There have been several posts before about the possible bubonic plague in Ancient Rome. (See posts below.) Rufus of Ephesus (70-110 AD) mentioned earlier plagues that might have been a form of bubonic plague. These early plagues described by Rufus were much less severe than the later suspected Bubonic Plague of Justinian (541-549 AD) and the Black Death that devastated Europe (1347-1352). These plagues described by Rufus might have been caused by a completely different disease. Many be