1
400457311
Professor Claude Eislers
TA: Marshall Zuckerman
Peloponnesian War Assignment
Passage:
“As for the gods, we expect to have as much of their favour as you do; for we are not
doing or claiming anything that goes beyond common opinion about the gods and the principles
that govern men’s behaviour. We believe that the gods by a law of their nature want to rule
wherever they can, and we know that this is so of men. is law was not made by us, and we are
not the rst to have acted upon it.We have merely inherited this principle, and shall in turn leave it
to others. We know that you and all mankind, if you were as strong as we are, would do as we
do. In regards to the gods, we have told you why we expect to stand as high in their good opinion
as you. With regards to the Lacedaemonians, however, when you imagine that they will come to
help you because of shame, we admire the simplicity of your world view, but we do not envy
you the folly of it. The Lacedaemonians are exceedingly virtuous among themselves, and
according to their national standard of morality. But when it comes to their dealings with
others,although many things might be said, a word is enough to describe them. Of all men whom
we know they are the most known for confusing what is pleasant with what is honourable, and
what is expedient with what is just. But their true character is completely inconsistent with your
present blind hope of deliverance.”
2
This passage comes from Thucydides, who wrote History of the Peloponnesian War, a
book that goes over the events of the titular Peloponnesian War.
This passage comes from an event known as the Melian dialogue, where an Athenian
envoy discusses surrender with Melos, a small island in the southern part of the Aegean Sea.
Melos is a colony of Sparta (Lacedaemon, as it is called in the passage) but has no involvement
in the war between Athens and Sparta and wishes to remain a neutral state.
This passage is historically relevant for us because it demonstrates what politics looked
like between states during the war. During the dialogue, the Melians claim to be a neutral state
and express their wish to remain so, but this is untrue, as they are known to have sent aid to
Sparta during the war. This shows how, even 2500 years ago, politics was often about lying to
get what you want.
Another reason this passage is historically relevant is that it shows Athens's descent into
violence. The Athenian empire covered a lot of land and received tribute from their subordinates,
but they were not quick to violence. During the Melian Dialogue, however, Athens threatened to
lay siege to Melos if they did not comply, and they followed through with their warning. They
killed all men of military age and sold the women and children into slavery. As Athens’ power
increased, they became unchecked and were able to commit atrocities under the pretense of war.