The Melian Dialogue The Peloponnesian War by Thucydides

DELPHI

The Melian Dialogue The leaders of Melos faced a terrible choice: Have their Countrymen die as free men or live as slaves. The powerful Athenian generals and their fleet of thirty-eight ships carrying heavy infantry and archers waited at the shores of Melos ready for action as the Melians deliberated.

The Dialogue The Athenians The Melians

The One Word Essay Describe the Melian Dilemma and the Athenian position in one word. “Return with your Shield or on it” The words of the mothers of Spartan soldiers showing their disdain for cowardice.

Results The Peloponnesian War robbed Athens of its Golden Age. Great thinkers and teachers lived in Athens during and after the war but the era of support for new ideas and the spirit of democracy had passed.

Modern Parallels "My answer is bring them on. " —on Iraqi insurgents attacking U. S. forces, Washington, D. C. , July 3, 2003 "Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we. " —Washington, D. C. , Aug. 5, 2004 (Watch video) "If this were a dictatorship, it'd be a heck of a lot easier, just so long as I'm the dictator. " — Washington, D. C. , Dec. 19, 2000 Source: http: //politicalhumor. about. com/library/blbushdumbquotes 2. htm

Parallels

Bibliography • • • http: //www. mrdowling. com/images/701 peloponnesian. gif http: //ccwf. cc. utexas. edu/~kallet/greece/Map%20 Peloponnesian%20 War. jpg www. howarddavidjohnson. com/ legends. htm