Thucydides, history of the peloponnesian war, book ii, chapter 47. How to survive a plague when athenians feared a disease would. History of the peloponnesian war penguin classics summary important sections on the funeral oration, the account of the plague of athens and the obituary of pericles are stressed in a greek text supplemented by an english introduction and commentary. History of the peloponnesian war book by thucydides. Thucydides description of the great plague at athens the. Its a plague that ends up lasting onandoff about four years, but he focuses on the first year to give us the sense of quite how devastating it is. Click download or read online button to get the history of the plague of athens book now.
Thucydides description of the plague that struck athens in 430 bc is one of the. The historian who penned it thucydides assures all readers that he relied upon eyewitness reports and that he personally investigated what had happened in order to be sure of leaving a r. For the plague broke out as soon as the peloponnesians invaded attica, and never entering peloponnese not at least to an extent worth noticing, committed its worst ravages at athens, and next to athens, at the most populous of the other towns. The illness would persist throughout scattered parts of greece and the eastern mediterranean until finally dying out in 426 bce. Considered essential reading for generals, statesmen, and liberally educated citizens for more than. Thucydides, who so clearly etched the horrors of the black death in the history of the peloponnesian war stated that the perceived impact of the athenian plague was such that people ceased fearing the law since they felt. He survived the plague of athens, which killed pericles and many other athenians. King, and book 2 of thucydides history of the peloponnesian war. Apr 27, 2017 the peloponnesian war is a riveting subject, for at least two reasons. The plague of athens 429426 bce struck the city, most likely, in 430 bce. Plagues certainly may have existed prior to the athenian outbreak and almost certainly did but most studies of the epidemic begin with athens as it is the first recorded by an eyewitness and survivor, the historian thucydides l.
Some modern references to the plague of athens presume that it was smallpox. First, the main ancient source is thucydides history a masterpiece of lucidity and disenchantment, written during the war itself. History of the peloponnesian war penguin classics rev. The plague of athens was an epidemic that devastated the citystate of athens in ancient.
Although herodotus is known as the father of history, thucydides 460395 b. Feetham, illustrated with maps from the 1629 edition, one of the 100 greatest books of all time, published in 1980. The plague of athens is one of the most detailed, vivid and lifelike accounts of any event from ancient times. Perhaps there were earlier accounts of outbreaks and medical chronicles that just got lost or destroyed, forever inaccessible to posterity. Thucydides narrative begins at this point and he notes how, when the plague started, the people of the port city of piraeus just outside athens and the athenians central port for trade believed the peloponnesians spartans had poisoned the wells as part of their war effort. Sparta, actually, withdrew from their planned assault on athens because of the plague but continued their war efforts elsewhere. In his chronicle, thucydides places ghoulish images of the plague. The following description of the athenian plague is from the history of the peloponnesian war of thucydides, trans. Thucydides, pericles, and the idea of athens in the peloponnesian war is the first comprehensive study of thucydides presentation of pericles radical redefinition of.
Sep 30, 2014 thucydides could not know the nature of the contagion he was proposing, although he thought it might be a fluid. Evjen conceded that thucydides description of the outbreaks symptoms, resembling a number of known infectious diseases, would allow the reader to draw their own conclusion as to the precise disease affecting athens in 430 bce. It entered the city after decimating an estimated 75,000 to 100,000 inhabitants who lived in the city and near its port of piraeus. When athenians feared a disease would wreck their democracy.
After detailing the armed conflict between the athenians and the spartans and their respective allies between. Immediately after this big statement from pericles about, we are athens and were going to win, the plague arrives, and thucydides narrative goes straight into the plague. Something thats really important about pericless funeral orationwhere he outlines this shining city upon a hill principleis that its then immediately juxtaposed with this gruesome, graphic narration of the complete anarchy that broke out in athens due to the plague. Information concerning the plague at athens in 430 b. About 270 years after the iliad, or thereabouts, plague is the centerpiece of two great classical athenian works sophocles oedipus the king, and book 2 of thucydides history of the peloponnesian war. Since the complete text of thucydides history is quite. This book covers the struggle between athens and sparta from 431 bc right through to beyond the end of the peloponnesian war to the victory by thebes at leuctra. Mar, 2020 the plague originated in ethiopia, were told, and spread from there to egypt and libya, and other parts of the persian empire. It entered the city after decimating an estimated 75,000 to 100,000 inhabitants who lived in the city and near. Mar 23, 2020 immediately after this big statement from pericles about, we are athens and were going to win, the plague arrives, and thucydides narrative goes straight into the plague. The plague of thebes, a historical epidemic in sophocles. The greatest of all greek historians was the athenian general thucydides 455400 b.
The athens plague and lessons for today athens insider. Jun 12, 2017 thucydidess history of the peloponnesian war breaks off before the story is over. Thucydides classic work, history of the peloponnesian war, provides us with the historical framework for 5th century greece, a golden age of intellectual achievement and creativity rarely equaled in human history. The great plague of athens has eerie parallels to today the atlantic. In a yearbyyear account, thucydides sets out the development of the war between athens and sparta, and how it involved the rest of greece. The history of the plague of athens by thucydides goodreads. What can the plague of athens teach us about todays.
A wikipedia article about this author is available thucydides, contrib the english works of thomas hobbes of malmesbury 11 volumes. Thucydides gives a general account of the early stages of the plague its likely origins in north africa, its spread in the wider regions of athens, the struggles of the doctors to deal with it. The peloponnesian war is a riveting subject, for at least two reasons. Thucydides says that he fought in the war, contracted the plague, and was exiled by the democracy. Thucydides identifies himself as an athenian, telling us that his fathers name was olorus and that he was from the athenian deme of halimous. Apr 01, 2020 the epidemic, known as the plague of athens, swept through the main city of athens in the second year of the peloponnesian war, in about 430 bc.
The plague killed an estimated 75,000 to 100,000 people and is believed to have entered athens main city through piraeus, the citys port and sole source of food and supplies. Thucydides, pericles, and the idea of athens in the peloponnesian war is the first comprehensive study of thucydides presentation of pericles radical redefinition of the city of athens during the peloponnesian war. Morgan bellevue, washington in the second book of his history, chapters 47 through 55, thucydides describes in great detail a severe vo6ao disease that ravaged the city of athens in the summer of 430429 bc. His description of the plague of athens is critical, because it is the only extant description of the plague.
The plague of athens was an epidemic that devastated the citystate of athens in ancient greece during the second year of the peloponnesian war when an athenian victory still seemed within reach. In his opening lines, thucydides says he wrote about the peloponnesian war between athens and sparta, beginning at the moment that it broke. How ancient historians constructed dramatic fiction. Sep 27, 2015 excerpt from the history of the plague of athens references to the several chapters of the history will show the sources from which it has been derived. Ten years into the struggle, the athenian general thucydides was dismissed for a military failure that led to a triumph for posterity. The history of the plague of athens download ebook pdf. Due to this masterpiece, thucydides has been dubbed the father of. The best ancient account of the great plague, as for all of the peloponnesian war, can be found in thucydidess history of the peloponnesian war. The plague originated in ethiopia, were told, and spread from there to egypt and libya, and other parts of the persian empire. And, while the epidemic in athens is referred to today as a plague, it almost certainly was not bubonic or pneumonic plague. After his death, thucydidess history was subdivided into eight books.
Thucydides history of the peloponnesian war recounts the 5th century bc war between greek city states sparta and athens through the year 411 bc. The best books on thucydides five books expert recommendations. Thucydides was an athenian general exiled from athens after being blamed for a disastrous defeat. In 430, the second year of the peloponnesian war, he caught and survived the horrible plague which he described so graphically. Thucydides could not know the nature of the contagion he was proposing, although he thought it might be a fluid. Mar 22, 2020 painting representing an ancient plague. Thucydides classic work, history of the peloponnesian war, provides us with the historical framework for 5th century greece, a golden age of intellectual achievement and.
How to survive a plague when athenians feared a disease. The plague at athens, 430427 bce ancient history encyclopedia. Much of the eastern mediterranean also saw an outbreak of the disease, albeit with less impact. Mar 21, 2020 thucydides gives a general account of the early stages of the plague its likely origins in north africa, its spread in the wider regions of athens, the struggles of the doctors to deal with it. Loimos ton athenon was an epidemic that devastated the citystate of athens in ancient greece during the second year of the peloponnesian war 430 bc when an athenian victory still seemed within reach. The revival of the funeral oration and the plague in. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the landmark thucydides. The epidemic, known as the plague of athens, swept through the main city of athens in the second year of the peloponnesian war, in about 430 bc. About the publisher forgotten books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. The whole description of the plague in book 2 lasts only for about five pages. Its a plague that ends up lasting onandoff about four years, but he focuses on. He nearly died of the plague and was cooped up in the city with tens of thousands of other athenians. Aug 25, 2017 the entire greek world plunged into three decades of bloodshed in 431 b. Thucydides, history of the peloponnesian war, volume i.
Thucydidess history of the peloponnesian war breaks off before the story is over. Among the most famous parts of thucydides history of the. What can thucydides and the plague of athens teach us in. The origin of the epidemic occurred in subsaharan africa just south of ethiopia.
Thucydides description of the great plague at athens. One source which seems to be quite convenient is the university of washington eserver. A comprehensive guide to the peloponnesian war ebook written by robert b. A similar disorder is said to have previously smitten many places. Still, thucydides was not an abstract theorist but a chief player in the war he wrote about. Oct 24, 2019 with this oracle events were supposed to tally. Thucydides brings out a huge difference through these. Thucydides description of the great plague at athens the nature of the plague described by thucydides in book 2, chapter 49, has long been discussed both by medical and by classical scholars. This judgement is based on the fact that thucydides work is the earliest extant scientific record of plague in our archives. Morgan bellevue, washington in the second book of his history, chapters 47 through 55, thucydides describes in great detail a severe vo6ao disease that ravaged the city of athens in the summer of.
However, almost in the same breath thucydides also demonstrates the. Various complete translations of thucydides are available on the web. This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Thucydides and the history of the peloponnesian war.
Mar 23, 2020 the best ancient account of the great plague, as for all of the peloponnesian war, can be found in thucydidess history of the peloponnesian war. Bibliography related content books cite this work license. Athens, sparta, and the struggle for ancient greece ancient warfare and civilization 1st edition. Thucydides description of the great plague at athens volume 3 issue 34 d. The plague that is described in oedipus rex could possibly be related to the plague that struck athens in 430429 bc, the primary source for which is the papers of historian thucydides where he refers to an epidemic that has been named the plague of athens. Plague narratives about 270 years after the iliad, or thereabouts, plague is the centrepiece of two great classical athenian works sophocles oedipus the king, and book 2 of thucydides history of the peloponnesian war. The plague and the peloponnesian war war on the rocks. He saw the rise of athens to greatness under the inspired leadership of pericles. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages. Thucydides, pericles, and the idea of athens in the. The great plague of athens has eerie parallels to today the. Thucydides description of the plague that struck athens in 430 bc is one. Other books in the series include works by robing waterfield, robert hoyland and ian worthington.
Thucydides, who composed in what are now eight books a history of the peloponnesian war 431404 b. Excerpt from the history of the plague of athensrefe. Thucydides of athens, one of the greatest of historians, was born about 471 bce. Thucydides, always careful, doesnt offer an opinion about what caused the outbreak. Thucydides plague of athens and sophocles epidemic. The first real evidence supporting the writings of thucydides, about the plague of athens, did not come to light until 1994, when a mass grave, together with hundreds of tombs, dated at around 430426 bc were discovered a little way outside athens ancient kerameikos cemetery. According to thucydides, the plague of athens, the illness began by showing symptoms in the head as it worked its. It reached lemnos in the aegean, then appeared suddenly in piraeus, and soon moved to the city of athens. In five years flat, it killed perhaps a quarter of the population of. This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. Thucydides reference to the land being laid waste outside refers not only to the progress of the plague beyond the citys walls but the ongoing war with sparta. Excerpt from the history of the plague of athens references to the several chapters of the history will show the sources from which it has been derived. In the 2nd year of the peloponnesian war, 430 bce, an outbreak of plague erupted in athens. Sherri moshmanpaganos traces the history of the deadly plague that almost decimated athens in the peloponnesian war.
Thucydides and the plague of athens leonard norkin virology. Thucydides makes the point clearly that there was nothing any human agency. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. Thucydides author of history of the peloponnesian war. Thucydides and the plague of athens what it can teach us now. More than 2,400 years ago this summer, a mysterious plague swept through ancient athens.