Humanities in Session | Colin Murphy: The Invasion of Melos | 19 March 2026

Value of the Information & Strength of the Argument

The value of the information lies in its presentation of a contemporary adaptation of a classical text, offering a fresh perspective on timeless themes of power and morality. The argumentation is embedded in the dramatic dialogue, which effectively contrasts the realist perspective of the Athenians with the idealist appeals of the Melians. Murphy’s subsequent commentary provides insight into his creative process and the relevance of the play to current events, though it is more anecdotal than systematic. The discussion with the audience adds depth, but the overall argumentation is more artistic than scholarly.

Scientific Rigor, Source Quality, Title Accuracy

The primary source is Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian War, specifically the Melian Dialogue, which is accurately adapted. Murphy’s background as a journalist lends credibility to his research methods, as he mentions using journalistic techniques for his plays. The title accurately reflects the content. The video does not cite additional sources, but the discussion references contemporary political figures, grounding the play in current discourse. The performance and discussion are presented without explicit citations, but the historical source is clearly acknowledged.

The title accurately reflects the content: a session featuring Colin Murphy's play 'The Invasion of Melos'.

8/10

The video presents a staged adaptation of Thucydides' Melian Dialogue, followed by a discussion with the playwright. The content is grounded in classical historical text and contemporary political commentary, with clear attribution to the original source. The performance and discussion are intellectually rigorous, though the format is artistic rather than strictly academic.

Markers derived by PSI from the transcript: the creator did not define chapters.

• 02:00Introduction to the event and the Charlotte Maxeke-Mary Robinson Research Chair.
• 05:00Thucydides' prologue, setting the context of the Peloponnesian War.
• 10:00The Melian Dialogue begins: Athenian envoys meet the Melian council.
• 20:00The Athenians present their argument: 'the strong do what they can, the weak suffer what they must'.
• 30:00The Melians appeal to justice and the gods, but the Athenians dismiss these.
• 40:00The Melians decide to resist, trusting in Spartan aid.
• 50:00The aftermath: the Athenians execute the men and enslave the women and children.
• 1:00:00Colin Murphy discusses his background and the inspiration for the play.
• 1:10:00Murphy talks about his play 'Guaranteed!' and the Irish banking crisis.
• 1:20:00Discussion on the relevance of the Melian Dialogue to modern politics.

• History of the Peloponnesian War — Thucydides' original work, the source of the Melian Dialogue.

• History of the Peloponnesian War — The original text aligns with the play's themes.