The mytilene debate and athenian debate 1590 words 123. In a previous debate, the athenians already decided continue reading the mytilenian debate. The mytilenian debate, according to thucydides, occurred in athens during the time of the peloponnesian war. In a previous debate, the athenians already decided. Twr only homer, iliad 1 st and 2 nd day 11 homer, iliad 3 rd and 4 th day 18 sappho, lyrics 1 day homer, odyssey 1 st day 25 homer, odyssey 2 nd and 3 rd day oct. Please read our short guide how to send a book to kindle. Towards the close of the same winter, salaethus, a lacedaemonian, was sent out in a galley from lacedaemon to mitylene. Pdf how to address the athenian assembly the mytilene. Ancient greek click on each image for a larger version classical greek is a very interesting language, as shown here in some speeches from greek history, written by thucydides. Discuss the basic differences between the athenians and the spartans. C thucydides reports it in book three of his history of the peloponnesian war, and uses the events and the. In 428 bce, the polis of mitylenia, located on the island of lesbos, broke away from the delian league and joined the war on spartas side.
The mytilenian debate in 428, the mytilenians revolted against athens, even though they had enjoyed privileged status in the athenian empire. The next day, however, the athenians wake up with a moral hangover, and it is decided to reopen the debate on the punishment of the mytilenians. C thucydides reports it in book three of his history of the peloponnesian. The famous mitylenian debate took place shortly after the peleponnesian war began. The next day their feeling changed and the guilt of their rash decision sparked the debate of whether to retract. In this utopia, no country will be armed or pose a threat to another. In the history of the peloponnesian war, thucydides filters the historical narrative of the peloponnesian conflict through a critical perspective. Indeed, while reading his history of the peloponnesian war, it is not hard to see how so many theorists have appropriated his work as an example of the everlasting realist qualities inherent in politics. Diodotus paradox and the mytilene debate thucydides 3. The mytilenians asked for help from the spartans 3. It is common for him to reveal much of his own opinion through the lines of characters, especially.
The mytilenian debate took place in athens during the peloponnesian war in 427 bc and echoed the rising political and moral confusion that o. The fascinating mytilenian debate though the melian dialogue is an interesting and important goround between the melians and the athenians, i found the mytilenian debate to be much more engaging. In 428 bc, the mytilenean government planned a rebellion in concert with sparta, boeotia, and certain other cities on the island, and began preparing to revolt by fortifying the city and laying. The mytilenian debate of 427bc is perhaps one of the ancient worlds best examples of an argument with something vital at stake. Through his depiction of the mytilenian debate and the melian dialogue, thucydides analyzes prioritization of selfinterest, and more specifically, the idea that might makes right.
The mytilenians appealed to athens enemy, sparta, for help, but the spartans lacked control of the sea and so were unable to help. Mytilenian debate, stronger alliance in the revolting polis as they would see the punishment would be the same for everyone 17 of 19 the ones chiefly responsible for the revolt were, on the motion of cleon, put to death by the athenians. Question 6 2 out of 2 points what statement best characterizes the description of the 430 b. The powerful athenian generals and their fleet of 38 ships carrying heavy infantry and archers waited at the shores of melos ready for action as the melians deliberated. Athens thus had to choose how to punish mitylenia for switching. The mytilenian argument took place in athens during the peloponnesian warfare in 427 bc and echoed the growing political and moral distress that overtook athens after mytilene, a city within greece and an ally of athens, experienced rebelled against them. Not only is the form of the debate vigorous i couldnt help but think that the audience was saying the ancient greek equivalent of, snap, yo. The debate, fraught with questions of survival, politics and ethics, is a text that is as relevant to us today as it was then. They comment on how the audience may react to speeches and what motivations the other speaker. The peloponnesian war is broken into eight books and is a detailed account of the conflict. On the moral basis of power and peace lawrence, kansas. Thucydides himself caught the plague and recovered so he provides a reliable account of the typical symptoms. In the rest of the speech, however, he approaches the debate as if he were a.
In thucydides account of the mytilenian debate, the citizens of athens are discussing whether they should put to death all mytilenian men and enslave all women and children. Introduction dispute over epidamus dispute over corcyra dispute over potidea debate at sparta and declaration of war pentevontaetia allied congress at sparts stories of pausnias and themistocles the. The mytilenaean debate in our time melvyn bragg and guests discuss the athenians vote to kill all the men of mytilene, then their change of mind next day and their race to stop the first vote. Compare their historical method, tone, approach to the material, style, etc. Once the mytilenean ambassadors in the city and their athenian supporters perceived the change of mood, they convinced the mag istrates to reopen the.
Be able to summarize the basic arguments on both sides corinth vs. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise cambridge core to connect with your account. To cut to the chase, the mytilenians revolted against athens after. Towards the close of the same winter, salaethus, a lacedaemonian, was sent out in a galley from. Thucydideshistory of the peloponnesian war provides incisive historical analysis of the 5thcentury bc clash between the athenian and spartan alliances. Explain the stoic conception of concentric circles of obligation.
Pdf thucydides voice in the melian dialogue jessica. Mytilene, a former athenian ally, had revolted against athenian oppression but lost in a fight against the athenian army. We are the adelaide greek community of lesvos mytilene. The mytilenian debate took place in athens during the peloponnesian war in 427 bc and echoed the rising political and moral confusion that overtook athens after mytilene, a city within greece and an ally of athens, had rebelled against them. The english translation here translated by wilkins, 1873 is elegant prose in itself, but notice how much more concretely the greek text makes the points. The mytilenian debate also spelled mytilenean debate or mytilenaean debate in the athenian assembly concerned reprisals against the citystate of mytilene, which had attempted unsuccessfully to shake off athenian hegemony, during the peloponnesian war. We would like to show you a description here but the site wont allow us.
Analysis of the mytilenian debate english literature essay. He took a small part in the peloponnesian war when it broke out in 431bc. In the mytilene debate the two speakers are creon, presenting the side in favor of killing the people, and diodotus, on the opposing side. I have made pdf files of many of the passages assigned from ancient sources not included in these volumes, and i have placed these electronic files on blackboard for you to access.
Going by sea to pyrrha, and from thence overland, he passed along the bed of a torrent, where the line of circumvallation was passable, and thus entering unperceived into mitylene told the magistrates. The paper will explain the significant contribution that thucydides mytilenean debate makes to our understanding of fifthcentury rhetoric and its representation. After detailing the armed conflict between the athenians and the spartans and their respective allies between. In their speeches, cleon and diodotus each comment on the debate they are having. Selected answer a he tried to help the spartans but was. The mytilenian debate in the athenian assembly concerned reprisals against the citystate of. The conflict begins when the spartans attack attica, the surroundings of. The two speakers present their opinions on the best way to deal with the mytilenean people as a consequence after their revolt, as well as actions that should overall be taken in the future if history were. The mytilenean revolt was an incident in the peloponnesian war in which the city of mytilene attempted to unify the island of lesbos under its control and revolt from the athenian empire. The paper will explain the significant contribution that thucydides mytilenean debate makes to our understanding of. What were the three virtuous and three vicious corrupt forms of government according to aristotle. Mytilenian debate flashcards in a level and ib ancient.
Going by sea to pyrrha, and from thence overland, he passed along the bed of a torrent, where the line of circumvallation was passable, and thus entering unperceived into mitylene told the magistrates that attica would certainly. Thucydides on strength and justice by molly wancewicz. Thucydides mytilenian debate cleon diodotus rhetoric. Thucydides is often cited as the father of realism in international relations. Over the next year, the fortunes of war turned and athens overran the island of lesbos. Countering cleons arguments in favor of execution of all the mytilenians as punishment for their revolt against athens, diodotus says. History of the peloponnesian war american university of. Study guide know the main arguments in the mytilenian debate and the melian dialogue. Thucydidess history of the peloponnesian war breaks off before the story is over. The peoloponnesian war is the only surviving source for much of the period that he describes. Analysis of this mytilenian debate british literature essay. Question 7 0 out of 2 points in the mytilenian debate of 427 b. When a group of prisoners was brought to the city, the athenians immediately decided to put them to death and enslave their native population in mytilene.
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