An Analysis of Thucydides Views on the Melian Dialogue Essay -- Ancie

An Analysis of Thucydides Views on the Melian DialogueThe Melian Dialogue is a debate mingled with Melian and A henceian representatives concerning the sovereignty of Melos. The debate did not really occur-the arguments given by each side were of Thucydides own creation. Thus it is reasonable to assume that we flowerpot tease out Thucydides own beliefs. In this paper, I will prototypic extract Thucydides views from the Melian Dialogue and then analyze whether or not these views argon salutary founded.Thucydides believed that the Athenians had the stronger argument. Proof of this lies in the way Thucydides picked the arguments for each side. For the moment, we will cut the actual content of the arguments, and look at argumentation forms and the flow of the debate.The Melians argued victimisation consequences of an Athenian take over. In section 110, the Melians threatened that if their assort the Lacedaemonians were provoked by the takeover of Melos, they might attack ca pital of Greece itself ...the Cretan sea is a large place and the masters of the sea will micturate more than difficulty in overtaking vessels which want to escape than the pursued in escaping. If the attempt should fail they may invade Attica itself, and find their way to allies of yours whom Brasidas did not reach and then you will have to fight, not for the achievement of a land in which you have no concern, but close home, for the preservation of your confederacy and of your own territory. In addition, the Melians complained that they would be thought of as cowards if they surrendered, and they warned the Athenians that hostility would turn other neutral city-states against them.The Melians offered mere speculation. Their arguments sound deal the work of a weak and desperate g... ...ust have had more of the things that the gods cared about. The Melians would have been hard pressed to argue that they had more favor amongst the gods than the Athenians, because anything o f virtue that they could take aim to have had, the Athenians could claimed to have had but more or better. The Melian argument then that they were favored by the gods and therefore must remain free is inconsistent. If Athens and Melos went to battle against each other, the gods, if they favored anyone, would favor Athens.We have now examined Thucydides strongest arguments for Athenian rule. It is clear that Athens had a stronger claim to rule than the Melians had to remain sovereign. We excessively know that Athens claims hold up when we examine them for validity. Thucydides beliefs in Athens claims were therefore well founded.Works CitedThe Melian Dialogue, Thucydides