§12.58.1ἐπʼ ἄρχοντος δʼ Ἀθήνησιν Εὐθύνου Ῥωμαῖοι κατέστησαν ἀντὶ τῶν ὑπάτων χιλιάρχους τρεῖς, Μάρκον Φάβιον, Μάρκον Φαλίνιον, Λεύκιον Σερουίλιον.
When Euthynus was archon in Athens, the Romans established three military tribunes instead of consuls: Marcus Fabius, Marcus Falinius, and Lucius Servilius.
ἐπὶ δὲ τούτων Ἀθηναῖοι χρόνον τινὰ τῆς νόσου τῆς λοιμικῆς ἀνειμένοι πάλιν εἰς τὰς αὐτὰς συμφορὰς ἐνέπεσον·
In their time, the Athenians, having been released for a certain time from the plague, fell again into the same misfortunes.
§12.58.2οὕτω γὰρ ὑπὸ τῆς νόσου διετέθησαν, ὥστε τῶν στρατιωτῶν ἀποβαλεῖν πεζοὺς μὲν ὑπὲρ τοὺς τετρακισχιλίους, ἱππεῖς δὲ τετρακοσίους, τῶν δʼ ἄλλων ἐλευθέρων τε καὶ δούλων ὑπὲρ τοὺς μυρίους. ἐπιζητούσης δὲ τῆς ἱστορίας τὴν τῆς περὶ τὴν νόσον δεινότητος αἰτίαν, ἀναγκαῖόν ἐστιν ἐκθέσθαι ταῦτα.
For they were so affected by the disease that of the soldiers they lost over four thousand infantry and four hundred cavalry, and of the other people, both free and slave, over ten thousand. Since history demands the cause of the virulence of this disease, it is necessary to set these matters forth. For they were so affected by the disease that of the soldiers they lost over four thousand infantry and four hundred cavalry, and of the other people, both free and slave, over ten thousand. Since history demands the cause of the virulence of this disease, it is necessary to set these matters forth.
§12.58.3προγεγενημένων ἐν τῷ χειμῶνι μεγάλων ὄμβρων συνέβη τὴν γῆν ἔνυδρον γενέσθαι, πολλοὺς δὲ καὶ τῶν κοίλων τόπων δεξαμένους πλῆθος ὕδατος λιμνάσαι καὶ σχεῖν στατὸν ὕδωρ παραπλησίως τοῖς ἑλώδεσι τῶν τόπων, θερμαινομένων δʼ ἐν τῷ θέρει τούτων καὶ σηπομένων συνίστασθαι παχείας καὶ δυσώδεις ἀτμίδας, ταύτας δʼ ἀναθυμιωμένας διαφθείρειν τὸν πλησίον ἀέρα· ὅπερ δὴ καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν ἑλῶν τῶν νοσώδη διάθεσιν ἐχόντων ὁρᾶται γινόμενον.
Since great rains had occurred during the winter, it happened that the ground became waterlogged, and many of the hollow places, having received a multitude of water, became ponded and held stagnant water, similarly to marshy places; and when these were heated and became putrid in the summer, thick and foul-smelling vapors were formed, and these, rising as exhalations, corrupted the nearby air—which indeed is seen happening in the case of marshes that have a pestilential character. Since great rains had occurred during the winter, it happened that the ground became waterlogged, and many of the hollow places, having received a multitude of water, became ponded and held stagnant water, similarly to marshy places; and when these were heated and became putrid in the summer, thick and foul-smelling vapors were formed, and these, rising as exhalations, corrupted the nearby air—which indeed is seen happening in the case of marshes that have a pestilential character.
§12.58.4συνεβάλετο δὲ πρὸς τὴν νόσον καὶ ἡ τῆς προσφερομένης τροφῆς κακία· ἐγένοντο γὰρ οἱ καρποὶ κατὰ τοῦτον τὸν ἐνιαυτὸν ἔνυγροι παντελῶς καὶ διεφθαρμένην ἔχοντες τὴν φύσιν. τρίτην δὲ αἰτίαν συνέβη γενέσθαι τῆς νόσου τὸ μὴ πνεῦσαι τοὺς ἐτησίας, διʼ ὧν ἀεὶ κατὰ τὸ θέρος ψύχεται τὸ πολὺ τοῦ καύματος· τῆς δὲ θερμασίας ἐπίτασιν λαβούσης καὶ τοῦ ἀέρος ἐμπύρου γενομένου, τὰ σώματα τῶν ἀνθρώπων μηδεμιᾶς ψύξεως γενομένης λυμαίνεσθαι συνέβαινε.
The bad quality of the food consumed also contributed to the disease; for the crops in this year were completely waterlogged and had their natural quality ruined. It also happened that the third cause of the disease was the failure of the Etesian winds to blow, by which the great part of the heat is always cooled during the summer; and when the heat increased and the air became burning hot, with no cooling taking place, it happened that the bodies of the people were ruined. The bad quality of the food consumed also contributed to the disease; for the crops in this year were completely waterlogged and had their natural quality ruined. It also happened that the third cause of the disease was the failure of the Etesian winds to blow, by which the great part of the heat is always cooled during the summer; and when the heat increased and the air became burning hot, with no cooling taking place, it happened that the bodies of the people were ruined.
§12.58.5διὸ καὶ τὰ νοσήματα τότε πάντα καυματώδη συνέβαινεν εἶναι διὰ τὴν ὑπερβολὴν τῆς θερμασίας. διὰ δὲ ταύτην τὴν αἰτίαν οἱ πλεῖστοι τῶν νοσούντων ἔρριπτον ἑαυτοὺς εἰς τὰ φρέατα καὶ τὰς κρήνας, ἐπιθυμοῦντες αὐτῶν καταψύξαι τὰ σώματα.
For this reason, all the diseases at that time happened to be burning fevers because of the excess of heat. Because of this cause, most of the sick threw themselves into the wells and springs, desiring to cool their bodies. For this reason, all the diseases at that time happened to be burning fevers because of the excess of heat. Because of this cause, most of the sick threw themselves into the wells and springs, desiring to cool their bodies.
§12.58.6οἱ δʼ Ἀθηναῖοι διὰ τὴν ὑπερβολὴν τῆς νόσου τὰς αἰτίας τῆς συμφορᾶς ἐπὶ τὸ θεῖον ἀνέπεμπον. διὸ καὶ κατά τινα χρησμὸν ἐκάθηραν τὴν νῆσον Δῆλον, Ἀπόλλωνος μὲν οὖσαν ἱεράν, δοκοῦσαν δὲ μεμιάνθαι διὰ τὸ τοὺς τετελευτηκότας ἐν αὐτῇ τεθάφθαι.
The Athenians, because of the excess of the disease, referred the causes of the misfortune to the divine power. Therefore, in accordance with a certain oracle, they purified the island of Delos, which, though sacred to Apollo, was thought to have been polluted because those who had died had been buried in it. The Athenians, because of the excess of the disease, referred the causes of the misfortune to the divine power. Therefore, in accordance with a certain oracle, they purified the island of Delos, which, though sacred to Apollo, was thought to have been polluted because those who had died had been buried in it.
§12.58.7ἀνασκάψαντες οὖν ἁπάσας τὰς ἐν τῇ Δήλῳ θήκας μετήνεγκαν εἰς τὴν Ῥήνειαν καλουμένην νῆσον, πλησίον ὑπάρχουσαν τῆς Δήλου. ἔταξαν δὲ καὶ νόμον μήτε τίκτειν ἐν τῇ Δήλῳ μήτε θάπτειν. ἐποίησαν δὲ καὶ πανήγυριν τὴν τῶν Δηλίων, γεγενημένην μὲν πρότερον, διαλιποῦσαν δὲ πολὺν χρόνον.
Having therefore dug up all the tombs in Delos, they carried them over to the island called Rheneia, which is near Delos. And they also established a law that no one should either give birth or be buried in Delos. They also celebrated the festival of the Delia, which had been held in former times but had been discontinued for a long period. Having therefore dug up all the tombs in Delos, they carried them over to the island called Rheneia, which is near Delos. And they also established a law that no one should either give birth or be buried in Delos. They also celebrated the festival of the Delia, which had been held in former times but had been discontinued for a long period.