As we are all living through a pandemic at this moment, the ancient Roman empire suffered a plague as well. Also known as the Plague of Galen, the Antonine Plague emerged in 165 CE and spread throughout the Mediterranean. It is said that this plight was the start of the infamous downfall of the state, as it disrupted life as the population knew it.
As Roman armies and Merchants were returning from their expenditures in Asia, they brought along an intruder. The foreign particle wreaked havoc on the body, inducing fever, diarrhea, sore throat, and skin sores. The famous Greek physician, Galen, documented every aspect of the catastrophe: from the foul stench of the breath to the “rough and scabby” lesions. Today, we refer to this disease as smallpox, but the Romans had no clue what was happening. All they knew was that people were sick, and they were dying at alarming rates.
At its height, it is estimated that about 2,000 people were killed per day, and the second outbreak was even worse. In 251, another wave hit. This one was, in fact, more deadly; the mortality rate was about 5,000 per day. Such high incidence of death caused the economy of the empire to come to a screeching halt, as there were few to make and distribute goods. Another problem was that the once powerful army barely had any soldiers, since so many were either killed or intimidated by the plague. There can even be references to this challenging time seen in art, as are many engravings and paintings that capture the terror the Romans faced. While we are not losing a third of our population anytime soon, it is still important to take precautions to prevent the spread of COVID. Do what is best for the populus: hold your masks close to keep the virus away.
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