Simple maps of the Aegean sea and Peloponnesian islands.
First, in ancient times:
Sparta's land empire, backed by a strong army, is shown in purple in the southwest.
Athens' Delian league is shown in orange, around the Aegean sea and serviced by its formidable navy.
Mytilene is at the eastern end of Lesbos island, facing modern Turkey.
The Melian dialogure refers to Melos, an island southeast of Sparta (or Lacaedemon).The Athenians and Spartans tried to pressure city-states into joining their own trading empires.
Pericles led the Athenians to wall off their city and its port, Piraeus, to live off imported foods.
Unfortunately, plague killed a quarter of the crowded population -- worse devastation than they faced in battle.
Gradually, the democratic Greeks turned more ruthless in war and diplomacy.
Eventually, democracy was overthrown by the revolt of oligarchs.
The modern Peloponnese, Greece and Turkey.
Europe, with Peloponnese in bottom right corner.
Both Greece and Turkey are part of NATO; Greece is a member of the EU
and Turkey has applied for membership.
Pericles’ Funeral Oration (431 B.C.)
by Louise Grant, 2005v Suspicious and fearful of Athenian power and wealth, the Spartans of Greece were not happy.
(Sparta is in the southern part of the Greek mainland.) The Athenians themselves had become
chauvinistic and power hungry, and seemed ready to begin to reassert their power on the mainland
of Greece.v In 431 B.C, Sparta’s fear of the growth of power by Athenians resulted in what we know as, The
Peloponnesian War.Pericles’ Funeral Oration (431 B.C.)
v At the end of the first year of war, the Athenians held, as was their custom, an elaborate funeral
for all those killed in the war.v The Funeral Oration (a formal speech, especially one given on a ceremonial occasion) over the
deceased soldiers was delivered by a politician and general, namely, Pericles.v The Funeral Oration is the classic statement of Athenian ideology, containing practically in full,
the sentiment felt by most Athenians towards the fallen soldiers.v If this speech were to be given today in 2005, its sentiments of justice, democracy and
patriotism would be relevant.v Some of the key issues of Pericles’ Funeral Oration are and I quote:
v “I shall begin by speaking about our ancestors, since it is only right and proper on such an
occasion to pay them the honor of recalling what they did…the empire we have now, was not
without blood and toil they handed it down to us of the present generation.”v “Let me say that our system of government does not copy the institutions of our neighbors. It is
more the case of our being a model to others.”v “Our constitution is called a democracy because power is in the hands not of a minority but of
the whole people.”v “And, just as our political life is free and open, so is our day-to-day life in our relations with each other.”
v “There is a great difference between us and our opponents, in our attitudes towards military security.”
v “Our city is open to the world…this is because we rely, not on secret weapons, but on our own
real courage and loyalty.”v “When the Spartans invade our land, they do not come by themselves, but bring all their allies
with them; whereas we, when we launch an attack abroad, do the job by ourselves.”v “We regard wealth as something to be properly used, rather than as something to boast about.
As for poverty, no one need be ashamed to admit it: the real shame is in not taking practical
measures to escape from it.”v “We do not say that a man who takes no interest in politics is a man who minds his own
business; we say that he has no business here at all.”v “We are capable at the same time of taking risks and estimating them beforehand. Others are
brave out of ignorance; and, when they stop to think, they begin to fear.”v “We make friends by doing good to others, not by receiving good from them.”
v “This, then, is the kind of city for which these men, who could not bear the thought of losing her,
nobly fought and nobly died.”v “I have sung the praises of our city; but it was the courage and gallantry of these men, and of
people like them, which made her splendid.In Ancient Greece it was common to give an impressive funeral speech in honor of all of the city’s fallen soldiers. This Funeral Oration was given by Pericles’ and recorded by the famous Greek historian Thucydides, in Athens. The speech highlights Athens democracy and how they are set apart from the surrounding empires. Although this speech is approximately 2500 years old, it is still very applicable to current democracies. I believe that Pericles could give the same speech today and be noted as patriotic. The following are some of, what I felt, to be the most important parts of his speech. Pericles’ Funeral Oration (431 B.C.)
Mindy Bevan, 2003“Our system of government does not copy the institutions of our neighbors.”
“Called a democracy because power is in the hands not of the minority but of the whole people.”
-Importance of ability over class membership. (217)
-Difference between us and our opponents, is our attitude towards military security.
-Our city is open to the world, no periodical deportations, because we do not rely on secret weapons but on our own real courage and loyalty.
-None of our enemies have been faced with our entire force because we have divided attention.
“We do not say that a man who takes no interest in politics is minding his own business, we say that he has no business here at all.”
“The man who can most truly be accounted brave is he who best knows the meaning of what is sweet in life and of what is terrible, and then goes out undeterred to meet what is to come.”
“We make friends by doing good to others, not by receiving good from them.” (218)
“I wanted to make it clear that for us there is more at stake than there is for others who lack our advantages.”
-Translation found in the Huntingdon College Liberal Arts Symposium Justice Book.
The idea that the Athenians are able to put aside their petty wants and strive for the greater good of the city is a central theme of the speech. Bound together by bonds of mutual trust and a shared desire for freedom, the people of Athens submit to the laws and obey the public officials not because they have to, as in other cities, but because they want to. Athenians had thus achieved something quite unique - being both ruled and rulers at one and the same time. This had forged a unique type of citizen. Clever, tolerant, and open minded, Athenians were able to adapt to any situation and rise to any challenge. They had become the new ideal of the Greek world.
http://www.pbs.org/empires/thegreeks/background/36.html
The Mytilene Debate: (427 BC) INTRODUCTION
Cleon's argument
Amanda Spiegel, 2005
The Mytilene Debate details Cleon and Diodotus’ opposing views of punishment for the city of
Mytilene. The ancient debate is recorded by the Greek historian Thucydides. Although this
debate occurred during 428 BC, its opposing views relating to war personalities today.HISTORY LEADING UP TO THE DEBATE
<>--The Mytilene Debate occurs during the Peloponnesian War (around 428 B.C.)
--Athens and Mytilene were initially allies in the Peloponnesian War until the Mytileneans revolted
and become allies of Sparta.--Athens retaliates to the revolt by imposing a naval blockade
around the island of Lesbos.
--Mytilene requests assistance from Sparta, the help does not come on time, and citizens of
Mytilene criticize their military leaders, and surrenders to Athens.--Athens gains control over the
city of Mytilene.
--The citizens of Athens debate over the punishment for the citizens of Mytilene.
--Athens initially supports Cleon and his argument to “kill all the men, and enslave the women
and children.” A ship is sent to execute and capture the citizens of Mytilene.
--Athens holds another debate and citizens question if they were too harsh, Cleon sticks to his
harsh punishment of universal death penalty but Diodotus promotes the killing of the military
leaders. Athens reconsiders and chooses to endorse Diodotus’ punishment for the Mytileneans.
--A second ship is sent to Mytilene and saved the citizens, but punished the military leaders of
the revolt to death. <>CLEON’S SPEECH
-states that “democracy is not capable of ruling empire.”
-argues that first instincts are the best to seek justice, stating “causing a delay which is all in favor
of the guilty, by making the sufferer proceed against the offender with the edge of his anger
blunted; although where vengeance follows most closely upon the wrong, it best equals it and
most amply requites it”
-uses emotion to try and persuade the audience, arguing that there was no reason for the
citizens of Mytilene to revolt, “to act as these have done, this is not revolt—revolt implies
oppression; it is deliberate and wanton aggression; an attempt to ruin us by siding with our
bitterest enemies; a worse offense than a war undertaken on their own account in the acquisition
of power”
-Stresses that the Mytileneans are a threat in the future, and that they should be suppressed now
as an example to the rest of the Athenian empire to prevent against future rebellions.
-believes “reversing your first decision, or giving way to the three failings most fatal to
empire—pity, sentiment, and indulgence.” And all of those reveal weakness in strength.
-Speech concludes with “Do not, therefore, be traitors to yourselves, but recall as nearly as
possible the moment of suffering and the supreme important which you then attached to their
reduction; and now pay them back in their turn, without yielding to present weakness or forgetting
the peril that once hung over you. Push them as they deserve, and teach your other allies by a
striking example that the penalty of rebellion is death. Let them once understand this and you will
not have so often to neglect your enemies while you are fighting with your own confederates.”Diodotus's argument
by Sierra Turner, 2005
(to come)
The Melian Dialog (416 BC)
By Claire Fox, 2005Peloponnesian War – between Sparta and Athens
Melian Dialog – between Athenians and Melians.Athenians came to Melos to ask the Melians to join them in the Peloponnesian War. The Melians
want to stay neutral. The Melian Dialog is the conversation between the Athenians and the
Melians over this issue.The Melians will not allow the negotiations to be public.
The Melians believe that if they are proved to be right it will result in war. If they give in they will
become slaves.The Athenians say that the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must. This is
why they are seeking an alliance with the Melians.The Melians say that the Athenians do not want to talk about what is right, but only of their
interests.The Athenians say that it would be in both of their interests if they ruled the Melians.
The Melians say that they simply want to stay neutral, but this does not satisfy the Athenians since
they feel that their people will see this as a sign of weakness and fear on the Athenians part.The Athenians believe that the Melians should just give in, because they are much smaller and
weaker than the Athenians.The Melians believe that the gods will grant them fortune, because they are “just men fighting
against unjust”. They also believe that the Lacedaemonians (their colonizers) will come to their
aid.The Athenians believe that the gods will look favorably on them, because the gods as well as men
rule wherever they can, and this is just what they are doing. They also believe that the Melians are
being naïve in relying on the help of the Lacedaemonians. They say that the Lacedaemonians only
travel by sea, and they only attack when they have many allies. This condition is not fulfilled at this
time.The Athenians continue to say that they believe the Melians are being foolish. They say that it
would not be dishonorable for them to submit. The choice is between war and security, and they
would gain more than they would lose by submitting. The Athenians believe that “those who do
not yield to their equals, who keep terms with their superiors, and are moderate towards their
inferiors, on the whole succeed best.”The Melians remain resolute that they will stay neutral. They believe that it is right and just for
them to do that, and that the gods will assist them as well as their colonizers, the Lacedaemonians.The Melians and Athenians then became hostile. The Melians were forced to surrender, and the
Athenians killed many men, and sold the women and children as slaves. They then sent colonists
to Melos and inhabited it themselves.Examination of the rights of states.
Melos-independence, neutrality
Athens- pragmatism, demands of war, rights of powerMelians were concerned with justice, fairness, and honor. They were quite idealistic. The
Athenians were concerned with their interests, and felt justified in their actions because it was the
right of a strong nation to rule.Still relevant today.
Melian Dialogue, (ca. 416 BC)
from The Peloponnesian War
by Elizabeth McLain, 2003.The Athenians come to Melos to ask the Melians to join them in the Peloponnesian War. They have remained neutral thus far and intend to do so. The Melian Dialogue recalls the conversation between the Athenians and the Melians over this debate.The Melians won’t allow the Athenians to plead their case before the people and are quick to judge them.
- They believe that if they submit they will become slaves. If they don’t, they will go to war.
- The Athenians say that the powerful do what they can and the weak do what they must. That is why the Melians need to surrender to their rule.
- It won’t bother the Athenians if they destroy the Melians in war and they are no longer here to rule over.
- The Athenians will now be making enemies of all the neutral islands.
- Each civilization believes that the gods favor them.
When the Athenians left Melos the Melians were still firm in the idea that they would remain neutral. Despite the many other battles that Athens was fighting, they became hostile with the Melians. They eventually surrendered, and the Athenians killed the grown men and sold the women and children as slaves. They then proceeded the populate the
- The Melians think they have the support of Lacedaemon, but the Athenians say that they only travel by sea and attack when they have many allies, which they do not at this time.
The Melian Dialogue
(Amy Garrett)The Melians and the Athenians were at war. The Melians wanted peace, thus they met in a debate format to discuss a resolution. The Melians knew the Athenians were too far advanced militarily and all they are going to get from the Athenians is war. The Melians are not allowed to talk about what is just but about interest of the two countries. They tell the Athenians they would be cowards not to stop them from overtaking the world. The Melians are relying on help from the Lacedomonians, which the Athenians do not believe they will receive.