PLAY PODCASTS
The First Pandemic?

The First Pandemic?

<p>In the 160s CE, Rome was struck by a devastating disease which, a new book argues, may have been the world’s first pandemic. Galen began his career treating ’the protracted plague’ with viper flesh, opium and urine, but despite his extensive documentation, we still don’t know what a modern diagnosis would be. Josephine Quinn joins Malin to discuss contemporary theories about the Antonine Plague and what ice cores and amulets can tell us about the disease’s impact.</p><br><p>Further reading on the episode page: <a href="https://lrb.me/romanplaguepod" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://lrb.me/romanplaguepod</a></p><br><p><strong>LRB Audio</strong></p><p>Discover the LRB's subscription podcast, <em>Close Readings</em>, and audiobooks: <a href="https://lrb.me/audiopod" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://lrb.me/audiopod</a></p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

The LRB Podcast · The London Review of Books

August 7, 202430m 18s

Audio is streamed directly from the publisher (podtrac.com) as published in their RSS feed. Play Podcasts does not host this file. Rights-holders can request removal through the copyright & takedown page.

Show Notes

In the 160s CE, Rome was struck by a devastating disease which, a new book argues, may have been the world’s first pandemic. Galen began his career treating ’the protracted plague’ with viper flesh, opium and urine, but despite his extensive documentation, we still don’t know what a modern diagnosis would be. Josephine Quinn joins Malin to discuss contemporary theories about the Antonine Plague and what ice cores and amulets can tell us about the disease’s impact.


Further reading on the episode page: https://lrb.me/romanplaguepod


LRB Audio

Discover the LRB's subscription podcast, Close Readings, and audiobooks: https://lrb.me/audiopod

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.