consideration do they deserve when they resisted and then later surrendered? What does justice demand during siege? What does it demand after surrender?