This was an instance of what they called his kindness of heart, but the execution of all the grown men of Melos was chiefly due to him, since he supported the decree therefore.
Edition :
Plutarch Lives IV: Alcibiades and Coriolanus, Lysander and Sulla, Ed. Jeffrey Henderson, trans. Bernadotte Perrin (The Loeb Classical Library 80), Harvard University Press: Cambridge/MA - London 2000 (first ed. 1916).
Remark :
titel: Athens laid siege to the city. When Melos surrendered, it was decided to execute all grown men and enslave women and children. perpetrator: It is not clear whether the decision to execute the men was made in Athens or on Melos. Alcibiades supported the decree but probably did not take part in the execution.
