TARRANT COUNTY PHYSICIAN (29)
March/April 2021
LESSONS ON THE PLAGUES FROM HISTORY
e can all learn
in many ways
from the intellect
of Greece and
Rome. This
principle applies
to infectious events which took place in
those societies in the long distant past
and were well documented by ancient
writers in their descriptions of early
epidemics.
In these difficult COVID-19 times we
still rely on these empiric approaches
obtained from past management
of epidemics in times of war and
peace. We have also learned how to
complement this management with
careful scientific research and study
to develop more specific treatments
and successful vaccination programs.
Additionally, we have learned that it
is important to have consistent, wellcoordinated
public education.
The Athenian Plague
This plague occurred in the setting of
the Peloponnesian War, a long war
caused by conflicts between the states
of Athens and Sparta and their allies.1,2,3
Democracy originated in Athens in 500
B.C. It was brought about through the
assembly of the 500, a group chosen
to make important decisions regarding
essential affairs of the city.
Athens, expanding into Attica and
controlling the surrounding Ionian
Islands, established the Athenian (also
called Delian) League and built a naval
empire. It became wealthy by exporting
olive oil and wine and trading silver from
nearby mines. It thrived under Pericles,
a leader who built the Parthenon and
encouraged culture and creativity in the
city.
Sparta, by contrast, was a land-locked
military state comprised of rigorously
trained soldiers. It was ruled by kings
that controlled underclass servants. They
also expanded into neighboring citystates.
Athens and Sparta became rivals
that clashed due to their different styles
of government and policy.1,2,3
The Spartans also built their own
defensive alliance, the Peloponnesian
League, which antagonized the Athenian
League.
Athens protected its neighboring
states from Spartan attacks and built
walls between Athens and Piraeus (also
spelled Peiraieus). To prevent further
clashes Athens and Sparta signed a
peace agreement, but the Spartans and
their allies disliked the democratic and
expansive Athenian approach and felt
it needed to exercise greater restraint.
Therefore, in 431 B.C., Spartan troops
and allies made several incursions
through Attica into Athens. This started
a long series of battles with inconclusive
results that were fought for 26 years in
different sites either by land or sea. This
ruined the Greek economy, adversely
affected the lives of many families, and
changed the course of Greek history.
This so-called Peloponnesian War
has been described at length by the
brilliant general and historian Thucydides
and is still studied by contemporary
researchers.1,2,3 The final downfall and
cultural deterioration of Athens was
caused by the combination of damage to
its fleet after a failed invasion of Sicily and
by the enormous loss of life caused by
the Athenian plague.
W
by Claudio Lehmann, MD
continued on page 30