Una aproximación a las pestes y epidemias en la antigüedad

This article examines the principal episodes of pest and epidemics that occurred in ancient civilizations. It discusses the great plague of the Hittites, in time of king Mursili II (1321-1295 B.C.), the plague sufferend by the Philistines (Azoth Plague), the epidemics suffered by the Carthaginian army in Sicily (V and IV centuries B. C.), the great pest of Athens in 431-429 B. C. (at present interpreted as typhus), the epidemics in the Roman Republic of the V and IV centuries B. C.), and epidemics suffered by the Roman Empire (especially the plague of the Antonines in the Second century, and that of Cyprian in the Third century. Which are interpreted as smallpox and measles). Finally, we expose data of the plague suffered by Byzantine in time of Emperor Justinian, which is now undoubtedly the main scourge of bubonic plague.En este artículo se estudian los principales episodios de pestes y epidemias que se produjeron en las civilizaciones de la antigüedad. Se analizan la gran peste de los hititas, en época del rey Mursili II (1321 a. C.-1295 a. C.), la peste padecida por los filisteos (peste de Azoth), las epidemias padecidas por el ejército cartaginés en Sicilia (siglos V y IV a.C.), la gran peste de Atenas en 439-429 a. C. (en la actualidad interpretada como tifus), las epidemias en la República romana de los siglos V y IV a. C., así como las epidemias padecidas por el imperio romano (en especial la peste de los Antoninos en el siglo II, y la de Cipriano en el siglo III, que se interpretan como viruela y sarampión). Finalmente se exponen datos sobre la peste padecida por Bizancio, en época del emperador Justiniano, que constituye ya, sin duda, el primer azote importante de la peste bubónica.This article examines the principal episodes of pest and epidemics that occurred in ancient civilizations. It discusses the great plague of the Hittites, in time of king Mursili II (1321-1295 B.C.), the plague sufferend by the Philistines (Azoth Plague), the epidemics suffered by the Carthaginian army in Sicily (V and IV centuries B. C.), the great pest of Athens in 431-429 B. C. (at present interpreted as typhus), the epidemics in the Roman Republic of the V and IV centuries B. C.), and epidemics suffered by the Roman Empire (especially the plague of the Antonines in the Second century, and that of Cyprian in the Third century. Which are interpreted as smallpox and measles). Finally, we expose data of the plague suffered by Byzantine in time of Emperor Justinian, which is now undoubtedly the main scourge of bubonic plague