The Antonine Plague, named after Marcus Aurelius’ family name of Antoninus, is also later known as the Plague of Galen and holds an important place in medicinal history because of its association with Galen, who had first hand knowledge of the disease.

He was in Rome when it stuck in 166, and is also present in the winter of 168–69 during an outbreak among troops stationed at Aquileia.

Marcus Aurelius and his colleague Lucius Verus were in the north fighting the Marcomanni.

During the autumn of 169 CE when Roman troops were returning to Aquileia, the great plague had broken out and the emperor had summoned Galen back to Rome, ordering him to accompany Marcus and Verus to Germany as the court physician.

In the following spring Marcus is persuaded to release Galen after receiving a report that Asclepius, the god of medicine and healing in ancient Greek religion, is against the project.

He is left behind to act as physician to the imperial heir Commodus.

It is here in court that Galen writes extensively on medical subjects.

Ironically, Lucius Verus died in 169, and Marcus Aurelius himself will die in 180, both victims of the plague.