Something alarming jumps out when you look at the Black Plague period of Europe, also known as the Black Death. No, it isn’t the fact that the population of Europe dwindled about in half during this time span (estimates range between 30% to 60%). Nor is it the fact that the plague is believed to have been originated in Central Asia and India. It is the fact that the first period in Europe killed so many in only 4 years.

Between 1347-1350 about 50% of Europe’s population was wiped out.

That is an alarming rate of death and interestingly, the plauges would return about once a generation, decimating the population, until the 17th century.

Typically, the theory is that the bubonic plague, or Yersinia pestis, is what infected the population – spread by fleas – and due to the culture at the time with a lack of sophisticated hygiene. Yet there is another theory – some suggest that a “men in black” group was behind the plague, spreading the plague in an airborn fashion as it was described to be a mist that would wipe out these major centers of civilization in Europe.

At any rate, some are pointing to frescos painted by Luca Signorelli found at the cathedral in Orvieto, Italy – a place I have visited many times. It is a beautiful cathedral, but I must confess I never really had time to take in the Signorelli paintings in great detail so needless to say, the fact that this theory is out there is one thing but the fact that Signorelli somehow depicted these men in black is extraordinary. This will require more investigating. In the meantime, here is the source that I found for this concept.