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This mysterious epidemic struck Athens<\/strong>, a city-state embroiled in a fierce conflict with Sparta. Historians estimate that the plague claimed between 75,000 and 100,000 lives, representing nearly a third of the city-states\u2019 population at the time.<\/p>\n The exact cause of the plague remains a topic of scholarly debate. The Greek historian Thucydides<\/strong>, who contracted the disease but survived, provided a detailed account of the symptoms, including fever, redness of the eyes, severe headaches, and lesions.<\/p>\n Some modern researchers suggest that the plague might have been caused by typhoid fever, Ebola, or even measles. Still, no conclusive evidence has been found to pinpoint the exact pathogen.<\/p>\n The impact of the plague on Athens <\/strong>was profound. It led to significant social, political, and military consequences.<\/p>\n The death of the esteemed Athenian leader, Pericles<\/strong>, severely affected the city\u2019s morale and strategy. The plague also exacerbated internal strife and weakened Athens\u2019 military capabilities, contributing to its eventual defeat by Sparta in 404 BC.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Why Ancient Greek Philosophers are the greatest thinkers to have graced this earth<\/strong>.<\/p>\n