Battling Pollution: The Greek and Roman Struggles in Antiquity

Environmental issues are at the heart of current concerns, but the idea that human activities can damage nature is not new. Since ancient times, the Greeks and Romans were already aware of the damage caused to their environment. Figures like Pliny the Elder and Vegetius described the harmful effects of air and water pollution, concrete realities that threatened both public health and ecosystems.

Researchers like Konstantine Panegyres of the University of Melbourne, in an article in The Conversation, revisit these texts to better understand how these ancient civilizations reacted to environmental degradation. This return to historical sources allows us to draw relevant parallels with current ecological crises and to draw lessons on pollution management.

An ancient awareness of the dangers

Greek and Roman civilizations were already aware of the devastating effects of pollution well before the modern era. Pliny the Elder, naturalist and author of “Natural History”, was one of the first to warn about the impact of man on nature. He observed how rivers were contaminated by human activities. He noted how air, a vital element, was becoming a vector of destruction due to pollution.

By emphasizing that air, the “primary support of life,” was transformed into a threat by human actions, Pliny expressed a keen understanding of the interdependence between the environment and human health. This reflection shows that, from the first century AD, the Romans saw nature not as an inexhaustible resource, but as a fragile ecosystem, which must be preserved.

Other Roman authors, such as Flavius ​​Renatus Vegetius, also made the connection between human activities and environmental degradation. In his military writings, Vegetius described Roman military camps, often stationed for long periods. He noted that they were responsible for contaminating the air and water. This stagnation caused epidemics, aggravated by local pollution, particularly in summer and autumn. Vegetius also proposed practical solutions: regularly moving the camps to prevent these risks. This observation shows that the Romans had identified the environmental causes of certain health crises and were already seeking to mitigate their effects.

Water pollution: a recurring problem

The pollution of rivers, and in particular that of the Tiber, represented a major problem in the large cities of the Roman Empire. In Rome, this river played a central role in urban life. It served as a source of drinking water, a transportation route, and a receptacle for waste. However, over time, the Tiber became saturated with trash. Particularly because of illegal construction and illegal dumping which narrowed its bed.

According to biographer Suetonius, it was only during the reign of Emperor Augustus that a considerable effort was undertaken to clean the river and restore a certain environmental balance. Augustus, aware of the importance of the Tiber for the city and its inhabitants, led several campaigns to clear debris and regulate activities around the river. This has helped improve water quality and general health. These initiatives demonstrate a political will to preserve the urban environment in the face of growing and uncontrolled urbanization.

However, not all Roman leaders shared this attention to the environment. The example of Emperor Nero illustrates this divergence well. Unlike Augustus, Nero had little concern for the environmental consequences of his actions. To get rid of large quantities of rotten grain, he chose to dump them into the Tiber.

This inconsiderate action not only contributed to the deterioration of the water, but also had repercussions on aquatic fauna. The poet Juvenal, critical of this negligent management, described the Tiber as a “gushing sewer”. For his part, doctor Galen warned of the risks to public health, affirming that fish caught in the Tiber had become unfit for consumption due to pollution.

Measures to protect nature

Nevertheless, the Greeks and Romans, aware of the damage caused to their environment, quickly took concrete measures to limit pollution. In Athens, as early as 420 BC, laws were passed to protect the Ilissos River. It was, like the Tiber, a vital water source for the city. One of these laws prohibited dipping animal skins in the river and disposing of residues from washing activities into its waters. The effects of these measures appear to have been positive, as authors from the 4th century BC described the river as a place of purity and natural beauty. Long before modern times, the Greeks understood the importance of regulating polluting behavior to maintain a healthy environment.

Similarly, in Rome, major initiatives were undertaken to combat pollution, particularly during the reign of Nerva, emperor from 96 to 98 AD. Facing the challenges of a rapidly growing population and urbanization, Nerva has launched ambitious projects. In particular, he initiated the construction of new aqueducts and sewer systems to improve public hygiene.

These infrastructures aimed to channel wastewater away from residential areas and to purify the city's air. The latter is often vitiated by the accumulation of waste. Sextus Julius Frontinus, manager of the aqueducts at that time, welcomed the visible results of this work, saying that the city had become cleaner and the air was more breathable. The Romans didn't just deal with the effects of pollution. They actively sought to reduce it through infrastructural innovations.

Pollution and public health: a link established since Antiquity

The ancients therefore already had a clear understanding of the link between environmental degradation and public health. A notable example is provided this time by Pliny the Younger, a Roman aristocrat and lawyer. He wrote to Emperor Trajan in the early 2nd century AD to denounce the sanitary conditions in the city of Amastris. It was located in what is now Türkiye. Pliny described an open sewer that ran through one of the city's main streets, calling it a “disgusting horror.” This was because of the bad odors it gave off and the health risks it created for residents.

In response, Trajan approved the work of covering the sewer. It implicitly recognized that the management of the urban environment was becoming crucial to guaranteeing the health of citizens. This decision demonstrates political and administrative awareness of the need to preserve a healthy living environment, by reducing environmental pollution. The sewers, often a source of contamination if poorly maintained, needed to be improved to limit epidemics and other illnesses linked to stagnant and polluted water.

A lesson for the modern world

The Greeks and Romans' view of their environment remains strikingly relevant to our times. As we face multiple ecological crises, it is useful to reflect on this ancient wisdom. Their message is simple: a healthy environment is essential to guarantee the well-being of human beings. The destruction of nature inevitably means compromising our own health.

Ultimately, the solutions proposed by the Greeks and Romans – laws to protect natural resources, infrastructure to manage pollution, and a recognition of the connection between human health and the environment – ​​still resonate today. It is up to us to learn lessons from the past to build a sustainable future.

Source : The Conversation

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