Thucydides on Strength and Justice in the Melian and Mytilenian Debates

Authors

Molly Wancewicz, Rice University

Abstract

Thucydides’History of the Peloponnesian War provides incisive historical analysis of the 5th-century BC clash between the Athenian and Spartan alliances. Through his depiction of the Mytilenian debate and the Melian dialogue, Thucydides analyzes prioritization of self-interest, and more specifically, the idea that might makes right. Thucydides’ discussion of these topics indicates that he largely disagrees with the positions taken by the Athenians in these debates.

First Page

116

Last Page

121

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Wancewicz, Molly (2019) "Thucydides on Strength and Justice in the Melian and Mytilenian Debates," Armstrong Undergraduate Journal of History: Vol. 9: Iss. 1, Article 9.
DOI: 10.20429/aujh.2019.090109
Available at: https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/aujh/vol9/iss1/9