Athenian envoys
E845686
The Athenian envoys are the representatives of Athens in Thucydides’ Melian Dialogue, articulating the city’s stark realpolitik stance that power, rather than justice, governs relations between states.
Statements (48)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
collective character
ⓘ
fictional diplomatic delegation ⓘ literary character group ⓘ |
| appearsIn | History of the Peloponnesian War NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| argues |
that Athenian security requires subjugation of Melos
ⓘ
that allowing Melian neutrality would show Athenian weakness ⓘ that empire is maintained by deterrence ⓘ that fear, honor, and interest drive Athenian actions ⓘ that hope is a dangerous basis for political decisions ⓘ that prudence requires recognizing relative power ⓘ |
| articulates |
argument that justice applies only between equals in power
ⓘ
claim that the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must ⓘ view that power governs relations between states ⓘ |
| associatedWith | Athenian siege of Melos NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| contrastsWith |
Melian appeals to justice and the gods
ⓘ
Melians NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| createdBy | Thucydides NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| culturalContext | classical Athens NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| demands |
Melian payment of tribute
ⓘ
Melian submission to Athenian rule ⓘ |
| embodies |
Athenian belief in necessity of empire
ⓘ
Athenian confidence in naval power ⓘ cynical realism about international politics ⓘ |
| hasTheme |
conflict between power and justice
ⓘ
limits of moral argument in asymmetric conflicts ⓘ logic of imperial expansion ⓘ |
| historicalBasis | Athenian diplomatic missions during the Peloponnesian War ⓘ |
| languageOfDialogue | Attic Greek NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| locatedInNarrative | Book 5 of History of the Peloponnesian War NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| medium | ancient Greek historiography ⓘ |
| negotiatesWith | Melians NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| offers | terms of surrender to Melos ⓘ |
| portrayedAs |
pragmatic
ⓘ
threatening ⓘ unsentimental ⓘ |
| rejects |
appeals to justice by the Melians
ⓘ
reliance on Spartan aid by the Melians ⓘ reliance on fortune by the Melians ⓘ |
| represents |
Athenian imperial policy
ⓘ
Athenian realpolitik ⓘ Athens NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| roleIn | Melian Dialogue NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| speaksTo | Melian leaders ⓘ |
| timeInFiction | Peloponnesian War NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| usedAsExampleIn |
discussions of power and morality in war
ⓘ
international relations theory ⓘ just war theory debates ⓘ political realism ⓘ |
Referenced by (1)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.