The poems and epics written during the pre-Socratic times in Greece gave insight to the military mentalities that people possessed during this period. The Iliad and the Odyssey were the earliest written pieces that reflect the ideals that violence was a main element of a man's being. Both of the pieces demonstrate a strong attitude towards violence and they condemn the idea of showing humanity to their enemies. .
Both the Iliad and the Odyssey were considered "War Poems." The acts which were performed in the tales exemplified the ideas of violence and vengeance. Klassen provides an example of this thirst for vengeance when he quotes Agamemnon stating, "No; we are not going to leave a single one of them alive, down to the babies in their mothers" wombs- not even they must live. The whole people must be wiped out of existence, and none be left to think of them and shed a tear (Iliad VI. 57-60)." Klassen also provides a quote from the Odyssey stating, "The disgrace of it will echo down the generations should we fail to punish the murderer of our sons and kindred (Odyssey XXIV. 433-34)." During this time of war, it was common to see ones enemies as bearers of bad fruit or "un-normal". .
Between 524-406 B.C.E., three poets (Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides) arose and profoundly spoke against the wages of war and violence. Klassen believes that the most important point made from the three was made by Euripides when he stated, " gods cannot be blamed for human violence and the enemies are made by humans, not provided by deities." Each of these tragic poets expressed the idea of walking in another mans shoes. If one is able to interpret and understand the point of view of the other, than the purpose of vengeance becomes obsolete. Klassen states that this reiterates the position of Isocrates: "Do not do to others that which angers you when they do it to you." .
Another breakthrough in the journey to end war and vengeance occurred when Aristophanes developed several comedies that depicted the senselessness of violence.