Antonine Plague 165

About Antonine Plague 165

The Antonine Plague devastated the Roman Empire from 165 to 180 AD during the reign of Marcus Aurelius. The disease, likely smallpox or measles, was brought to the empire by Roman soldiers returning from Mesopotamia. The plague killed an estimated 5 to 10 million people and devastated the Roman army. According to Cassius Dio, a later outbreak in 189 AD caused up to 2,000 deaths a day in Rome. The Greek physician Galen described symptoms including fever, diarrhea, and skin eruptions. The plague weakened the Roman military at a time when the empire faced pressure from Germanic tribes. Some historians argue the Antonine Plague marked the beginning of the decline of the Roman Empire. The high mortality among military aged men was particularly damaging. The pandemic spread rapidly through the densely populated cities and military camps of the empire. The true identity of the pathogen remains uncertain, though smallpox is the most widely favoured candidate.