Continuation of Eutychius’ Annals by Yahya of Antioch

Aliases

Aliases	in Arabic
Yahya of Antioch
Yaḥya ibn Saʿīd al-Anṭākī	يحيى بن سعيد الأنطاكي
al-Anṭākī

Background and Biography

Background and Biography

Excerpts

English from Guidoboni and Comastri (2005)

• from Guidoboni and Comastri (2005)

In that same year, al-Zahir began rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem the Noble, after rebuilding those of Ramla. Those who were entrusted with this work demolished many churches outside the city and took their stone. They were preparing to destroy the church of Sahyun (Sion), as well as other churches, so that they could take away the stone for the walls, when a terrible earthquake struck the area, such as had never been seen or heard of before, late on Thursday 10 Safar in the year 425 [H. = 4 January 1034]. Half the houses in Ramla collapsed, as well as various parts of the walls. There were many victims. Riha (Jericho) and its inhabitants were swallowed up, and the same thing happened at Nablus and nearby villages. Part of the great mosque of Jerusalem collapsed, as well as convents and churches in its province. Houses collapsed at Acre as well. There were a great many victims. The sea water receded from the port for an hour, and then returned to its place

English from Ambraseys (2009)

• from Ambraseys (2009)

The caliph az-Zahir undertook in that year to build the walls of the noble city Jerusalem, after fortifying ar-Ramla. The builders began to destroy numerous churches outside the city. According to the requirements of the works, they removed the stones for building the walls. Then a prodigious earthquake occurred, the like of which had not been seen or talked of before, in the late morning of Thursday 10 Safar. Among the damaged [structures] were many ruined walls, and the victims reached considerable figure. The town of Arriha collapsed on its inhabitants, together with Nablus and neighbouring villages. Part of the mosque of Jerusalem collapsed together with numerous houses and churches in the surrounding area. And at Acre, too, houses collapsed on their inhabitants and there was a great number of victims. The sea drew back then returned as a tidal wave.' (al-Antaki ii. 272).

Chronology

Year	Reference	Corrections	Notes
4 January 1034 CE	late on Thursday 10 Safar in A.H. 425	none	Calculated using CHRONOS 4 January 1034 CE falls on a Friday (calculated using CHRONOS).
5 December 1033 CE	late on Thursday 10 Safar in A.H. 425	month of Muharram substituted for Safar	Yahya ibn Saʿid al-Antaki appears to have listed the wrong month. If one substitutes the month prior (Muharram) for the month supplied by Yahya ibn Saʿid al-Antaki one comes up with a date of 5 December 1033 CE (calculated using CHRONOS). 5 December 1033 CE falls on a Wednesday (calculated using CHRONOS).

Seismic Effects

• Half the houses in Ramla collapsed, as well as various parts of the walls. There were many victims.
• Riha (Jericho) and its inhabitants were swallowed up
• the same thing (swallowed up) happened at Nablus and nearby villages
• Part of the great mosque of Jerusalem collapsed, as well as convents and churches in its province
• Houses collapsed at Acre as well. There were a great many victims
• The sea water receded from the port [of Acre] for an hour, and then returned to its place

Locations mentioned

• Ramla.
• Riha (Jericho)
• Nablus and nearby villages
• Jerusalem [and] its province
• Acre

Online Versions and Further Reading

References