Inscription from the Mosque of Hasanayin
Events April 1157 CE Quake(s)
Excerpts English from Ambraseys (2009)
- from Ambraseys (2009)
The construction of this blessed mosque, after its demolition in the earthquake which occurred in 552 [1157], was ordered by our master al-Malik al-’Adil, the champion of the faith, Nur al-din Abal-Kasim Mahmud, son of Zanki, son of [Ak Sunkur].(Inscription, in Berchem and Fatio 1914, 176).English from Guidoboni and Comastri (2005)Hamah: inscription of 1157 (RCEA, IX, no.3220, pp.13-14 and Ciccarello, 1996, pp.489-90), recalls the reconstruction of the mosque of Hasanayin, built by Nur ad-Din (1118-1174), Muslim prince of Syria at the times of the Crusades.
"[In the name of God the Merciful, the Compassionate]. There is no god but God, [and Muhammad is his] Prophet. God [bless] him and grant him peace, and his family as well. The rebuilding of this blessed mosque, after its collapse in the earthquake which occurred in the year 552, was ordered by our lord, the righteous sovereEnglish translated from Berchem and Fatio (1914)On the same bank and closer to the river, we see an old mosque built by Nür al-Dïn Mahmüd, Saladin's master. It contains some precious remains from the time of its founder; as well as superb inscriptions in his name dated from the years 558 and 559 (1163 and 1164). Of this time, Hama retains a more modest memory, but curious for its history: it is a grave inscription on the wall of a small mosque, to the south of the citadel, and according to which this building was rebuilt by Nür al-dïn in 552 (1157)
after being overthrown by the Hama earthquake (al-zalzala al-hamâwiyya)We have already spoken of this terrible earthquake, the center of which occupied the region of Hama; we will come back to this later1. It is still to the twelfth century that the remains of a mosque and a house built by an emir of the first prince Ayyubid from Hama, following two inscriptions dated 584 (1188)2Footnotes1 See above, 161 and 172, and further on, p. 184 and 192. Most Arabic sources, as well as Abu l-faraj, trans. Browns, p. 355 (Michel, III, p. 315), and G. de Tyr, 1.XX, ch. l8 (Hist. occ des crois., I, p. 972), mention Hama among the most tried localities. In agreement with our inscription, Ibn al-Furât calls this seism the earthquake of Hama.; see from Kremer Ueber die grossen Seuchen des Orients (ex SA W W, XCVI), p. 60 and 65; see Derenbourg, Ousama p. 14 and 276.
2 See Inschrijten Oppenhem, no. 26, p. 22 et seq. These curious remains can be seen to the south of the mosque of Nur al-Din, near the bank of the Orontes.French from Berchem and Fatio (1914)Sur la même rive et plus près du fleuve, on voit une vieille mosquée bâtie par Nür al-dïn Mahmüd, le maître de Saladin. Elle renferme quelques restes précieux du temps de son fondateur; ainsi de superbes inscriptions à son nom datées des années 558 et 559 (1163 et 1164). De cette époque, Hamâ conserve un souvenir plus modeste, mais curieux pour son histoire : c’est une inscription gravee sur le mur d’une petite mosquée, au sud de la citadelle, et suivant laquelle cet édifice a été rebâti par Nür al-dïn en 552 (1157)
après avoir été renversé par le tremblement de terre de Hamâ (al-zalzala al-hamâwiyya)Nous avons déjà parlé de ce terrible sisme, dont le centre occupa la région de Hama; nous y reviendrons tout à l’heure1. C’est encore au xii* siècle qu’appartiennent les restes d’une mosquée et d’une maison bâties par un émir du premier prince ayyoubide de Hamâ, suivant deux inscriptions datées de 584 (1188)2Footnotes1 Voir plus haut, 161 et 172, et plus loin, p. 184 et 192. La plupart des sources arabes, ainsi qu'Abu l-faraj , trad. Bruns, p. 355 (Michel, III, p. 315 ), et G. de Tyr, 1.XX, ch. l8 (Hist. occ des crois., I, p. 972), signalent Hamâ parmi les localités les plus éprouvées. D’accord avec notre inscription, Ibn al-Furât appelle ce sisme de tremblement de terre de Hamâ.; voir de Kremer Ueber die grossen Seuchen des Orients (ex SA W W, XCVI), p. 60 et 65 ; cf. Derenbourg, Ousâma p. 14 et 276.
2 Voir Inschrijten Oppenhem, n° 26, p. 22 et suiv. Ces curieux débris se voient au sud de la mosquee de Nur al-dïn, près de la rive de l’Oronte.French from Berchem and Fatio (1914) - embedded
- see 2nd paragraph of the page 176 starting with
Sur la même rive et plus près du fleuve- from Berchem and Fatio (1914:176)
- from archive.org
Chronology
Date Reference Corrections Notes 13 Feb. 1157 CE - 1 Feb. 1158 CE A.H. 552 none calculated using CHRONOS Seismic Effects
- Collapse of the Mosque of Hasanayin in Hama
Locations
- Mosque of Hasanayin in Hama
Online Versions and Further Reading