Epidemic that’s struck Athens early in the summer of 430 BC and continued through the following year; after subsiding greatly broke out again in 427 BC.
A plague epidemic, starting in Ethiopia and travelling to Egypt, was carried across Mediterranean by ships to the Piraeus and Athens.
Athenian historian Thucydides, both witness and victim chronicled the plague (430-426 BC) in Book Two of his Peloponnesian War.
Crowded within the city walls while the enemies the Spartans, attacked the countryside, the Athenians were easy targets for a contagious disease; about one-third of them died, including many soldiers.
Fearful of the Spartan attack, the Athenian leader Pericles had ordered the inhabitants of the surrounding countryside to move inside the city, where they could be protected by the army and the fortified walls.
In 429 BC, the plague killed Pericles, the only man capable of securing victory over Sparta and its allies.
Approximately one-third of them died, including 300 out of 1000 cavalry and about a quarter of the land army.
The plague of Athens undoubtedly contributed to the downfall of the Athenian empire. By killing so large a number, by demoralizing the capital and above all, by destroying the fighting power of the navy, the plague prevented Athens from striking a decisive blow at Sparta.
Great plague of Athens
