Melians vs Athenians

            In my opinion the Melians are neither heroes nor fools. They posed a very logical and ethical argument, given the choice between slavery and death they chose to fight, however this does not make them heros it makes them brave. While I was reading the story I had thought for a moment that the Athenian representatives had created an argument that both appealed to as well as threatened the Melian magistrates enough to have them submit to the rule of the Athenians. However the Melians were able to counteract their opposition with a similarly threatening argument, planting the seed fear that the mighty Spartan General Brasidas could invade their mainland, this gave the Athenians something to think about as they prepared their invasion. While I don’t think the Melians are heroes for opposing their oppressors they certainly weren’t fools given how they went about counteracting the Athenian representatives.