THE  PLAGUE

Thucydides 2.47-59.  The plague attacks Athens shortly after Pericles delivers the Funeral Oration.  Noone is quite sure what the disease was:  typhus, staphylococcus, glanders, smallpox, toxic shock syndrome and others have been suggested.  Please read the selection.  Come to class prepared to discuss the topics listed at the end of this sheet.

SUMMER, 430 B.C., Year 2 of the war

2.47  Spartans invade.  Plague arrives.
48  Thucydides avoids speculative discussion of origin and causes, sticks to what it was and how it can be recognized.
49  Symptoms detailed: external, internal.
50  Beasts of prey avoid corpses.
51  Psychological effects: dejection, despair.  Danger of caring for others.  Futility of goodness and honor.  Disease doesn't recur fatally.
52  Plague aggravated by crowding in city.  Burial rites upset.
53  Social and religious breakdown.
54  A verse and an oracle (see 1.118).
55  Spartan advance, Pericles' policy against responding.
56  Pericles sends invasian around Peloponnese: 150 triremes, 4000 infantry, 300 cavalry.
57  Plague continues in Attica.
58  Failure of expedition to Potidaea led by Hagnon and Cleopompus.
59  Athenians despondent; blame Pericles.  Ambassadors sent to Sparta.
 
 
 
 
 
 

The Plague: An Exercise

Come to class with three answers to the question, where the plague echo or refer to the Funeral Oration?
(Hint: look at references to:

laws

public rituals

honor, shame, virtue

city and community)

Then, try to answer this question:  Why does Thucydides juxtapose the description of the plague with the Funeral Oration?