The Laws of War in Ancient Greece
View/ Open
SSRN-id1069874.pdf (117.1Kb)
Access Status
Full text of the requested work is not available in DASH at this time ("restricted access"). For more information on restricted deposits, see our FAQ.Author
Published Version
http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=7788939&fulltextType=RA&fileId=S0738248000002534http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0738248000002534
Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Adriaan M. Lanni, The Laws of War in Ancient Greece, 26 Law & Hist. Rev. 469 (2008).Abstract
One of the earliest and the most famous statements of realism in international law comes from ancient Greece: the Melian dialogue in history of the Peloponnesian War. In 416 B.C.E., the Athenians invaded Melos, a small island in the Aegean that sought to remain neutral and avoid joining the Athenian empire. Thucydides presents an account of the negotiation between the Athenians and the Melian leaders. The Athenians offer the Melians a choice: become a subject of Athens, or resist and be annihilated. The Melians argue, among other things, that justice is on their side. The Athenians dismiss arguments from justice as irrelevant and reply with a statement that many scholars believe represents view: “We both alike know that in human reckoning the question of justice only enters where there is equal power to enforce it, and that the powerful exact what they can, and the weak grant what they must.”Citable link to this page
http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:11352632
Collections
- HLS Scholarly Articles [1910]
Contact administrator regarding this item (to report mistakes or request changes)