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. Thucydides identifies himself as an athenian, telling us that his fathers name was olorus and that he was from the athenian deme of halimous. The whole description of the plague in book 2 lasts only for about five pages. The best books on thucydides five books expert recommendations. Thucydides, history of the peloponnesian war, volume i. In his chronicle, thucydides places ghoulish images of the plague. After his death, thucydidess history was subdivided into eight books. And, while the epidemic in athens is referred to today as a plague, it almost certainly was not bubonic or pneumonic 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. The revival of the funeral oration and the plague in.
It reached lemnos in the aegean, then appeared suddenly in piraeus, and soon moved to the city of athens. Thucydides could not know the nature of the contagion he was proposing, although he thought it might be a fluid. This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. 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. 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. What can the plague of athens teach us about todays. Its a plague that ends up lasting onandoff about four years, but he focuses on.
This judgement is based on the fact that thucydides work is the earliest extant scientific record of plague in our archives. In the 2nd year of the peloponnesian war, 430 bce, an outbreak of plague erupted in athens. Apr 27, 2017 the peloponnesian war is a riveting subject, for at least two reasons. 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. 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. 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.
Thucydides author of history of the peloponnesian war. Still, thucydides was not an abstract theorist but a chief player in the war he wrote about. 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 of athens 429426 bce struck the city, most likely, in 430 bce. Since the complete text of thucydides history is quite. 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. Aug 25, 2017 the entire greek world plunged into three decades of bloodshed in 431 b. Mar, 2020 the plague originated in ethiopia, were told, and spread from there to egypt and libya, and other parts of the persian empire.
This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages. 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. A similar disorder is said to have previously smitten many places. 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. One source which seems to be quite convenient is the university of washington eserver. A wikipedia article about this author is available thucydides, contrib the english works of thomas hobbes of malmesbury 11 volumes. Franklin library leather edition of thucydides the history of the peloponnesian war, a limited edition, translated by richard crawley, revised by r. Mar 22, 2020 painting representing an ancient plague. The illness would persist throughout scattered parts of greece and the eastern mediterranean until finally dying out in 426 bce.
Due to this masterpiece, thucydides has been dubbed the father of. Thucydides plague of athens and sophocles epidemic. Thucydides, pericles, and the idea of athens in the peloponnesian war is the first comprehensive study of thucydides presentation of pericles radical redefinition of. Thucydides description of the plague that struck athens in 430 bc is one of the. Sparta, actually, withdrew from their planned assault on athens because of the plague but continued their war efforts elsewhere. 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. Click download or read online button to get the history of the plague of athens book now.
Thucydides makes the point clearly that there was nothing any human agency. The entire greek world plunged into three decades of bloodshed in 431 b. Oct 24, 2019 with this oracle events were supposed to tally. Various complete translations of thucydides are available on the web. The history of the plague of athens by thucydides goodreads. How to survive a plague when athenians feared a disease. He survived the plague of athens, which killed pericles and many other athenians. In 430, the second year of the peloponnesian war, he caught and survived the horrible plague which he described so graphically. The plague of athens was an epidemic that devastated the citystate of athens in ancient. The origin of the epidemic occurred in subsaharan africa just south of ethiopia. 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. Thucydides, always careful, doesnt offer an opinion about what caused the outbreak. Thucydidess history of the peloponnesian war breaks off before the story is over.
Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the landmark thucydides. How ancient historians constructed dramatic fiction. 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. Thucydides, history of the peloponnesian war, book ii, chapter 47. Bibliography related content books cite this work license. Feetham, illustrated with maps from the 1629 edition, one of the 100 greatest books of all time, published in 1980. 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 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. When athenians feared a disease would wreck their democracy. 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. 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.
History of the peloponnesian war book by thucydides. 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. Thucydides and the history of the peloponnesian war. Sep 30, 2014 thucydides could not know the nature of the contagion he was proposing, although he thought it might be a fluid. Excerpt from the history of the plague of athensrefe. 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.
Perhaps there were earlier accounts of outbreaks and medical chronicles that just got lost or destroyed, forever inaccessible to posterity. Thucydides was an athenian general exiled from athens after being blamed for a disastrous defeat. 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. Some modern references to the plague of athens presume that it was smallpox. Thucydides says that he fought in the war, contracted the plague, and was exiled by the democracy. Jun 12, 2017 thucydidess history of the peloponnesian war breaks off before the story is over. 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. 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 and the peloponnesian war war on the rocks. Thucydides description of the great plague at athens volume 3 issue 34 d. 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. He nearly died of the plague and was cooped up in the city with tens of thousands of other athenians. Thucydides, who composed in what are now eight books a history of the peloponnesian war 431404 b.
The great plague of athens has eerie parallels to today the atlantic. What can thucydides and the plague of athens teach us in. 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. Although herodotus is known as the father of history, thucydides 460395 b. 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. However, almost in the same breath thucydides also demonstrates the. 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 history of the plague of athens download ebook pdf. Thucydides description of the plague that struck athens in 430 bc is one. The plague of thebes, a historical epidemic in sophocles.
More than 2,400 years ago this summer, a mysterious plague swept through ancient athens. This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Thucydides, pericles, and the idea of athens in the. After detailing the armed conflict between the athenians and the spartans and their respective allies between.
According to thucydides, the plague of athens, the illness began by showing symptoms in the head as it worked its. Thucydides of athens, one of the greatest of historians, was born about 471 bce. The plague originated in ethiopia, were told, and spread from there to egypt and libya, and other parts of the persian empire. The athens plague and lessons for today athens insider. Among the most famous parts of thucydides history of the. 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. Thucydides description of the great plague at athens. The following description of the athenian plague is from the history of the peloponnesian war of thucydides, trans. Other books in the series include works by robing waterfield, robert hoyland and ian worthington.
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. Thucydides and the plague of athens what it can teach us now. He saw the rise of athens to greatness under the inspired leadership of pericles. In his opening lines, thucydides says he wrote about the peloponnesian war between athens and sparta, beginning at the moment that it broke. King, and book 2 of thucydides history of the peloponnesian war. Athens, sparta, and the struggle for ancient greece ancient warfare and civilization 1st edition. 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. It entered the city after decimating an estimated 75,000 to 100,000 inhabitants who lived in the city and near. First, the main ancient source is thucydides history a masterpiece of lucidity and disenchantment, written during the war itself. About the publisher forgotten books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. The plague at athens, 430427 bce ancient history encyclopedia. The great plague of athens has eerie parallels to today the. The greatest of all greek historians was the athenian general thucydides 455400 b. Much of the eastern mediterranean also saw an outbreak of the disease, albeit with less impact.
How to survive a plague when athenians feared a disease would. 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. 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. History of the peloponnesian war penguin classics rev. Sherri moshmanpaganos traces the history of the deadly plague that almost decimated athens in the peloponnesian war. A comprehensive guide to the peloponnesian war ebook written by robert b.
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. Considered essential reading for generals, statesmen, and liberally educated citizens for more than. In five years flat, it killed perhaps a quarter of the population of. 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.
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