Compliance and Endurance. The Athenian Power Building through the Melian Dialogue
Compliance and Endurance. The Athenian Power Building through the Melian Dialogue
Author(s): Eleni TzovlaSubject(s): Political Philosophy, Political history, Ancient World, Ancient Philosphy, Government/Political systems
Published by: Editura Universităţii »Alexandru Ioan Cuza« din Iaşi
Keywords: Melian dialogue; Athenian imperialism; Greek political thought; Thucydides; democracy;
Summary/Abstract: The Melian dialogue in the 5th book of Thucydides can be seen as one of the most important texts for political science. Two opposing political ideas are confronted by the historian: on the one hand Thucydides presents the Athenians as promoters of the idea of legitimacy of unlimited growth of power; on the other hand, there were the Melians who did not accept the ‘law of the stronger’. The Melians were conquered, and their arguments could not save them, but in the longer perspective the Athenian empire was destined to collapse. Through the dialogue, Thucydides compares the ‘law of the stronger’ ignoring the rights of others, and the appeal to justice by the weaker party trying to demonstrate their reasons to oppose the imperialist power.
Journal: Studia Antiqua et Archaeologica
- Issue Year: 28/2022
- Issue No: 1
- Page Range: 233-244
- Page Count: 12
- Language: English