ABSTRACT
Thucydides was entrusted with the protection of Athenian interests “in the parts towards Thrace”—a phrase embracing the whole north coast of the aegean as far east as the Hellespont. Any intrigue among the subjects of Athens or among the Tracian tribes in that region might imperil the passage of the Straits. The tale of horrors culminates in the Melian affair: from a historical point of view a very unimportant incident, yet extraordinarily instructive, because in the way in which Athens treated that unfortunate little island one sees the crowning act of barbarism committed by the democratic empire at the zenith of its glory. No portion of Thucydides’ work has received greater admiration than the eulogy of the Athenian Democracy by Pericles. Like all competent military writers, Thucydides sets great store by the human heart—the spirit which moves soldiers; and he pointedly tells that the Athenians were quick, bold, self-confident, ready to take any risks.
