ARTICLES
Στέφανος Παρασκευαΐδης
Δρ Αρχαίας Ιστορίας
Abstract: Ancient societies were often tested by outbreaks of deadly epidemics. Authors in antiquity do not provide a coherent account of their effects. On the one hand we have testimonies, mainly from historians, who emphasize failures and discontinuities, and on the other testimonies that give an idealized picture of society’s ability to cope with the adversities of a plague. However, their critical examination reveals that they probably present different aspects of the same reality: throughout antiquity society’s confrontation with deadly epidemics often included symptoms of intense crisis. People’s faltering trust in traditional institutions and collective values, the questioning of dominant ideologies and the risk of losing social cohesion, are recurring phenomena in several ancient epidemics, from classical Athens to Christian Constantinople. Still, numerous historical examples prove that even when shocked by the devastating passage of a plague, ancient societies had the tenacity to attach to their fundamental social values.
Η επίδραση των λοιμών στη συνοχή των αρχαίων κοινωνιών (pdf)