Question 7 0 out of 2 points in the mytilenian debate of 427 b. In their speeches, cleon and diodotus each comment on the debate they are having. The peoloponnesian war is the only surviving source for much of the period that he describes. 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. The mytilenian debate took place in athens during the peloponnesian war in 427 bc and echoed the rising political and moral confusion that o. Please read our short guide how to send a book to kindle. Thucydides mytilenian debate cleon diodotus rhetoric. We are the adelaide greek community of lesvos mytilene. What were the three virtuous and three vicious corrupt forms of government according to aristotle. They comment on how the audience may react to speeches and what motivations the other speaker. Thucydides is often cited as the father of realism in international relations. Towards the close of the same winter, salaethus, a lacedaemonian, was sent out in a galley from lacedaemon to mitylene.
Towards the close of the same winter, salaethus, a lacedaemonian, was sent out in a galley from. Mytilenian debate flashcards in a level and ib ancient. In the mytilene debate the two speakers are creon, presenting the side in favor of killing the people, and diodotus, on the opposing side. In the rest of the speech, however, he approaches the debate as if he were a. The mytilene debate and athenian debate 1590 words 123. 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. 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 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. Study guide know the main arguments in the mytilenian debate and the melian dialogue. To cut to the chase, the mytilenians revolted against athens after. Compare their historical method, tone, approach to the material, style, etc.
The mytilenian debate of 427bc is perhaps one of the ancient worlds best examples of an argument with something vital at stake. The debate, fraught with questions of survival, politics and ethics, is a text that is as relevant to us today as it was then. 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. The mytilenian debate in the athenian assembly concerned reprisals against the citystate of. 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. In this utopia, no country will be armed or pose a threat to another. After detailing the armed conflict between the athenians and the spartans and their respective allies between. Question 6 2 out of 2 points what statement best characterizes the description of the 430 b. The mytilenians asked for help from the spartans 3. 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. We would like to show you a description here but the site wont allow us. 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.
In a previous debate, the athenians already decided. Thucydides on strength and justice by molly wancewicz. The paper will explain the significant contribution that thucydides mytilenean debate makes to our understanding of. 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. Pdf thucydides voice in the melian dialogue jessica. 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. Thucydidess history of the peloponnesian war breaks off before the story is over. 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. On the moral basis of power and peace lawrence, kansas. The peloponnesian war is broken into eight books and is a detailed account of the conflict.
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. 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. 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. Countering cleons arguments in favor of execution of all the mytilenians as punishment for their revolt against athens, diodotus says. The mytilenian debate in 428, the mytilenians revolted against athens, even though they had enjoyed privileged status in the athenian empire.
The mytilenian debate and athenian imperialism w, 17. The paper will explain the significant contribution that thucydides mytilenean debate makes to our understanding of fifthcentury rhetoric and its representation. He took a small part in the peloponnesian war when it broke out in 431bc. 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. It is common for him to reveal much of his own opinion through the lines of characters, especially. Thucydides himself caught the plague and recovered so he provides a reliable account of the typical symptoms. The next day their feeling changed and the guilt of their rash decision sparked the debate of whether to retract.
In the history of the peloponnesian war, thucydides filters the historical narrative of the peloponnesian conflict through a critical perspective. 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. Over the next year, the fortunes of war turned and athens overran the island of lesbos. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise cambridge core to connect with your account. C thucydides reports it in book three of his history of the peloponnesian war, and uses the events and the. Analysis of this mytilenian debate british literature essay. In a previous debate, the athenians already decided continue reading the mytilenian debate. Mytilene, a former athenian ally, had revolted against athenian oppression but lost in a fight against the athenian army. 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. Pdf how to address the athenian assembly the mytilene.
Analysis of the mytilenian debate english literature essay. Selected answer a he tried to help the spartans but was. 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 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. The mytilenian debate, according to thucydides, occurred in athens during the time of the peloponnesian war. Explain the stoic conception of concentric circles of obligation. Athens thus had to choose how to punish mitylenia for switching. 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. 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 conflict begins when the spartans attack attica, the surroundings of. 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. Diodotus paradox and the mytilene debate thucydides 3. History of the peloponnesian war american university of.
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