Today's Passage
This passage marks a critical transition in the Peloponnesian War, documenting events from winter 417 BCE to summer 416 BCE.
Crawley Translation (1910)
Summer was now over. The winter following the Lacedaemonians, hearing of the walls that were building, marched against Argos with their allies, the Corinthians excepted, being also not without intelligence in the city itself; Agis, son of Archidamus, their king, was in command. The intelligence which they counted upon within the town came to nothing; they however took and razed the walls which were being built, and after capturing the Argive town Hysiae and killing all the freemen that fell into their hands, went back and dispersed every man to his city. After this the Argives marched into Phlius and plundered it for harbouring their exiles, most of whom had settled there, and so returned home. The same winter the Athenians blockaded Macedonia, on the score of the league entered into by Perdiccas with the Argives and Lacedaemonians, and also of his breach of his engagements on the occasion of the expedition prepared by Athens against the Chalcidians in the direction of Thrace and against Amphipolis, under the command of Nicias, son of Niceratus, which had to be broken up mainly because of his desertion. He was therefore proclaimed an enemy. And thus the winter ended, and the fifteenth year of the war ended with it.
Sixteenth Year of the War—The Melian Conference—Fate of Melos
The next summer Alcibiades sailed with twenty ships to Argos and seized the suspected persons still left of the Lacedaemonian faction to the number of three hundred, whom the Athenians forthwith lodged in the neighbouring islands of their empire. The Athenians also made an expedition against the isle of Melos with thirty ships of their own, six Chian, and two Lesbian vessels, sixteen hundred heavy infantry, three hundred archers, and twenty mounted archers from Athens, and about fifteen hundred heavy infantry from the allies and the islanders. The Melians are a colony of Lacedaemon that would not submit to the Athenians like the other islanders, and at first remained neutral and took no part in the struggle, but afterwards upon the Athenians using violence and plundering their territory, assumed an attitude of open hostility. Cleomedes, son of Lycomedes, and Tisias, son of Tisimachus, the generals, encamping in their territory with the above armament, before doing any harm to their land, sent envoys to negotiate. These the Melians did not bring before the people, but bade them state the object of their mission to the magistrates and the few; upon which the Athenian envoys spoke as follows:
Modern Translation
Summer had ended. The following winter, the Spartans learned that fortifications were being constructed and marched against Argos with their allies—though the Corinthians refused to participate. They also had intelligence from sympathizers within the city itself. Agis, son of Archidamus and their king, led the expedition. The intelligence they had counted on from inside the city proved worthless. Nevertheless, they captured and demolished the walls under construction, seized the Argive town of Hysiae, executed all free men who fell into their hands, and then withdrew, each contingent returning to its own city. Following this, the Argives invaded Phlius and ravaged it for sheltering their exiles—most of whom had settled there—before returning home. That same winter, the Athenians imposed a blockade on Macedonia, citing the alliance Perdiccas had formed with the Argives and Spartans, and his betrayal of commitments during the Athenian expedition against the Chalcidians in Thrace and against Amphipolis. This expedition, commanded by Nicias son of Niceratus, had to be abandoned largely due to Perdiccas's defection. Consequently, he was declared an enemy. Thus ended the winter and, with it, the fifteenth year of the war.
Sixteenth Year of the War—The Melian Conference—Fate of Melos
The following summer, Alcibiades sailed to Argos with twenty ships and arrested those still suspected of pro-Spartan sympathies—three hundred individuals whom the Athenians immediately imprisoned on neighboring islands under their control. The Athenians also launched an expedition against the island of Melos with thirty of their own ships, six from Chios, two from Lesbos, sixteen hundred Athenian heavy infantry, three hundred archers, twenty mounted archers, and approximately fifteen hundred heavy infantry from their allies and island subjects. The Melians, a Spartan colony, had refused to submit to Athens like the other islanders. Initially they remained neutral, taking no part in the conflict, but when the Athenians resorted to violence and plundered their territory, they adopted a stance of open hostility. The generals Cleomedes son of Lycomedes and Tisias son of Tisimachus established their camp on Melian territory with this force. Before inflicting any damage, they sent envoys to negotiate. The Melians refused to bring these envoys before their popular assembly, instead directing them to present their case to the magistrates and oligarchic council. The Athenian envoys then spoke as follows:
Historical Context
This passage marks a critical transition in the Peloponnesian War, documenting events from winter 417 BCE to summer 416 BCE. The narrative shifts from smaller conflicts involving Argos to the infamous Melian expedition. The Spartans, under King Agis II, attempt to exploit internal divisions in Argos but achieve limited success. Meanwhile, Athens demonstrates its imperial reach by blockading Macedonia and preparing for one of history's most controversial episodes: the siege of Melos. The Melian Dialogue that follows this passage represents Thucydides' most penetrating analysis of power politics, as Athens attempts to force the neutral island of Melos into submission. This sets the stage for a brutal demonstration of Athenian imperialism that would shock contemporary Greek sensibilities.
Key Themes
Annotations & References
The Melian Dialogue
The Melian Dialogue represents Thucydides' most famous examination of realpolitik, where Athenian envoys argue that 'the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.' This dialogue explores the tension between justice and power in international relations, making it a cornerstone text in political philosophy and international relations theory.
Learn more →Argive Politics
Argos attempted to maintain independence between Athens and Sparta, but internal factions complicated this neutrality. The city's strategic location in the Peloponnese made it a valuable ally for either side, leading to constant interference in its internal affairs by both major powers.
Learn more →Perdiccas II of Macedon
Perdiccas II (r. 454-413 BCE) was notorious for switching alliances between Athens and Sparta to maintain Macedonian independence. His diplomatic maneuvering exemplified how smaller powers navigated between the two hegemonic states during the Peloponnesian War.
Learn more →Greek Siege Warfare
The expedition against Melos demonstrates typical Greek siege preparations: a combined force of heavy infantry, archers, and naval support. The inclusion of mounted archers was relatively unusual and suggests Athenian adaptation of tactics from their eastern campaigns.
Learn more →Parallel Ancient Sources
Xenophon: Hellenica (Book 1.1.1-23)
Xenophon picks up where Thucydides leaves off, providing context for how Athenian imperialism, exemplified by Melos, ultimately contributed to their defeat in the war.
Read passage →Diodorus Siculus: Library of History (Book 12.80-81)
Diodorus provides an alternative account of the Melian episode, though with less philosophical depth than Thucydides, focusing more on the military narrative.
Read passage →Plutarch: Life of Alcibiades (Chapters 15-16)
Plutarch describes Alcibiades' role in Argive politics and his growing influence in Athens during this period, providing character insights absent from Thucydides' account.
Read passage →Discussion Questions
- How does the contrast between Spartan actions at Hysiae and Athenian preparations for Melos reflect different approaches to imperial control?
- What does Perdiccas's successful manipulation of both Athens and Sparta suggest about the agency of smaller powers in great power conflicts?
- Why might Thucydides have chosen to present the Melian episode in dialogue form rather than his usual narrative style?
- How does the Melians' decision to negotiate only with 'magistrates and the few' rather than the popular assembly reflect tensions between oligarchy and democracy?