Melian
noun
a person from or inhabitant of Melos.
Melians
-
pluralof Melian.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Fifteen years later, the Athenians sent their navy to the neutral island of Melos, demanding that the Melians abandon their neutral stance, join the Athenian-dominated Delian League, and pay tribute to Athens.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
After the Melians fail to talk themselves out of their weakness, the Athenian assembly talk themselves into the Sicilian Expedition.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 21, 2025
Thucydides had the strutting Athenians sneer at the vanquished Melians that “the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must”.
From The Guardian ● Feb. 4, 2017
The Melians then appealed to the Athenians’ reason and self-interest.
From Scientific American ● Jun. 12, 2012
The Melians having rejected all the Athenian overtures for a voluntary submission, their capital was blockaded by sea and land, and after a siege of some months surrendered.
From A Smaller history of Greece From the earliest times to the Roman conquest by Sir William Smith
