Humanitext Reader

Thucydides · History of the Peloponnesian War §5.97.1

Why Subduing Melos Is Necessary for Athenian Security

Passage 597 of 917 · Greek

Summary

The Athenians argue that their subjects view non-aggression as a sign of fear rather than justice; therefore, subduing Melos is necessary not only to expand their empire but also to ensure their own security, especially since Melos is a weak island state.

§5.97.1ΑΘ. δικαιώματι γὰρ οὐδετέρους ἐλλείπειν ἡγοῦνται, κατὰ δύναμιν δὲ τοὺς μὲν περιγίγνεσθαι, ἡμᾶς δὲ φόβῳ οὐκ ἐπιέναι·
ATHENIANS For they think that neither side is lacking in justification, but that the former preserve their independence by virtue of their power, while we do not attack them out of fear.
ὥστε ἔξω καὶ τοῦ πλεόνων ἄρξαι καὶ τὸ ἀσφαλὲς ἡμῖν διὰ τὸ καταστραφῆναι ἂν παράσχοιτε, ἄλλως τε καὶ νησιῶται ναυκρατόρων καὶ ἀσθενέστεροι ἑτέρων ὄντες εἰ μὴ περιγένοισθε.
So that, besides extending our rule over more subjects, you would also afford us security by being subdued—especially since you are islanders, and weaker than others, facing masters of the sea, if you should fail to survive.

Notes

  1. §5.97.1δικαιώματι — Dative of respect or specification with the intransitive verb ἐλλείπειν ("to be lacking/deficient"), meaning "in point of justification/right."
  2. §5.97.1διὰ τὸ καταστραφῆναι ἂν — Articular infinitive in the passive voice governed by the preposition διὰ. The addition of the particle ἂν gives it a potential force (representing καταστραφείητε ἄν, "that you would be subdued"), meaning "by the fact that you would be conquered."
  3. §5.97.1νησιῶται ναυκρατόρων — The genitive noun ναυκρατόρων ("masters of the sea," referring to the Athenians) depends on νησιῶται ("islanders"), indicating a relationship of confrontation or subordination: "islanders in relation to/confronted by masters of the sea."
  4. §5.97.1εἰ μὴ περιγένοισθε — Conditional clause with the optative. The verb περιγίγνομαι means "to survive, hold out, escape being conquered." Combined with the negative μὴ, it means "if you should not hold out (i.e., if you are conquered)," which conditionally restates and reinforces the phrase διὰ τὸ καταστραφῆναι ἂν in the main clause.

Cite this passage

Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War §5.97.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0003.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:5.97.1

Please note the AI-draft status of the translation and the date accessed.

Translation, notes and summary are AI-generated drafts, revised through reader feedback.