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January 24, 2006

New Science on an Old Problem

Thucydides begins his account of the great plague of Athens in Book II, chapter 47 of his History of the Peloponnesian War with these words,

Ηρξατο δε το μεν πρωτον, ως λεγεται, εξ Αιθιοπίας της υπερ Αιγυπτου, επειτα δε και ες Αιγυπτον και Λιβυην κατεβη και ες την βασιλεως γην την πολλην. ες δε την Αθηναιων πολιν εξαπιναίως εσεπεσε, και το πρωτον εν τω, Πειραιει ηψατο των ανθρώπων, ωστε και ελχθη υπ αυτων ως οι Πελοποννησιοι φαρμακα εσβεβλήκοιεν ες τα φρεατα: κρηναι γαρ ουπω ησαν αυτοθι. υστερον δε και ες την ανω πολιν αφικετο, και εθνησκον πολλω μαλλον ηδη. [Greek diacritical marks have been remove for the sake of font compatibility]

It first began, it is said, in the parts of Ethiopia above Egypt, and thence descended into Egypt and Libya and into most of the king's country. Suddenly falling upon Athens, it first attacked the population in Piraeus,--which was the occasion of their saying that the Peloponnesians had poisoned the reservoirs, there being as yet no wells there and afterwards appeared in the upper city, when the deaths became much more frequent.

There has been an ongoing debate about the nature of this plague that may well have greatly influenced the outcome of the Peloponnesian War.

Tara C. Smith (no relationship) over at Aetiology reports on a new DNA study that may shed light on this controversy. As she notes, the study itself is not without controversy but that is how the acquisition of knowledge works. If you are at all interested in the intersection between ancient history and modern science, give her post a read. This is abnormally interesting stuff.

Update: January 25, 2006
Alun has a very good review of this same paper.

Posted by Duane Smith at January 24, 2006 3:21 PM | Read more on Science - General |

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