Antonine Plague: the story on HearLore

Antonine Plague

Roman soldiers returned from the siege of Seleucia in the winter of 165 to 166. They carried a disease back to their homeland after violating a temple during the Parthian campaign of Lucius Verus. The first documented case appeared in Smyrna, Roman Anatolia, in 165. There the orator Aelius Aristides nearly died from the illness. From that eastern point, the plague spread westward. It reached Rome by 166 and touched nearly every corner of the empire by 172. Ancient sources attribute the cause to this specific military movement. Soldiers acted as vectors moving infection across vast distances. Connectivity between land and sea made transfer easier than in smaller societies. Nine recorded epidemics had struck the empire before 148 AD. This outbreak was different because it arrived with returning troops.

Epidemiological Diagnosis

Greek physician Galen traveled from Rome to Asia Minor in 166. He returned to Rome in 168 when summoned by co-emperors Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus. Galen observed the epidemic among troops at Aquileia in the winter of 168 or 169. He described fever, diarrhea, pharyngitis, and skin eruptions appearing on the ninth day. These eruptions were sometimes dry and sometimes pustular. Scholars generally diagnosed the disease as smallpox based on these red and black skin lesions. Recent genetic evidence suggests severe smallpox did not arise in Europe until much later. Measles has also been proposed as a possible cause. J. F. Gilliam concluded in 1961 that there is insufficient evidence to identify the pathogen definitively. No genetic material exists from the Antonine plague itself. Molecular estimates place the evolution of measles sometime after 1000 AD. The description provided by Galen remains inconsistent with modern definitions of smallpox.

When did the Antonine Plague begin and where was the first case recorded?

The first documented case of the Antonine Plague appeared in Smyrna, Roman Anatolia, in 165. The disease outbreak started between 165 and 180 CE after Roman soldiers returned from the siege of Seleucia.

Who diagnosed the cause of the Antonine Plague and what symptoms were observed?

Greek physician Galen traveled to Asia Minor in 166 and described fever, diarrhea, pharyngitis, and skin eruptions appearing on the ninth day. Scholars generally diagnosed the disease as smallpox based on these red and black skin lesions although recent genetic evidence suggests otherwise.

How many people died during the Antonine Plague and what was the fatality rate?

Estimates of fatalities range from 2 to 33 percent of the total empire with most figures coalescing around a fatality rate of about 10 percent. This equals roughly 7.5 million deaths out of the total population of 75 million people.

Which Roman emperors died from the Antonine Plague and when did they die?

Co-emperor Lucius Verus died from the plague in 169 while Marcus Aurelius possibly died from the plague in 180. These deaths occurred during the Marcomannic Wars which began in 166 at the start of the conflict.

What climate conditions contributed to the spread of the Antonine Plague?

Major plagues significantly impacting the Roman Empire are strongly linked to cooler and drier climate conditions according to 2024 research. A VE7 volcanic event occurred at Taupo New Zealandia in 173 AD which may have contributed to the spread of these diseases during that time.

Antonine Plague

Epidemiological Diagnosis

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Common questions

When did the Antonine Plague begin and where was the first case recorded?

Who diagnosed the cause of the Antonine Plague and what symptoms were observed?

How many people died during the Antonine Plague and what was the fatality rate?

Which Roman emperors died from the Antonine Plague and when did they die?

What climate conditions contributed to the spread of the Antonine Plague?

Demographic Collapse

Military Devastation

Economic Disruption

Climate Correlations