Today's Passage
This passage describes the aftermath of the Mytilenean revolt (428-427 BCE), when the city of Mytilene on Lesbos rebelled against Athenian imperial control.
Crawley Translation (1910)
Upon the arrival of the prisoners with Salaethus, the Athenians at once put the latter to death, although he offered, among other things, to procure the withdrawal of the Peloponnesians from Plataea, which was still under siege; and after deliberating as to what they should do with the former, in the fury of the moment determined to put to death not only the prisoners at Athens, but the whole adult male population of Mitylene, and to make slaves of the women and children. It was remarked that Mitylene had revolted without being, like the rest, subjected to the empire; and what above all swelled the wrath of the Athenians was the fact of the Peloponnesian fleet having ventured over to Ionia to her support, a fact which was held to argue a long meditated rebellion. They accordingly sent a galley to communicate the decree to Paches, commanding him to lose no time in dispatching the Mitylenians. The morrow brought repentance with it and reflection on the horrid cruelty of a decree, which condemned a whole city to the fate merited only by the guilty. This was no sooner perceived by the Mitylenian ambassadors at Athens and their Athenian supporters, than they moved the authorities to put the question again to the vote; which they the more easily consented to do, as they themselves plainly saw that most of the citizens wished some one to give them an opportunity for reconsidering the matter. An assembly was therefore at once called, and after much expression of opinion upon both sides, Cleon, son of Cleaenetus, the same who had carried the former motion of putting the Mitylenians to death, the most violent man at Athens, and at that time by far the most powerful with the commons, came forward again and spoke as follows:
Modern Translation
When the prisoners arrived with Salaethus, the Athenians immediately executed him, despite his offers—including a promise to secure the Peloponnesian withdrawal from Plataea, which remained besieged. They then deliberated about the fate of the other captives. In their rage, they resolved to execute not just the prisoners in Athens, but every adult male in Mytilene, and to enslave all women and children. They noted that Mytilene had revolted voluntarily, unlike other subject states under compulsion. What particularly inflamed Athenian fury was that the Peloponnesian fleet had dared to cross to Ionia to support them—evidence, they believed, of a long-planned rebellion. They dispatched a ship to inform Paches of the decree, ordering him to execute the Mytileneans without delay. By the next day, however, remorse set in. They reflected on the savage brutality of condemning an entire city for crimes that only some had committed. When the Mytilenean ambassadors in Athens and their Athenian allies recognized this shift in mood, they persuaded the authorities to reconsider the vote. The officials agreed readily, seeing clearly that most citizens wanted another chance to review the decision. An assembly convened immediately. After extensive debate from both sides, Cleon son of Cleaenetus—who had proposed the original death sentence and was Athens' most violent politician, then wielding enormous influence over the people—stepped forward to speak again.
Historical Context
This passage describes the aftermath of the Mytilenean revolt (428-427 BCE), when the city of Mytilene on Lesbos rebelled against Athenian imperial control. After crushing the revolt, Athens initially decreed genocide against the entire male population and enslavement of women and children—an extraordinarily harsh punishment even by ancient standards. The passage captures the volatile nature of Athenian democratic decision-making, showing how initial fury gave way to second thoughts overnight. Cleon, the demagogue who championed harsh imperial policies, prepares to defend the original decree against those advocating mercy. This episode, known as the Mytilenean Debate, becomes one of Thucydides' most famous examinations of power, justice, and the psychology of empire.
Key Themes
Annotations & References
Athenian Democracy
This passage illustrates the direct democracy of Athens, where major decisions like genocide could be made and unmade by citizen assemblies. The rapid shift from cruelty to reconsideration shows both the system's responsiveness and its potential for emotional volatility.
Learn more →Cleon the Demagogue
Cleon represents a new type of politician in Athens—not from the traditional aristocracy but from the merchant class. Thucydides consistently portrays him as violent and manipulative, though modern historians debate whether this characterization is fair.
Learn more →Greek Siege Warfare
The mention of Plataea's ongoing siege connects to the broader military context. Sieges were lengthy, expensive operations that tied down significant forces, making Salaethus's offer to end the Plataea siege potentially valuable.
Learn more →Imperial Justice
The debate over Mytilene's punishment exemplifies tensions in imperial governance: how harshly should revolts be punished to deter others? The Athenians struggle between pragmatic deterrence and moral considerations.
Learn more →Parallel Ancient Sources
Aristotle: Constitution of Athens (28.3-5)
Aristotle discusses Cleon's role as a popular leader and his influence on Athenian politics after Pericles' death, providing context for understanding his power in this debate.
Read passage →Diodorus Siculus: Library of History (12.55-56)
Diodorus provides an alternative account of the Mytilenean revolt and its aftermath, offering different details about the debate and its resolution.
Read passage →Plutarch: Life of Nicias (3.2-4)
Plutarch mentions Cleon's political style and his opposition to more moderate leaders, helping contextualize his role in advocating harsh measures.
Read passage →Discussion Questions
- How does the rapid shift from cruelty to reconsideration reflect on the nature of democratic decision-making? What are the strengths and weaknesses of such a system?
- Why might Thucydides emphasize that Mytilene 'revolted without being subjected to the empire'? What does this tell us about different levels of control within the Athenian empire?
- Consider the role of emotion versus reason in political decisions. How does 'fury of the moment' compare to 'reflection' in this passage?
- What does Cleon's description as 'the most violent man at Athens' suggest about Thucydides' own political views and historical objectivity?