The melian dialogue and the revolution at corcyra by thucydides Essay

The melian dialogue and the revolution at corcyra by thucydides - Essay Example nations would begin to doubt the depth of their strength as they would attribute their decision to free the Melians to them not being strong enough (Strassler). The Melians however argue that an invasion by the Athenians would do nothing but to alert the other neutral Greek states and would make them unfriendly to the Athenians and they could likely fear that they would also be overrun by the Athenians and this could make them take up arms against the Athenians, hence changing their neutrality. The Athenians argue that the neutral Greek states on the mainland would not act in this manner and that it is the unstable Greek states on the Island and the regions that have already been defeated by the Athenians that would likely do as the Melians said. The Melians however argued that it would be foolish and ignoble for them to surrender without struggling. The Athenians however replied by stating that the argument is not about nobility, but about maintaining ones’ sovereignty. The Melians further argued that the fact that they are weaker does not mean that they would lose easily to the stronger Athenian forces as they still stood a chance of winning the fight. The Athenians on their own part, claimed that the pendulum of victory would swing to their side as they are the only ones that have the right to hope on winning the war (Strassler). The Melians argued that the gods and their Spartan kindreds would come to their rescue as they are on the right part. The Athenians argued that strength is more valued over moral arguments by men and the gods as they claim that the strong can do as they please, while the weak are left with no choice than to bear any burden placed on