11:00 am – 1:00 pm
The Italian Academy, 5th-floor seminar room
Sabine Huebner
University of Basel
Revisiting Ancient Pandemics: Papyrus Evidence and Egypt’s Role in the Transmission of Disease in the Roman World
Friday, December 6
11:00 am
The Italian Academy, 5th-floor seminar room
Abstract
This paper reexamines the role of Egypt in the transmission of infectious diseases throughout the Roman Empire, drawing on a combination of papyrological evidence and historical accounts. Focusing on the three major pandemics of the Roman Imperial period—the Antonine Plague (165–180 CE), the Cyprianic Plague (251–270 CE), and the Justinianic Plague (542 CE onward)—this research highlights Egypt’s critical function as both a center for commerce and a vector for the spread of disease between the Mediterranean and the western Indian Ocean. Additionally, several lesser-known localized epidemics are explored. Papyrological sources from Roman Egypt, including private letters, death registrations, petitions, and mummy labels, offer valuable insights into the demographic and social impacts of these pandemics. The research underscores the importance of recognizing smaller-scale, regional outbreaks that significantly impacted local populations and shaped the social, economic, and administrative structures of Roman Egypt. By situating papyrological evidence within a broader historiographical and methodological context, the paper challenges prevailing narratives about the prevalence and impact of ancient pandemics. It advocates for a more interdisciplinary and geographically inclusive approach to understanding disease transmission in the Roman world, emphasizing the need to critically assess and integrate diverse sources of evidence to construct a more nuanced historical account.
