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Clearing up the Description of Earthquakes by Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti

كتاب كشف الصلصلة عن وصف الزلزلة by عبد الرحمن بن كمال الدين أبي بكر بن محمد سابق الدين خضر الخضيري الأسيوطي

Aliases
Aliases Arabic
Al-Suyuti
As-Suyuti
Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti
Abu 'l-Fadl 'Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Bakr ibn Muhammad Djalal al_Din al-Khudayri
Background and Biography
Background and Biography

Excerpts
English translation from a French translation by Nejjar (1973-1974)

In A.H. 508 [July 7, 1114/May 26, 1115], an extremely violent earthquake occurred in the territory of al-Jazira222 (199); it caused the collapse thirteen towers of ar-Ruhà, part of the enclosure [JW: i.e. City Walls] and many houses of H'arrân (200); in Balis (n)223 (201) one hundred houses were destroyed while half of its citadel fell over with the other half remaining intact; the city of Sumayaât'224 (202) disappeared underground; there was a deplorably large number of victims.
Footnotes

222) in the territory of al-Jazira; (B): in the territory of al-Madina.

223) from Balisn; (G): from Balis.

224) V.s.i. in (A and B); Samaysât': city located on the left bank of the Euphrates.

199) The variant of B : "in the territory of al_Madina" is rejected; it is indeed al-Jazira, the author citing, among the urban centers affected, the cities of ar-Ruha and Harran (see below).

200) An earthquake occurred in this city in 552 AH/1157 AD (not mentioned by as-Suyiit'i). Cf. G. Fehervari, E.I., 2nd ed., p. 235.

201) This is indeed Bâlis, (Cf. note 129); copy G gives the exact transcription.

202) This is ancient Samosata, located on the right bank of the Euphrates and currently known as Samsât' or Simsât'; it was one of the [front-line] Muslim towns (thaghr) against the Byzantines. Cf. Ettore Rossi, E.I., vol. IV, p. 576.

English from Ambraseys (2009)

An extremely violent earthquake took place in the territory of al-Jazirah: it caused thirteen towers of Ruha to collapse, part of the girdle-wall of Harran and numerous houses. At Balis, 100 houses were destroyed, and whereas half of the citadel was overturned, the other half remained intact. The town of Sumaysat disappeared under the ground: a great number of victims were mourned. (al-Suyuti Kashf xxxvi/22)

English from Sprenger (1843)

A.H. 508. In Mesopotamia thirteen villages belonging to Roha were destroyed, and part of the walls of Harran; also in Elsun about 100 houses and one-half of the fortress were destroyed.

English from Sprenger (1843) - embedded



An Original Manuscript - Arabic

  • The Noor book courtesy of Najib Abou Karaki (personal correspondence, 2022)



























Chronology
Year Reference Corrections Notes
7 June 1114 CE to 26 May 1115 CE A.H. 508 none
Seismic Effects
  • An extremely violent earthquake took place in the territory of al-Jazirah
  • it caused thirteen towers of Ruha to collapse, part of the girdle-wall of Harran and numerous houses
  • At Balis, 100 houses were destroyed, and whereas half of the citadel was overturned, the other half remained intact
  • The town of Sumaysat disappeared under the ground: a great number of victims were mourned
Locations Sources
Sources

Notes and Further Reading
References