Text (with hotlink) | Original Language | Biographical Info | Religion | Date of Composition | Location Composed | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Summary of Textual Evidence with Damage Reports Table | ||||||
Intensity Estimates from the Textual Evidence - Darawcheh et. al. (2000), Sbeinati et. al. (2005), and Plassard and Kojoj (1981) | ||||||
Chronographia by Johannes Malalas | Greek |
Biography
Jeffries et al (1986:xxi) reports that
|
Christian (Orthodox Byzantium) | ~530s to 565 CE | Probably Antioch and Constantinople | Contemperaneous account which provides a year - 551 CE. Recounts a severe and tremendous earthquake occurred throughout the land of Palestine, in Arabia and in the land of Mesopotamia, Antioch, Phoenice Maritima and Phoenice Libanensiswhere the following cities suffered: Tyre, Sidon, Berytus, Tripolis, Byblus, Botrys and parts of other cities. Reports a rockslide in Botrys and that at the time of the earthquake the sea retreated [at an unspecified location] for a mile and many ships were destroyedfollowed by the sea restored to its original bed. |
The Histories by Agathias of Myrina | Greek |
Biography
Frendo (1975:ix-x) summarized Agathias of Myrina's life and works as follows: Most of the information we possess concerning the life of Agathias derives from his own writings. |
between 578 and 582 CE | Constantinople | Contemporaneous account of the earthquake as Agathias was a young ~21 year old law student in Alexandria, Egypt when the earthquake struck.
Although Agathias amalgamated other earthquakes (e.g., in Constantinople - 554 CE) into his text and created some chronological confusion and vagueness,
one can isolate the effects of the 551 CE Beirut Quake
to his description of damage to Beirut, moving of the law school in Beirut to Sidon, an earthquake which struck in the Summer,
and, probably, the slight tremorfelt in Alexandria. Ambraseys (2009) observed that if the Law School in Beirut was temporarily transferred to Sidon, this would mean that Sidon would have suffered less damage which in turns suggests an epicenter closer to Beirut. |
|
The Life of Symeon of the Wondrous Mountain | Syriac |
Biography
Simeon Stylites the Younger was an ascetic monk and reputed mystic (eventually elevated to sainthood) who ran a monastery, spent a lot of time living on top of a pillar, and reportedly saw visions of the future. He lived in the 6th century CE. Hagiographical (i.e. biographies of a "saint") books were written about his life. |
Provides a time - ~4 pm - the 10th hour. Ex eventu prophecy
which reports that the next day, at about the tenth hour, the whole land was shaken by a terrible earthquake, of a kind unknown to past generations, and the towns and villages of the coast collapsed in ruinsand that the mountains were uprooted and violently split open, and chasms opened up in the earth in various places. States that the sea receded for many hours, and ships broke up as they violently struck the land. Also states that the region to the north, from Laodicea to Antioch, remained standing, and only a few towers and church walls were damaged, but as St. Symeon had said, no buildings collapsed, and the area to the south from Tyre to Jerusalem was also preserved, just as Symeon had seen in his vision. |
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Ecclesiastical History by John of Ephesus | Syriac |
Biography
Brock (1979:6-7) described John of Ephesus (c.507-c.508) and his works as follows: John of Amid, appointed bishop of Ephesus and Asia in 542, wrote towards the end of his life two works of the greatest importance for sixth century history, the Lives of the Eastern Saints (written 566-8; published by Brooks with an English translation in PO 17-19), and an Ecclesiastical History in three parts. As an independent work only Part III (written over the decade 575-585) survives, virtually complete. The original work consisted of: |
Syriac Orthodox Church | ca. 588 CE | Provides an inaccurate year (558-559 CE). Reports that there was a severe earthquake, and Beirut collapsed, as did many coastal cities and villages in Galilee, Arabia, Palestine and Samaria.Reports that along the whole Phoenician coast, too, the sea withdrew and retreated nearly two milesadding that when the earthquake came from heaven, the sea withdrew and retreated from Beirut and the other coastal cities of Phoenicia for a distance of nearly two milesThen a tremendous surge of the sea rushed up to return to its original depthand as the sea was rising up against them from behind, the earthquake brought down the city in front of them. |
|
The Anonymous Itinerarium (erroneously) attributed to Antoninus of Piacenza | Latin |
Biography
The Anonymous Itinerarium (erroneously) attributed to Antoninus of Piacenza, written in Latin by an anonymous
author, describes a journey taken in the 6th century CE.
Guidoboni et al (1994) date the composition of this text to ~560-570 CE.
Ambraseys (2009) suggested that
|
6th century CE | Describes a journey taken by the author to the region in the 6th century CE - perhaps 5-15 years after the earthquake. This is the closest thing we have to a post earthquake survey. Reports that Tripolis, Byblos, Treiris, and Berytus (Beirut) were destroyed and Sidon was partially ruined. | ||
Romanos Melodos | Greek |
Biography
Gatier (1983:33-34) states that Romanos Melodos (late 5th c. - after 555 CE) was born in Emesa (Homs, Syria) and was a deacon in Beirut before he moved to Constantinople during the reign of Anastasius I (r. 491-518 CE). Romanos was a noted Hymnographer and Composer. |
Christian - convert from Judaism | 6th century CE ? | Constantinople ? | Contains a vague poetic reference to a "storm of earthquakes" which Grosdidier de Matons (1981) suggests could refer to the 551 CE Beirut Quake as well as an earthquake which struck Constantinople in 554 CE.Gatier (1983), on the other hand interpreted the text as alluding to the Fire in the Sky Quake which struck Akko (Ptolemais) in 502 CE. |
Fragmenta Historica Tusculana | Greek | I can't currently find any background information on Fragmenta Historica Tusculana | Provides a date of 6 July and a year - 551 CE. Recounts a great and terrible earthquake happened in all the Eastern region, that is in Arabia, the whole of Palestine, and in the land of Mesopotamia and of Antiochia and many cities of the Phoenician littoral collapsed, viz. Tyre, Sidon, Berytus, Tripolis, Biblus (sic.) and Botrys, and other cities; and of the surrounding villages 101 fell, and multitudes of men were crushed in these citiesReports a rockslide in Botrys. |
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Chronicle of Zuqnin by Pseudo-Dionysius of Tell-Mahre | Syriac |
Biography
This Syriac text also known as the Chronicle of Zuqnin is now thought to have been composed by a monk from the Zuqnin monastery rather than Dionysius of Tell-Mahre - hence the cognomen Pseudo-Dionysius of Tell-Mahre. Parts 3 and 4 cover events from 488 - 775 CE. There is apparently a debate over its date of composition with some scholars suggesting it was composed in the 9th century CE rather than the late 8th century CE as the text would indicate - it ends in 775 CE. Harrak (1999) opines on the opening page of his translation that it was composed in 775 CE by a West Syrian Monk - probably Joshua (the Stylite) of the monastery of Zuqnin. The work is preserved in a single handwritten manuscript (Cod. Vat. 162), now in the Vatican (shelf mark Vatican Syriac 162). |
Eastern Christian | 750-775 CE | Zuqnin Monastery | Provides a month of June and mangles the year by describing the earthquake in three separate entries (553, 557, and 559 CE).
In one entry, Pseudo-Dionysius of Tell-Mahre reports that a severe and powerful earthquake occurred, in addition to the other oneswhere numerous cities collapsed, as did the cities of Phoenicia — that is Arabia and Palestine, Beirut, Tripolis, Tyre, Sidon, Sarepta, Byblos, Antarados, and the rest of their towns, villages and districts fell and were ruined.Reports a rockslide and city collapse in Botrys. In another entry, Pseudo-Dionysius of Tell-Mahre reports that a powerful earthquake took place, and Beirut as well as many other coastal cities and villages in Galilee, Arabia, Palestine and Samaria collapsed.He also reports that when the terrible earthquake suddenly happened, the sea from the city of Beirut and the other cities along the seashore of Phoenicia, fell back, withdrew, retreated and fled away as far as two miles in distance. After this, the immensity of the terrible sea suddenly ran to return to its former depthsnoting that while this surge was happening a severe earthquake occurred. Also reports that a fire blazed inside the ruins [of Beirut[ for up to two monthswith such intensity that even the stones burned and turned into lime. The fire was extinguished when it rained for three days and three nights. Emperor Justinian sent funds to assist the victims and rebuild part of the city. |
Chronicle of Theophanes | Greek |
Biography
Theophanes (c. 758/60-817/8) wrote the Chronicle in Greek
during the years 810-815 CE as a continuation of George Syncellus'
Chronicle. Theophanes' Chronicle It is one of few Byzantine texts that is a true chronicle, in that it enumerates every year, and lists events for each year. The entry for each year begins with a listing of the year of the world, the year since the Incarnation, the regnal year of the Roman Emperor, the Persian Emperor, and the bishops of Rome, Constantinople, Jerusalem, Alexandria, and Antioch. After the conquest of the Persian Empire, it uses years of the rulers of the Arabs in place of the Persian Emperors. Despite the impression of chronological accuracy, many of these dates are mistaken. Scholars also debate whether these dates were integral to Theophanes’ original Chronicle or were added by a later copyist.Mango and Scott (1997:xci) characterize Theophanes' Chronicle as a "file" of sources and list at least 17 sources which informed his Chronicle (Mango and Scott, 1997:lxxiv-lxxxii). Hoyland (2011:10) noted that Theophanes made extensive use of an "eastern source" for events in Muslim-ruled lands during the the time period of the 630s-740s and continued to narrate events occurring in Muslim-ruled lands, until ca. 780either making use of another chronicle for these three decades or, more likely, [] had at his disposal a continuation of the ‘eastern source’. Theophanes' ‘eastern source’ has been the source of much scholarly investigation and debate. |
Orthodox (Byzantium) | 810-814 CE | Vicinity of Constantinople | Provides a date of 9 July and a probable year of 551 CE. Recounts a severe and frightful earthquake throughout Palestine, Arabia, Mesopotamia, Syria, and Phoeniciawhere the following cities suffered: Tyre, Sidon, Berytos, Tripolis, and Byblos. Reports a rockslide in Botrys and that the sea retreated [at an unspecified location] one mile towards the deep and many ships were lostfollowed by a return of the sea to it's own bed. |
Georgius Monachus | Greek |
Biography
Despite the popularity of his Chronicle, little is known about Georgios Monachus (George the Monk) who was also known as George Hamartolus (George the Sinner). His Chronicle covers "Creation" until 842 CE (Neville, 2018:87). Neville (2018:87-88) noted the following about George's Chronicle The work is notable for including numerous amusing and moralizing stories, many of which do not have much to do with specific historical events. In some cases, we can tell that the author highlighted moral lessons to be drawn from an episode, but disregarded the chronological placement of the episode within his source material. George has been characterized as a “short-story” writer. By one count, the text includes forty-four discrete stories about bishops, monks, the destiny of the soul, heroic chastity and martyrdom, and pagans, Jews, and iconoclasts.George wrote the Chronicle in Greek in the last half of the 9th century CE. There are two variants of the text (Neville, 2018:87). |
Last half of 9th c. CE | Constantinople | Amalgamates multiple earthquakes into one describing both an earthquake and tsunami, damage to ships, and shaking in Arabia, Palestine, Mesopotamia, and Antioch. Seismic damage reported in Constantinople refers to a seperate earthquake in 554 CE. | |
Synopsis Historion by Cedrenus | Greek |
Biography
Neville (2018:162-163) provides a succinct description of George Cedrenus (~11th century CE) and Synopsis istorion (aka A Concise History of the World) In the late eleventh or early twelfth century, extant histories were combined and edited to compile a massive unified history from Creation to 1057, entitled the Synopsis istorion. The opening of the text names its author as George Kedrenos. A poem describing the history, found in a later manuscript of the text, says that George was a proedrus. This history was written after that of John Skylitzes in the late eleventh century, and before our oldest manuscript, which is stylistically dated to the first half of the twelfth. |
Orthodox (Byzantium) | 1050s CE | Anatolia | Provides a date of 9 July and a year which works out to 550 CE. Recounts a terrible earthquake struck all over - in Palestine, Arabia, Mesopotamia, Syria, and Phoenicia such that many towns and villages were destroyed or damaged and many people died.Reports a rockslide in Botrys and that the water also withdrew for a mile out to sea [at an unspecified location] and then by command flowed back. |
Chronicle by Michael the Syrian | Syriac |
Biography
Michael the Syrian also known as
Michael I Rabo and Michael the Great was born in
Melitene from a clerical family in 1126 CE
(Dorothea Weltecke in
Gorgias Encyclopedic Dictionary of the Syriac Heritage: Electronic Edition, 2011). He studied at the
Monastery of Dayro d-Mor Barṣawmo where he stayed on as a Monk and
a Prior. In 1166, he was elected Patriarch of the Syrian Orthodox Church. While acting as
Partriach he The text is not preserved in its entirety, and the layout of Michael’s chronicle was distorted through the process of copying. Chabot’s edition is a facsimile of a documentary copy written for him in Edessa (Urfa) from 1897 to 1899. While the scribes tried to imitate the layout, a number of mistakes were introduced. Its Vorlage, the only extant ms., was written in 1598 by a very competent scribe. It is kept by the community of the Edessenians in Aleppo. In view of the loss of the original, this beautiful manuscript is the best witness for the layout of the chronicle. Fortunately it will soon be made available in print. This ms. was probably the Vorlage for an Arabic translation, which also sought to preserve some of the visual features, while changing others. The Arabic translation has much the same lacunae as the Syriac text. By comparing his version with the Arabic translation preserved in ms. London, Brit. Libr. Or. 4402 (which is one of several Arabic copies), Chabot detected some details lost in the Syriac text. No further research has been done so far on this problem.Michael died in 1199 CE. |
Syriac Orthodox Church | late 12th century CE | Probably at the Monastery of Mar Bar Sauma near Tegenkar, Turkey | Provides a year of 549 CE (for July). Brief description of earthquake and tsunami - In Phoenicia the cities of Tripoli, Byblos (Pilsos), and Trovas [Tyre ?] sank and all the cities of Galilee. The sea retreated by two mils, and boats became stranded on land. May add a report of seismic damage to Laodicea. The earthquake in Laodicea and the report of the "sinking" of cities on the Phoenecian Coast, etc. is separated by two sentences where the intervening sentences describe unrelated events in Anatolia. |
Chronicon by Bar Hebraeus | Syriac |
Biography
Gregorius Abu’l-Faraj (1225/6-1286 CE), commonly known as ‘Bar Hebraeus’
(Bar 'Ebhraya), or the ‘Son of the Jew’, was born in Malatiyah (Melitene)
to a Jewish father known as Aaron the Physician (Budge, 1932:xvi-xvii).
After the Mongols sacked Malatiyah, the Mongol General Shawer Nawin fell ill and Aaron took care of his condition. This led to
the family moving to Antioch where Bar Hebraeus continued his studies and, at the age of 17, became a Jacobite monk and a hermit
(Budge, 1932:v).
Bar Hebraeus later went to Tripoli in Phoenicia to further his studies and eventually became the Bishop of
Gubos.
He then moved to Lakabhin where he was also a Bishop and, after that, moved to Aleppo
(Budge, 1932:xvii-xviii).
In 1264 CE, Bar Hebraeus was elected Maphrian (Primate) of the East
(Budge, 1932:xix).
Besides his Chronicle, Bar Hebraeus wrote other books on philosophy, religion, grammar, science, and, possibly, medicine.
He was also a lecturer in Mathematics and Astronomy
(Budge, 1932:vii and
wikipedia). His translations of Greek and Arabic texts indicates fluency in multiple languages
besides Syriac and, presumably, Hebrew (Budge, 1932:vii).
Bar Hebraeus traveled widely and died in Maraga, Persia, and was buried at the
Mar Mattai Monastery, near Mosul
(Budge, 1932:xxviii-xxxi
and wikipedia). He is also known by the Latinized name Abulpharagius. |
Syriac Orthodox Church | 13th century CE | Jazira ? Persia ? | Provides a year of 549 CE (for July). Brief description of earthquake and tsunami - The sea-coast of Phoenicia was submerged, Tripoli, Beirut, Byblus, and Troas [Tyre] (sic.), and the cities of Galilee.May add a report of seismic damage to Laodicea |
Text (with hotlink) | Original Language | Biographical Info | Religion | Date of Composition | Location Composed | Notes |
Reports of this earthquake show up in Greek and Syriac literature along with one account in Latin. The Greek Tradition provides the more
precise and accurate chronology. Three Greek sources (Theophanes, Malalas, and Fragmenta Historica Tusculana) specify the 14th indiction
which dates the earthquake to 551 CE. Theophanes specifies a date of 9 July while Fragmenta Historica Tusculana specifies the date as 6 July.
The Syriac Source Psuedo-Dionysius of Tell-Mahre, which presents a mangled chronology regarding the year, stated that the earthquake struck in June (Haziran).
The Life of Symeon of the Wondrous Mountain
states that the earthquake struck at the 10th hour which would specify
~4 pm if canonical hours were used (Symeon was elevated to sainthood).
The Syriac Tradition has a confused chronology but adds a number of details about seismic effects. The Latin text is
written like a travelogue and provides what can be thought of as a post earthquake damage survey.
A number of the sources mentioned that a tsunami struck
the Phoenician coast. John of Ephesus and Pseudo-Dionysius were the only sources which specifically mentioned Beirut when discussing the tsunami.
The initial ebbing of the sea described in a majority of the sources suggests an offshore slump was responsible for the tsunami. Tsunamis generated by offshore slumps
can be very destructive in the near field but affect a smaller area than tsunamis generated by movement of the seafloor as they attenuate more rapidly.
This suggests a tsunami whose destructive power may have been limited to Beirut and environs. John of Ephesus and Pseudo-Dionysius were
the only sources which described the timing of the tsunami and earthquake. They said that the tsunami hit first.
If they got their timing right, this might suggest that the earthquake was preceded by an energetic foreshock.
Damage Reports are summarized below:
Location | Description | Sources | Comments |
---|---|---|---|
Phoenician Coast | Tsunami | Theophanes, Malalas, Cedrenus, John of Ephesus, Pseudo-Dionysius, Michael the Syrian, Bar Hebraaeus, Hagiography of Symeon | John of Ephesus and Pseudo-Dionysius mentioned a tsunami in Beirut; others are less geographically specific but imply the Phoenician coast was hit. |
Berytus (Beirut) | Destructive seismic shaking | Theophanes, Malalas, Agathias, Frag. Hist. Tusc., John of Ephesus, Pseudo-Dionysius, Bar Hebraaeus, Anonymous Itinerarium | Pseudo-Dionysius mentioned that after the earthquake, a fire burned in Beirut for two months and that the city's aqueduct was destroyed. Anonymous Itinerarium inspected Beirut ~10 years after the earthquake (Ambraseys, 2009) and said it was destroyed and the Bishop of Beirut reported that 30,000 died. |
Tyre, Sidon, Tripolis, and/or Byblos | Destructive seismic shaking | Theophanes, Malalas,Frag. Hist. Tusc., Pseudo-Dionysius, Michael the Syrian, Bar Hebraeus, Anonymous Itinerarium | Anonymous Itinerarium inspected cities ~10 years after the earthquake: Byblos and Tripolis were destroyed, Sidon was partly ruined |
Trieris [prob. Enfeh] | Destructive seismic shaking | Anonymous Itinerarium | Anonymous Itinerarium inspected Trieris ~10 years after the earthquake and said it was destroyed. |
Botrys | Seismic shaking, landslide | Theophanes, Malalas, Cedrenus, Frag. Hist. Tusc., Pseudo-Dionysius | |
Sarepta, Entaradus | Destructive seismic shaking | Pseudo-Dionysius | |
Laodicea | Destructive seismic shaking | Michael the Syrian, Bar Hebraeus | may not be due to the same earthquake |
Laodicea to Antioch | Limited Damage | Hagiography of Symeon | "only a few towers and church walls were damaged" |
Tyre to Jerusalem | Limited Damage | Hagiography of Symeon | "the area to the south from Tyre to Jerusalem was also preserved" |
Palestine, Syria, Arabia, Mesopotamia, and/or Phoenicia | Seismic shaking | Theophanes, Malalas, (Agathias), Cedrenus, Frag. Hist. Tusc.,John of Ephesus, Pseudo-Dionysius | |
Galilee | Seismic shaking | John of Ephesus, Pseudo-Dionysius, Michael the Syrian, Bar Hebraaeus | |
Samaria | Seismic shaking | John of Ephesus | |
Alexandria | felt | Agathias | |
Many towns and villages | destroyed or damaged | Agathias, Cedrenus, Frag. Hist. Tusc., John of Ephesus, Pseudo-Dionysius | Frag. Hist. Tusc. says 101 villages fell which may be a euphemism for a large number |
Analysis of the Byzantine primary and secondary sources for identifying the historical earthquakes in Syria and Lebanon reveals that a large earthquake (Ms = 7.2) occurred in July 9, 551 AD along the Lebanese littoral and was felt over a very large area in the eastern Mediterranean region. It was a shallow-focus earthquake, associated with a regional tsunami along the Lebanese coast, a local landslide near Al-Batron town, and a large fire in Beirut. It caused heavy destruction with great loss of lives to several Lebanese cities, mainly Beirut, with a maximum intensity between IX–X (EMS-92). The proposed epicentre of the event is offshore of Beirut at about 34.00◦N, 35.50◦E, indicating that the earthquake appears to be the result of movement along the strike-slip left-lateral Roum fault in southern Lebanon.They produced the following Intensity estimates:
Location | Intensity (EMS-92) |
---|---|
Beirut | IX-X |
Sidon | VII-VIII |
Botryos | IX-X |
Byblos | IX-X |
Tyre | IX-X |
Tripolis | IX-X |
Trieris | IX-X |
Sarepta | VII-VII ? |
Aradus (modern Arwad) | Felt |
Antaradus (modern Tartus) | Felt |
Antioch | Felt |
Alexandria | Felt |
Location | Intensity |
---|---|
Beirut | IX-X |
Sidon | VII-VIII |
Sur | IX-X |
Byblos | IX-X |
Tripolis | IX-X |
Aradus (modern Arwad) | III-V |
Al-Batron | IX-X |
Shaqa | IX-X |
Sarfand | VII-VIII? |
Location | Intensity |
---|---|
Beirut | XI |
Tripoli | X |
Sidon | VIII or IX |
Tyre | VIII or IX |
Jeffries et al (1986:xxi) reports that
everything that is known about Johannes Malalas (~491 – 578 CE)
has to be gleaned from the chronicle itself, except that later writers refer to him as
'John the Rhetor',
'John Malalas' or 'Malelas', and 'John of Antioch'
. Jeffries et al (1986:xxi-xxii) further reports that
as a 'rhetor' or
'scholastikos'
(which is the meaning of the Syriac word 'malal' from which the name Malalas is derived) Malalas
possessed the education designed to equip one for the mainstream of government service, and so he was fairly well
educated by contemporary standards
.
His Book Chronographia was written in Greek and is a valuable and
frequently unique reservoir of information
however Malalas himself
has been has been dismissed as entirely naive, ignorant and incompetent
(Jeffries et al, 1986:xxii). For example,
Olmstead (1942:22)
states that John Malalas was undoubtedly the world's worst chronicler ... but [the historian] must use him for Malalas has preserved a great amount
of the most important data...
and Vasiliev (1958:184) characterizes his work as
confused in content, mixing fables and facts, important events and minor incidents
which was clearly intended not for educated readers but for the masses
.
Fluent in Syriac, Latin, and Greek, Malalas was presumably educated in Antioch but at some point in his life moved to Constantinople perhaps between 535 and 540 CE
(Jeffries et al, 1986:xxii). He probably continued his bureaucratic career in Constantinople until he died there in
578 CE (Jeffries et al, 1986:xxii).
His chronicle was composed and circulated in two editions. The first edition
was put together in Antioch in the 530s CE and most likely reached the end of Book 17 (AD 527)
(Jeffries et al, 1986:xxiii). It is not so clear where the final edition of the chronicle ended,
although the most likely point is the end of Justinian's reign in 565 CE
(Jeffries et al, 1986:xxiii).
Presumably, everything from Book 18 forward was composed in Constantinople after 535-540 CE. Despite the chronological problems Chronographia is noted for,
Malalas appears to produce accurate chronology for some earthquakes - likely due to the source(s) he accessed for the event.
Year | Reference | Corrections | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
551 CE | 14th indiction | none |
|
Jeffreys et al (1986:xxiii) describes Malalas's sources as follows:
As indicated in its preface the chronicle may be divided, in terms of sources of information, into two parts. For the period before the emperor Zeno, Malalas had to rely on written records and therefore cites, largely at second hand, numerous Greek and Latin authors, including some that are otherwise unknown. For the period from Zeno onwards (that is, for his own lifetime), he claims reliance on oral sources of information: The preface makes specific mention of Julius Africanus, Eusebios and others, and their use in the chronicle is well signposted. These were among his major sources, along with the chroniclers Domninos and Nestorianos and the 'City Chronicles' of Antioch and Constantinople. Sources are rarely cited in Books 15-18, covering material derived from oral sources and dealing with events likely to have been within the author's personal experience. Still it is possible to identify the origin of certain portions of this material; for example, Marinos the Syrian is likely to have been the source for the rebellion of Vitalian (Bo 402.3-406.8), Julian for the embassy to the Axoumite court (Bo 456.24-459.3) and Hermogenes for the first Persian war of Justinian (Bo 445-477). In addition Malalas clearly made use of documentary sources such as imperial laws, decrees and letters (Scott, 1981 and 1985).
English translation of Malalas by Jeffreys, Jeffreys, and Scott (1986) - the relevant section is Book 18 Paragraph 112 on Page 291
Chronographia in the original Greek with a Latin translation
Greek and Latin translation of Malalas
bookmarked to the 551 CE Beirut Earthquake (L.XVIII p. 485 )
Frendo (1975:ix-x) summarized Agathias of Myrina's life and works as follows:
Most of the information we possess concerning the life of Agathias derives from his own writings.
...Agathias was a native of Myrina in Asia Minor. His date of birth cannot be determined exactly but may be placed somewhere around the year 532 A.D. His father, Memnonius, was a "rhetor", a title which may imply, as has been suggested,2 that he was a provincial lawyer in Myrina. His mother, Pericleia, died in Constantinople when he was only three years of age. It was probably in Constantinople too that Agathias' boyhood days were spent. He received an expensive education, studying rhetoric in Alexandria and law in Constantinople. Once qualified he practised as a lawyer in the capital where, from all accounts, he had to work hard in order to make a living. The date of his death is as uncertain as that of his birth. It must have occurred some time after the death of Chosroes (r. 531-579 CE) in 579 (the last datable event mentioned in the Histories) and before the accession of the Emperor Maurice (r. 582-602 CE) in 582 in view of the apparent ignorance of this latter event betrayed by Agathias when he refers to the future Emperor simply as "Maurice (r. 582-602 CE) the son of Paul".3 On this reckoning, then, it will be seen that he was 33 years old when Justinian (r. 527-565 CE) died in 565 and that he lived through the reign of Justin II (r. 565-578 CE) and a part of that of Tiberius II Constantine (r. 578-582 CE).
Agathias' literary activity is marked in its first and youthful phase by the production of "a number of short pieces in hexameters entitled "Daphniaca", adorned with certain amorous motifs and replete with similarly enchanting topics".4 The Daphniaca have not come down to us. They were probably completed before their author had reached the age of thirty.5 To an intermediate period belongs his work of compiling a collection of epigrams by contemporary poets, generally known as the Cycle,6 to which Agathias himself contributed approximately one hundred poems. This anthology was published early on in the reign of Justin II (r. 565-578 CE), probably in 567.7
For the work of his maturity, the Histories, Agathias was equipped neither by natural inclination nor by personal experience.8 His life had, it seems, been an uneventful one and the oppressive picture of routine dullness and unremitting toil conjured up by his portrayal of the busy working life of a lawyer in the capital9 is but slightly relieved by the recollection of a few memorable occasions — the experience of mild earth-tremors during his student days in Alexandria,10 a landing at Cos shortly after its destruction by a tidal wave and the awful scene of devastation that confronted him there11, a visit to Tralles.12 Certainly his friend and fellow poet Paul the Silentiary (d. 575-580 CE) was a man of wealth and influence who moved in court circles, but it seems that the range of Agathias' acquaintance was confined to a narrow coterie of poets and literati and there is nothing to suggest that he came into direct contact with any of the important political and military figures of his day. Moreover the lack of official patronage of which he complains so bitterly provides a further indication that he always remained something of an outsider.13 Agathias must have begun the writing of his Histories some time after the accession of Justin II (r. 565-578 CE). He was still writing in the reign of Tiberius (r. 578-582 CE) and it clear from IV, 22,9 and V, 25,5. that he did not live to finish them. The five books that he has left us cover a period of seven years (A.D. 552-9).Footnotes2 By Mrs. Cameron: op. cit. p. 4.
3 Histories IV, 29, 8.
4 Preface, 7.
5 cf. Mrs. Cameron: Op. cit. p. 9.
6 Much of it has been preserved and is to be found in the Greek Anthology.
7 cf. Mrs. Cameron: ibid.
8 He himself claims that he turned to the writing of history partly in response to his friends' encouragement (Preface, 11—12) and confesses that he found the prospect daunting but took comfort in the thought that history and poetry had much in common.
9 Histories III, 1,4.
10 Histories II, 15,5—8.
11 Histories II, 16,4—6.
12 Histories II, 17,6.
13 cf. Preface 18—20. An unmistakeable note of personal bitterness is struck in Histories V20,7.
Year | Reference | Corrections | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Summer 551 CE | Summer 551 CE | none |
|
Footnotes1 Agathias amalgamated another earthquake (e.g., in Constantinople - 554 CE) into his text. This should be ignored. In order to avoid confusion, some parts of Agathias' text that refer to other amalgamated earthquakes were not included in the excerpt
2 Ambraseys (2009) observed that if the Law School in Beirut was temporarily transferred to Sidon, this would mean that Sidon would have suffered less damage which in turns suggests an epicenter closer to Beirut.
Footnotes2 Ambraseys (2009) observed that if the Law School in Beirut was temporarily transferred to Sidon, this would mean that Sidon would have suffered less damage which in turns suggests an epicenter closer to Beirut.
Simeon Stylites the Younger was an ascetic monk and reputed mystic (eventually elevated to sainthood) who ran a monastery, spent a lot of time living on top of a pillar, and reportedly saw visions of the future. He lived in the 6th century CE. Hagiographical (i.e. biographies of a "saint") books were written about his life.
Ex eventu prophecies frequently contain valuable information about natural disasters because
Brock (1979:6-7) described John of Ephesus (c.507-c.508) and his works as follows:
John of Amid, appointed bishop of Ephesus and Asia in 542, wrote towards the end of his life two works of the greatest importance for sixth century history, the Lives of the Eastern Saints (written 566-8; published by Brooks with an English translation in PO 17-19), and an Ecclesiastical History in three parts. As an independent work only Part III (written over the decade 575-585) survives, virtually complete. The original work consisted of:There are two old monographs in John's Ecclesiastical History, by J.P.N. Land (1856, in Dutch), and by Diakonov (1908, in Russian)
- Part I : this covered from the late first century BC to AD 449, although for the period from Caesar to Constantine it appears to have contained no more than just a catalogue of emperors.
- Part II : this spanned the period 449 to 571. Some quite long extracts given in London Add. 14650 of AD 874/5: were printed by Land in Anecdota Syriaca II, 289-329; the variant readings of this manuscript are given by Chabot in his edition of the Zuqnin Chronicle at the appropriate places (this chronicle, together with other later chronicles, made very extensive use of John's work). Excerpts from various other manuscripts, deriving from this lost part, were published by Brooks in CSCO 104/53. pp. 402 - 17(10).
- Part III : this final part, covering from 571 to at least 585, is preserved almost complete in a seventh century manuscript, London Add. 14640 (some of the gaps in the manuscript can be filled in from excerpts from John's work in the later chroniclers). The Syriac text of this part was first edited by W. Cureton in 1853, and then reedited by Brooks in CSCO 105/54 (1935). There exist English, German and Latin translations: the English by R. Payne Smith (I860), who reorders the sequence of the chapters; the German by J.M. Schonfelder (1862), and the Latin by E. W. Brooks in CSCO 106/55 (1936). Of these that by Brooks is the most reliable.
In the year 870 [of the Greeks; i.e. 558-559 AD.], there was a severe earthquake, and Beirut collapsed, as did many coastal cities and villages in Galilee, Arabia, Palestine and Samaria. Along the whole Phoenician coast, too, the sea withdrew and retreated nearly two miles. As for the terrible disaster and the great and remarkable portent which happened in the city of Beirut in Phoenicia, when the earthquake took place and the cities collapsed, we have decided to make it a warning sign for the knowing of posterity. For when the earthquake came from heaven, the sea withdrew and retreated from Beirut and the other coastal cities of Phoenicia for a distance of nearly two miles; the dreadful depths of the sea became visible and various and amazing sights were revealed: sunken ships full of different cargoes and other ones which suddenly, when the sea withdrew from the land, were moored in the harbours, settled on the ground and they were broken to pieces when the sea left them and withdrew on God's command [.. ]
Year | Reference | Corrections | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1 Oct. 558 to 30 Sept. 559 CE | A.G. 870 | none |
|
Guidoboni et al (1994) speculated that John of Ephesus was probably using the original version of Malalas.
John of Ephesus, Ecclesiastical History — Fragments of Part II, ed. J.P.N.Land,
in Anecdota Syriaca, 2, Leiden 1868, pp.289-329; Latin trans. by W.J.Van Douwen
and J.P.N.Land, Ioannis Ephesini episcopi Commentarii de beatis orientalibus
et Historiae ecclesiasticae fragmenta (= Verhandelingen van de Koninklijke Akademie van
Wetenschappen. Afdeeling Letterkunde, 18), Amsterdam 1889, pp.216-243.
Part III, ed. E.W.Brooks, csco 105 Syr. 54, Louvain 1935; Latin trans. by E.W.Brooks,
csco 106 Syr. 55, Louvain 1936.
John Eph.: Johan of Ephesus, NA, ed. Nau, Analyse de la
seconde partie in ´ edite de l’histoire ´ eccl ´ esiastique de Jean ´
d’Asie, ROC, Paris, Serie 1, vol. 2, 1897; BR, ed. and ´
trans. Brooks, Joannis Ephesini Historiae
Ecclesiasticae; selections in J. P. N. Land, Joannes,
Bischof von Ephesos, der erste syrische
Kirchenhistoriker, 1856, and Corp. Script. Christ.
Orient., Script. Syr., no. 106, Syr. 55, Louvain, 1936.
John of Ephesus, Ecclesiastical History — Fragments of Part II, ed. J.P.N.Land,
in Anecdota Syriaca, 2, Leiden 1868, pp.289-329 - online open access at google books
R. Payne Smith (1860) THE THIRD PART OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF JOHN BISHOP
OF EPHESUS, Oxford at the University Press
Latin and Syriac of John of Ephesus, Ecclesiastical History by Land (1868)
The Anonymous Itinerarium (erroneously) attributed to Antoninus of Piacenza, written in Latin by an anonymous
author, describes a journey taken in the 6th century CE.
Guidoboni et al (1994) date the composition of this text to ~560-570 CE.
Ambraseys (2009) suggested that
the writer must have visited the area after AD 565, since he refers to an earthquake 'in the time of Justinian'
.
[1] The island of Ruad, off the coast of Syria ; Antoninus has either confused Aradus, the island, with Antaradus, the town on the mainland,
or the latter now Tartus, had so increased in importance, at the time of his visit, as to give its name to the earlier settlement on the island.
Antoninus probably disembarked at Antaradus, and continued his journey by land.
[2] Tarabulus, on the Syrian coast.
[3] There were two great earthquakes on the Syrian coast : that of May 20, 526, which destroyed Antioch, and that of July 9, 551, which destroyed
Berytus (Beirut). Tripolis appears to have been overthrown by the latter.
[4] Jebeil, on the Syrian coast ; the Gebal of Ezek. xxvii. 9. The land of the Giblites was assigned to the Israelites (Josh. xiii. 5).
[5] Trieris is misplaced here ; it should have followed Tripolis. According to Strabo, xvi. 2, § 15, Trieris lay between Tripolis and
Theoprosopon (Ras Shakka); and it is apparently the same as the Tridis of the 'Itin. Hierosol.', twelve Roman miles from Tripolis ; it is now probably Enfeh.
[6] Beirut. At the time of its destruction by the earthquake of 551 A.D., Berytus was celebrated for its splendour and for its university,
in which 'the rising spirits of the age' studied the civil law. After the catastrophe the school was removed for a time to Sidon.
[7] In the Antioch earthquake 250,000 persons are said to have perished.
Thence we came into the parts of Syria
Location | Reported Damage |
---|---|
Tripolis | destroyed |
Byblos | destroyed |
Treiris | destroyed |
Berytus (Beirut) | destroyed |
Sidon | partially ruined |
Aubrey Stewart (trans.), Of the Holy Places Visited by Antoninus Martyr, Palestine Pilgrims' Text Society, 1887
P. Geyer (ed.), in Itineraria et alia geographica, Corpus Christianorum series Latina, Volume 175 (Turnhout: Brepols, 1965), pp. 129–53.
Ambraseys (2009) supplied the following discussion about this source:
The only original Latin source for this event is an itinerary attributed to Antoninus of Placentia (Piacenza), dating from the sixth century AD. The writer must have visited the area after AD 565, since he refers to an earthquake 'in the time of Justinian' He must have, therefore, visited not long after this, for he was told of it by the Bishop of Berytus, who was probably an eye-witness, and he also records that Sidon is described as ruined in part. In addition to noting that Tripoli and Byblus collapsed, and that at least 30,000 people died in Beirut, he mentions that a place called Trianis collapsed in the earthquake. The location of this town is not certain, but it seems to have been somewhere between Botrys and Tripoli; al-Heri in the bay of Shekka has been suggested, as has Enfe, on the coast 20 km southwest of Tripoli, or Shamarra (Stein 1950, ii, 757 n. 5).
Gatier (1983:33-34) states that Romanos Melodos (late 5th c. - after 555 CE) was born in Emesa (Homs, Syria) and was a deacon in Beirut before he moved to Constantinople during the reign of Anastasius I (r. 491-518 CE). Romanos was a noted Hymnographer and Composer.
1. The words [Greek Text] correspond to the three
terms that, in the Septuagint, describe the ninth plague of Egypt:
[Greek Text] (Ers. 10, 22). The Hebrew text ignores this storm.
2. Ino Mikhaïlidou understands [Greek Text] as a future tense:
"the Red Sea will receive us all". But [Greek Text] still has the sense of "waiting" in Romanos.
1. Les mots [Greek Text] correspondent aux trois
termes qui décrivent dans la Septante la neuvième plaie d'Égypte :
[Greek Text] (Ers. 10, 22). Le texte hébreu ignore cette s tempête.
2. Ino Mikhaïlidou comprend [Greek Text] comme un futur :
"la mer Rouge nous recevra tous". Mais [Greek Text] a toujours le sens de "attendre" chez Romanos.
Gatier P.L. 1984, Tremblements du sol et frissons des hommes. Trois seismes en Orient
sous Anastase, in Tremblements de terre..., pp.87-94.
Pierre-Louis Gatier, 1983 , Un séisme élément de datation de l'œuvre de Romanos le Melode,
Journal des Savants 1-3 pp. 229-238
Grosdidier de Matons J. 1981, Romanos le Melode. Hymnes tome v, Paris.
I can't currently find any background information on Fragmenta Historica Tusculana.
Year | Reference | Corrections | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
6 July 551 CE | in the month of July, on the 6th day, in the 14th indiction | none |
|
Ambraseys (2009) suggests that this passage in Fragmenta Historica Tusculana was derived from an earlier version of Malalas.
Fragmenta Historica Tusculana, in Fragmenta Res Gestes, PG 85, 1864.
Fragmenta historica Tusculana, ed. A.Mai, 1808-26
This Syriac text also known as the Chronicle of Zuqnin is now thought to have been composed by a monk from the Zuqnin monastery rather than Dionysius of Tell-Mahre - hence the cognomen Pseudo-Dionysius of Tell-Mahre. Parts 3 and 4 cover events from 488 - 775 CE. There is apparently a debate over its date of composition with some scholars suggesting it was composed in the 9th century CE rather than the late 8th century CE as the text would indicate - it ends in 775 CE. Harrak (1999) opines on the opening page of his translation that it was composed in 775 CE by a West Syrian Monk - probably Joshua (the Stylite) of the monastery of Zuqnin. The work is preserved in a single handwritten manuscript (Cod. Vat. 162), now in the Vatican (shelf mark Vatican Syriac 162).
1 Michael IV 320 [II 262]: Earthquake dated to the 28th year of Justinian (554-555). It seems that this earthquake
and the one of the year 564-565 (see below) are doublets. It is quite possible that these doublets are part of
the same earthquake described in the years 556-557 and 558-559 (see below).
2 Michael IV 310-311 [II 246-247]. Malalas 485 [291]: (550-551). Theophanes 227-228: 14th indiction, 9 July A.M. 6043 (551).
This earthquake is a doublet of the one described in a previous account (see the year 558-559 below, and Stein, Bas-Empire II, 757 and n. 5, 828).
The earthquake of 558-559 seems to be the same as the ones of the year 552-553 (see this date above) and 564-565 (see below).
3 | |: Sic. A | | was added later to conform it with | | found elsewhere. Bar Hebraeus mentioned | | and other cities in Phoenicia
that fell in the earthquake, thus confusing Botrys with Troas, the city in Northwest Anatolia; Chr., 81 [76]. Botrys is modern Batrun,
between Tripolis and Jubayl in northern Lebanon.
4 A very inaccurate translation of this account is found in the monograph by J. P. Brown, The Lebanon and Phoenicia, I, Beirut, 1969, 132-35;
see Brock's review of this monograph in JSS 16 (1971) pp. 111-13.
5 | |: Syriac translation of | | in Malalas and Theophanes;
6 Land, Anecdota II, 326:15-328:18. Michael IV 311 [II 247]: 31st year of Justinian (557-558). This earthquake and the
one dated to 556-557 (see above) are doublets; see Stein, Bas-Empire II, 757 and n. 6, 828. This earthquake seems to be
also the same as the ones described in the year 552-553 (see above) and the year 564-565 (see below).
7 Cf Exodus 10:20 etc.
8 Exodus 15:5.
9 Acts 28:4.
Year | Reference | Corrections | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
June 553 CE | Haziran (June) A.G. 864 | none |
|
1 Oct. 556 to 30 Sept. 557 CE | A.G. 868 | none |
|
1 Oct. 558 to 30 Sept. 559 CE | A.G. 870 | none |
|
Annals by Dionysius of Tell-Mahre and Annals by Pseudo-Dionysius of Tell-Mahre are not the same work nor were they composed by the same author. Annals by Dionysius of Tell-Mahre is largely lost. It only exists in fragments. Annals by Pseudo-Dionysius of Tell-Mahre is extant. Annals by Pseudo-Dionysius of Tell-Mahre is also known as the Chronicle of Zuqnin as it is thought to have been composed by a monk at the monastery of Zuqnin before it was falsley attributed to Dionysius of Tell-Mahre - hence the reason why the author is referred to as Pseudo-Dionysius of Tell-Mahre. To complicate matters further, Chabot (1895) published a French translation of Annals by Pseudo-Dionysius of Tell-Mahre which he mistakenly titled Annals by Dionysius of Tell-Mahre. Well, it was actually titled Annals by Denys of Tell-Mahre which is another name for Dionysius of Tell-Mahre.
The sole surviving manuscript at the Vatican (Cod. Vat. 162) - This manuscript is claimed by
some to be the autograph - the first draft of the manuscript. No further recension, or copy, is known.
Annals Part by Pseudo-Dionysius of Tell-Mahre in Syriac at archive.org
Harrak (2017:xvi) notes major sources identified in Parts I and II of the
Zugnin Chronicle had been discussed in great detail by Witakowski
.
Witakowski, Study, p. 124-135
Witakowski, "The Sources of Pseudo-Dionysius of Tel-Mahre for the Second Part of his Chronicle," in J.O. Rosenqvist (ed.),
AEIMΩN Studies Presented to Lennart Ryden on his Sixty-Fifth Birthday (Uppsala, 1996), pp. 181-210
Witakowski, "Sources of Pseudo-Dionysius of Tel-Mahre for the Christian Epoch of the First Part of his Chronicle," in G.J. Reinink and A.C. Klugkist (eds.),
After Bardaisan: Studies on Continuity and Change in Syriac Christianity in Honour of Professor Han J.W. Drijvers
(Leuven: Uitgeverij Peeters en Department Oosterse Studies, 1999), pp. 329-366.
Pseudo-Dionysius of Tell-Mahre at syri.ac
Wikipedia page for the Zunqin Chronicle - many links and references
Theophanes (c. 758/60-817/8) wrote the Chronicle in Greek
during the years 810-815 CE as a continuation of George Syncellus'
Chronicle. Theophanes' Chronicle covers the period from 284 CE, where the Chronicle of George Synkellos ends, until 813 CE
(Neville, 2018:61).
Neville (2018:61)
notes that Theophanes explains that George had asked him to complete the task of compiling the history and had given Theophanes the
materials he had gathered
. Neville (2018:61)
describes Theophanes' Chronicle as follows:
It is one of few Byzantine texts that is a true chronicle, in that it enumerates every year, and lists events for each year. The entry for each year begins with a listing of the year of the world, the year since the Incarnation, the regnal year of the Roman Emperor, the Persian Emperor, and the bishops of Rome, Constantinople, Jerusalem, Alexandria, and Antioch. After the conquest of the Persian Empire, it uses years of the rulers of the Arabs in place of the Persian Emperors. Despite the impression of chronological accuracy, many of these dates are mistaken. Scholars also debate whether these dates were integral to Theophanes’ original Chronicle or were added by a later copyist.Mango and Scott (1997:xci) characterize Theophanes' Chronicle as a "file" of sources and list at least 17 sources which informed his Chronicle (Mango and Scott, 1997:lxxiv-lxxxii). Hoyland (2011:10) noted that Theophanes made extensive use of an "eastern source" for events in Muslim-ruled lands during the the time period of the 630s-740s and continued to
narrate events occurring in Muslim-ruled lands, until ca. 780either making
use of another chronicle for these three decades or, more likely, [] had at his disposal a continuation of the ‘eastern source’. Theophanes' ‘eastern source’ has been the source of much scholarly investigation and debate.
[AM 6043, AD 550/551]
[a] Mai. 484. 22-485. 3, frag. Tusc. iv. 26.
[b] Mai. 485. 8-23; cf. Mich. Syr. ii.244, 246-7; Chi. 724, 100. 4-5.
[1] Mai. frag. Tusc. iv. 26 gives the date as April of the 13th indiction, and
Mai.'s indiction dates (esp. those from the Tusculan frags.) should normally
be preferred. In that case Narses went to Italy in 550 and not 551 (as Bury,
Stein, and PLRE maintain, all ultimately dependent on O. Korbs,
Untersuchungen zur ostgotischen Geschichte, vol. i (Jena, 1913), 81, 84-6)
and the chronology of Narses' campaign in Italy needs revision. Prok.'s
detailed narrative, however, linking Narses' movements with the death of
Germanus, provides strong support for 551. Assuming Theoph.'s source
here did read indiction 13 (rightly or wrongly), he will have changed the
indiction number because he had already reached June of the 13th indiction
(the dedication of the Holy Apostles) and so puts a following April into the
next year. Cf. AM 6040 for the same technique.
[2] This is confused. Belisarius had originally captured Rome in Dec. 536.
The Goths recaptured it in Dec. 546 but lost it again to Belisarius early in
547. Totila had recaptured Rome in Jan. 550.
[3] Frag. Tusc. iv. 27-8 gives the date as 6 July of the 14th indiction.
Agathias records an earthquake in Alexandria too for 551.
Year | Reference | Corrections | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
9 July 550 or 551 CE | On 9 July A.M.a 6043 | none |
|
9 July 551 CE | 14th indiction | none |
|
9 July 550 CE | Justinian, 24th year | none |
|
9 July 557 CE | Chosroes, 26th year | none |
|
9 July 549 CE | Vigilius, 13th year | none |
|
9 July 549/550 CE | Menas, 14th year | none |
|
severe outlier - useless date | Peter, 6th year | none |
|
9 July 552/553 CE | Apolinarios, 2nd year | none |
|
9 July 551/552 CE | Domnus, 6th year | none |
|
550/551 CE | Narses sent to Rome | none |
|
Footnotes1 Guidoboni et al (1994) suggested that the other more distant areas listed (e.g. Palestine, Syria, Mesopotamia, and Arabia) can be expected to have suffered secondary effects.
2 Though unlocated, it can be assumed to be on the Phoenician littoral.
Footnotes3 Russell (1985) noted that one codex (10th century Paris Codex Gr. 1710) refers to Botryos as Bostra, the then Byzantine capital of Arabia which is clearly in error as a landslide related to an existing landmark (Lithoprosopon) is described at Botryos. Russell (1985) added that Classen (1839: vii, 352) pointed out that the 12th century Vatican Codex 154 referred instead to Botryos.
Conterno (2014:106-107) considers the following regarding reports of natural phenomenon in Theophanes:
However, in examining this type of information two aspects must be kept in mind: on the one hand the fact that they represented the main content of the chronological lists linked to the city archives, on the other hand the fact that events of this type could very likely be the subject of independent recording by several sources and, especially in the case of the most impressive phenomena, their memory could also be passed down orally for a long time. The importance of the registers of the archives of Antioch and Edessa in relation to the Syriac and Greek chronicles was highlighted by Muriel Debié. As emerges from one of his studies, in fact, the registers of documents kept in the city and patriarchal archives - the so-called "archive books" - probably also contained annotations, in calendar or annalistic form, of the most relevant local events, references to which they could be contained in the documents and administrative acts themselves: construction of buildings, destruction due to wars or fires and floods, natural disasters and exceptional events of various kinds (plagues, famines, eclipses and other astronomical phenomena ...)
From these registers, short chronological lists were extracted and circulated independently and from which authors of both Greek and Syriac chronicles could draw, as can be seen from the testimony of Giovanni Malalas. To these must also be added the episcopal lists, lists of rulers and lists of synods and councils, and it is precisely to these thematic lists, which circulated independently and in different versions, that the material centered on Edessa, Antioch and Amida which is found in the later chronicles. According to Debié, any dating discrepancies found in the various chronicles can be attributed, on the one hand, to the fact that the chroniclers had different lists available and often crossed the data from the lists with those taken from other chronicles; on the other hand, the probable difficulties encountered by chroniclers in matching the different dating systems or in obtaining absolute datings from chrono related logies, or even to their precise intention to modify the chronological data for ideological reasons. Debié therefore hypothesizes a large production and circulation of these lists, which in fact constituted a concrete form of scheduling relevant events at the local level, primarily for practical purposes. Being instruments of use rather than compositions of a historiographical nature, they were not intended to cover very large periods, but were rather relatively short clips. An aspect that emerges clearly from his study, moreover, is that in these lists the relative chronology was just as and perhaps more important than the absolute one, since the fixing of memorable facts and their concatenation was essentially aimed at establish reference points for the chronological location of other events.
Brooks, E. W. (1906). "The sources of Theophanes and the Syriac chroniclers." Byzantinische Zeitschrift 15(2): 578-587.
Conterno, M. (2014). La “descrizione dei tempi” all’alba dell’espansione
islamica Un’indagine sulla storiografia greca, siriaca e araba fra VII e VIII secolo, De Gruyter.
Grumel, V. (1958). La chronologie, Presses Universitaires de France.
Hoyland, R. G. (2011). Theophilus of Edessa's Chronicle and the Circulation of Historical Knowledge in Late Antiquity and
Early Islam, Liverpool University Press.
Mango, C., et al. (1997). The Chronicle of Theophanes Confessor: Byzantine and Near Eastern history, AD 284-813, Clarendon Press.
Proudfoot, A. S. (1974). "THE SOURCES OF THEOPHANES FOR THE HERACLIAN DYNASTY." Byzantion 44(2): 367-439.
Turtledove, H. (1982). "The Chronicle Of Theophanes, Trans. By Harry Turtledove ( 1982)."
Proudfoot (1974:374) noted that while Theophanes used the Alexandrian Anno Mundi system, it is unknown
whether he started his years on 25 March as would be done for the Alexandrian version or 1 September as was done in the Byzantine method of Anno Mundi.
Although the Alexandrian Anno Mundi system was being replaced by the Byzantine system when Theophanes wrote (and would be obsolete by the 9th century CE), Theophanes used
the Alexandrian Anno Mundi system because his chronicle was a continuation of George Syncellus Chronicle which had used the the Alexandrian system.
Despite the popularity of his Chronicle, little is known about Georgios Monachus (George the Monk) who was also known as George Hamartolus (George the Sinner). His Chronicle covers "Creation" until 842 CE (Neville, 2018:87). Neville (2018:87-88) noted the following about George's Chronicle
The work is notable for including numerous amusing and moralizing stories, many of which do not have much to do with specific historical events. In some cases, we can tell that the author highlighted moral lessons to be drawn from an episode, but disregarded the chronological placement of the episode within his source material. George has been characterized as a “short-story” writer. By one count, the text includes forty-four discrete stories about bishops, monks, the destiny of the soul, heroic chastity and martyrdom, and pagans, Jews, and iconoclasts.George wrote the Chronicle in Greek in the last half of the 9th century CE. There are two variants of the text (Neville, 2018:87). Eduard von Muralt published a full volume of the text which was reprinted in Patrologia Graeca Volume 100.
The greatest and most universal earthquake struck such that almost the entire uninhabited earth shook. The sea rose two miles and the waters attacked very many - innumerable - ships. The earthquake struck in Arabia and Palestine and Mesopotamia and in Antioch. Many cities and forts were swallowed up and with them, many humans and animals. At the same time, many churches and houses in Constantinople fell along with the greater part of the fortifications of the city. Innumerable people died in this calamity. The earthquake lasted 40 days and nights.
Sed el terrae motus factus est maximus et universalis, ita ut tota fere inhabitata terra contremisceret et mare ad duo millia ascenderet, destruerenturque in aquarum impetu permulta innumeraque navigia, et in Arabia, et Palaestina et Mesopotamia, et Αntiochia multae urbes vicique absorberentur. Et multitudo hominum el animalium simul correpta est, et Coustantinopoli multae ecclesiae ac domus cum majori parte moenium urbis corruerunt. Et mortua est in hac calamitate innumera multitudo. Et duravit terrae motus dies noctesque quadraginta.
Neville (2018:162-163) provides a succinct description of George Cedrenus (~11th century CE) and Synopsis istorion (aka A Concise History of the World)
In the late eleventh or early twelfth century, extant histories were combined and edited to compile a massive unified history from Creation to 1057, entitled the Synopsis istorion. The opening of the text names its author as George Kedrenos. A poem describing the history, found in a later manuscript of the text, says that George was a proedrus. This history was written after that of John Skylitzes in the late eleventh century, and before our oldest manuscript, which is stylistically dated to the first half of the twelfth.
For the years 811– 1057, the Kedrenos text copied the history by John Skylitzes precisely. For the period prior to 811 it extracts the histories of Pseudo-Symeon, Symeon the Logothete, and George the Monk. For the sixth and seventh centuries he used the Chronicle of Pseudo-Symeon, which was relying on Theophanes.
Although Kedrenos does not provide any independent information about the past, and often clings to the wording of texts he is compiling, his editorial choices can vary the meanings and implications of the stories he preserves. Scott and Maisano argue that his choices regarding the inclusion and framing of his material display his ideas about history.
Year | Reference | Corrections | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
9 July 550 CE | On the 9th day of July in Justinian's 24th year | none |
|
Michael the Syrian also known as
Michael I Rabo and Michael the Great was born in
Melitene from a clerical family in 1126 CE
(Dorothea Weltecke in
Gorgias Encyclopedic Dictionary of the Syriac Heritage: Electronic Edition, 2011). He studied at the
Monastery of Dayro d-Mor Barṣawmo where he stayed on as a Monk and
a Prior. In 1166, he was elected Patriarch of the Syrian Orthodox Church. While acting as
Partriach he collected manuscripts of theological and historical content and restored and compiled hagiographical and liturgical works
(Dorothea Weltecke in
Gorgias Encyclopedic Dictionary of the Syriac Heritage: Electronic Edition, 2011).
Dorothea Weltecke in
Gorgias Encyclopedic Dictionary of the Syriac Heritage: Electronic Edition (2011) reports that his canonistic work is partly conserved
in later collections, but the greater part is lost, as is his treatise on dualist heresies composed for the Lateran Council
.
Michael the Syrian is best known for his Universal Chronicle which covered "creation" until 1195 CE
(Dorothea Weltecke in
Gorgias Encyclopedic Dictionary of the Syriac Heritage: Electronic Edition, 2011).
Dorothea Weltecke in
Gorgias Encyclopedic Dictionary of the Syriac Heritage: Electronic Edition (2011) describes Michael's Chronicle and various editions as follows:
The text is not preserved in its entirety, and the layout of Michael’s chronicle was distorted through the process of copying. Chabot’s edition is a facsimile of a documentary copy written for him in Edessa (Urfa) from 1897 to 1899. While the scribes tried to imitate the layout, a number of mistakes were introduced. Its Vorlage, the only extant ms., was written in 1598 by a very competent scribe. It is kept by the community of the Edessenians in Aleppo. In view of the loss of the original, this beautiful manuscript is the best witness for the layout of the chronicle. Fortunately it will soon be made available in print. This ms. was probably the Vorlage for an Arabic translation, which also sought to preserve some of the visual features, while changing others. The Arabic translation has much the same lacunae as the Syriac text. By comparing his version with the Arabic translation preserved in ms. London, Brit. Libr. Or. 4402 (which is one of several Arabic copies), Chabot detected some details lost in the Syriac text. No further research has been done so far on this problem.Michael died in 1199 CE.
The historical material was originally organized in four columns, the first being designated as the ‘succession of the patriarchs’, the second as ‘succession of the kings’, the chronological canon as ‘computation of the years’. No title of the additional column, which contains mixed material, is now known. Chapters with excursus were inserted, which interrupted the system of columns. After an open and abrupt end, six appendices follow. The first appendix is a monumental synopsis of all the kings and patriarchs mentioned. It was supposed to function as a directory. The second appendix is a treatise on the historical identity of the Syrians, who are connected to the Ancient Oriental Empires, the Assyrians, the Babylonians, and the Arameans. When the chronicle was translated into Armenian, in two different translations, in 1246 and 1247, it was transformed according to Armenian interests.
At the same time, on the coast of Phoenicia, the city of Tripoli was submerged, as well as Beirut, Biblos, Botrys and the towns of Galilee. The sea withdrew two miles on itself, and ships lay on the ground.
A la même époque', sur le littoral de la Phénicie, la ville de Tripoli fut engloutie, [309] ainsi que Beirout, Biblos, Botrys2 et les villes de Galilée. La mer se retira à deux milles sur elle-même, et des navires gisaient sur le sol.
2. Rest. : [Syriac Text]
Michael the Syrian's Chronicle was also translated into Armenian twice in the first half of the 13th century. Over 60 Armenian manuscripts have survived. These manuscripts are, however, abridged and edited. The fact is we don't have an original copy of Michael the Syrian's Chronicle. We have multiple differing versions. An Armenian translation to English is included below. The excerpt was translated into English from Classical Armenian editions found in Jerusalem by Robert Bedrosian in the years 1870 and 1871. In section 101 we can read a short passage which mentions the earthquake:
A la même époque
In Phoenicia the cities of Tripoli
Year | Reference | Corrections | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1 Apr. 549 - 30 Mar. 550 CE | Justinian, 23th year (from Armenian Version) | none |
|
References1 The Armenian version may add a report of seismic damage to Laodicea noting 7000 deaths. The earthquake in Laodicea and the report of the "sinking" of cities on the Phoenician Coast, etc. is separated by two sentences where the intervening sentences describe unrelated events in Anatolia.
2 Trovas may refer to Tyre or Batrun.
- According to Ambraseys (2009), Troas refers to Tyre
- According to Harrak (1999:128 Footnote 4), Troas refers to Botrys - modern Batrun.
- Troas is a city in northwest Anatolia that obviously would have been unaffected by this earthquake.
Gregorius Abu’l-Faraj (1225/6-1286 CE), commonly known as ‘Bar Hebraeus’
(Bar 'Ebhraya), or the ‘Son of the Jew’, was born in Malatiyah (Melitene)
to a Jewish father known as Aaron the Physician (Budge, 1932:xvi-xvii).
After the Mongols sacked Malatiyah, the Mongol General Shawer Nawin fell ill and Aaron took care of his condition. This led to
the family moving to Antioch where Bar Hebraeus continued his studies and, at the age of 17, became a Jacobite monk and a hermit
(Budge, 1932:v).
Bar Hebraeus later went to Tripoli in Phoenicia to further his studies and eventually became the Bishop of
Gubos.
He then moved to Lakabhin where he was also a Bishop and, after that, moved to Aleppo
(Budge, 1932:xvii-xviii).
In 1264 CE, Bar Hebraeus was elected Maphrian (Primate) of the East
(Budge, 1932:xix).
Besides his Chronicle, Bar Hebraeus wrote other books on philosophy, religion, grammar, science, and, possibly, medicine.
He was also a lecturer in Mathematics and Astronomy
(Budge, 1932:vii and
wikipedia). His translations of Greek and Arabic texts indicates fluency in multiple languages
besides Syriac and, presumably, Hebrew (Budge, 1932:vii).
Bar Hebraeus traveled widely and died in Maraga, Persia, and was buried at the
Mar Mattai Monastery, near Mosul
(Budge, 1932:xxviii-xxxi
and wikipedia). He is also known by the Latinized name Abulpharagius.
Bar Hebraeus began his studies to write his Chronicle in the great library at Maraghah
only intending to write a history of the last eighty years
continuing the Chronicle of
Michael the Syrian which ends in 1196 CE
(Budge, 1932:v).
However, once he completed his 80 year history, he worked backwards, and using the
Chronicle of Michael the Great [aka Michael the Syrian] as a foundation, he compiled his great work dealing
with the profane history of the world from the Creation to the year of his death
in 1286 CE
(Budge, 1932:vii).
And in the twenty-third year of JUSTINIANUS
Year | Reference | Corrections | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1 Apr. 549 - 30 Mar. 550 CE | Justinian, 23th year | none |
|
Footnotes1 Troas may refer to Tyre or Batrun.
2 May add a report of seismic damage to Laodicea noting 7000 deaths in the sentence before describing the 551 CE Beirut Quake
- According to Ambraseys (2009), Troas refers to Tyre
- According to Harrak (1999:128 Footnote 4), Troas refers to Botrys - modern Batrun.
- Troas is a city in northwest Anatolia that obviously would have been unaffected by this earthquake.
contained many Syriac, Arabic, and Persian manuscripts, and also, of course, contemporary documents dealing with the extraordinary events which took place in the thirteenth century(Budge, 1932:vii).
Location (with hotlink) | Status | Intensity | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Beirut | probable | ≥ 8 | Scattered evidence for seismic destruction shows up in various reports. |
Msaylḥa Bridge | possible | Petersen (2020:200-201) speculated that an early Roman version of the Msaylha Bridge may have collapsed in the 551 CE earthquake. Although the Msaylha Bridge shows evidence of an earlier, perhaps Roman, construction, none of this evidence is dated nor is a seismic origin for an earlier destruction affirmed. | |
Hosn Niha | possible |
Paturel, S. (2019:185) reports potential archaeoseismic evidence at the Sanctuary of Hosn Niha in the Bekka Valley.Late Roman: Church |
|
Jerash - Introduction | possible - needs investigation | Russell (1985) reports that
Crowfoot (1938: 233) suggested that at Jerash the mid-6th century construction of the Propylae Church occurred after the 551 earthquake had caused the collapse and abandonment of the bridge whose approach had been blocked by this church. |
|
Mount Nebo | possible | Piccirillo (1982) noted that the memorial to Moses underwent a complete reconstruction from the
the middle of the 6th century to the first years of the 7thcentury CE. |
|
Gush Halav | possible - debated chronology | Meyers, Strange, Meyers, and Hanson (1979) attributed seismic destruction at the end of Stratum VII phase b to the 551 CE Beirut Quake however their chronology is debated. Magness (2001a) performed a detailed examination of the stratigraphy presented in the final report of Meyers, Meyers, and Strange (1990) and concluded, based on numismatic and ceramic evidence, that a synagogue was not built on the site until no earlier than the second half of the fifth century. Meyers, Strange, Meyers, and Hanson (1979) dated construction of the first sysnagogue on the site to ~250 CE. While Magness (2001a) agreed that earthquake destruction evidence was present in the excavation, she dated the destruction evidence to some time after abandonment of the site in the 7th or 8th centuries CE. Strange (2001) and Meyers (2001) went on to rebut Magness (2001a) to which Magness (2001b) responded again. One point of agreement is that earthquake destruction evidence does appear to be present. Although based on epicentral distance and the magnitude of the earthquake, is very possible that Gush Halav suffered seismic destruction during the 551 CE Beirut Quake, the chronology from this excavation is not clear. | |
Areopolis | unlikely | Zayadine (1971) published a translation of a dedicatory inscription at Areopolis which was found out of context and re-used in a structure (Rucker and Niemi, 2010). The inscription referred to an earthquake which struck Areopolis before 597 CE (likely within a decade or so). This indicates that any archeoseismic evidence from Areopolis which is dated with no more precision than 6th century CE was likely due to the Inscription at Areopolis Quake and not to the distant 551 CE Beirut Quake. Further details can be found in the Archeoseismic Evidence section of the Inscription at Areopolis Quake. | |
el-Lejjun | unlikely | Although Parker (2006) attributed the 3rd earthquake to the 551 CE Beirut Quake, this is unlikely as the epicenter was far away - near Beirut. One of the sources for the 551 CE Beirut Quake (The Life of Symeon of the Wondrous Mountain) states that damage was limited south of Tyre and there are no reports of earthquake destruction in Jerusalem which is 121 km. closer to the epicenter than el-Lejjun. The most likely candidate for this earthquake is the Inscription at Areopolis Quake which struck Aeropolis - a mere ~12 km. from el-Lejjun - in the late 6th century - before 597 CE. | |
Damietta | possible - needs investigation | Based on the contemporaneous account of Myrinaei Historiarum by Agathias which described seismic shaking in the Nile Delta during to the 551 CE Beirut Quake, Damietta, which is the closest part of the Delta to Beirut and may be subject to a site effect due to liquefaction, could contain archaeological evidence of 551 CE seismic destruction. | |
Location (with hotlink) | Status | Intensity | Notes |
Location (with hotlink) | Status | Intensity | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Beirut | some evidence | ||
Tyre | no evidence | ||
Sidon | no evidence | ||
Byblos | no evidence | ||
Caesarea and Jisr al-Zakra | indeterminate | Goodman-Tchernov et al (2009) identified tsunamites in cores taken immediately offshore of the harbor of Caesarea which Goodman-Tchenov and Austin (2015) dated to the 5th - 8th century CE and associated with tsunamis generated by the Beirut Quake of 551 CE and one of the Sabbatical Year Quakes. Although earlier works assigned this 5th - 8th century tsunamite deposit solely to the Beirut Quake of 551 CE, later revisions assigned this offshore deposit mostly to one of the Sabbatical Year Quakes with the suggestion that the Sabbatical Year Quake tsunami deposit contained some reworked tsunamites from the 551 CE Beirut Quake. | |
Location (with hotlink) | Status | Intensity | Notes |
Location (with hotlink) | Status | Intensity | Notes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
al-Harif Aqueduct | unlikely | ≥ 7 | Sbeinati et. al. (2010) report a seismic event X which they dated to 335 AD ± 175 years at a displaced aqueduct at al-Harif, Syria (close to Masyaf, Syria). The 551 Beirut Quake is slightly outside modeled ages. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tabarja Benches | probable | Mw = ~7.4-7.6 | Elias et al (2007) examined uplifted benches on the Lebanese coast between Sarafand and Tripolis; some in the vicinity of Tabarja (~20 km. NE of Beirut). They estimated ~80 cm. of uplift took place on the lowest bench (B1) in the 6th century CE which they attributed to the 551 CE Beirut Quake. From their geophysical surveys, they also discovered a previously unknown thrust fault system offshore which they called the Mount Lebanon Thrust. They surmised that the 551 CE Beirut Quake was a result of fault movement on these thrust faults. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Qiryat-Shemona Rockfalls | possible to unlikely | Kanari, M. (2008) examined rockfalls in
Qiryat-Shemona which were attributed to earthquakes.
Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating was performed on soil samples beneath the fallen rocks.
Kanari et al (2019) proposed that
rockfalls QS-3 and QS-11 were most likely triggered by the northern Cyril Quake of 363 CE. Their discussion is quoted below:
QS-3 (1.6±0.1 ka) and QS-11 (1.7±0.2 ka) fit the historical earthquakes of 363 and 502 CE, and only lack 40 years in error margin to fit the one of 551 CE. Since the 502 CE earthquake was reported on shoreline localities only in the DST area, we find the 363 CE earthquake to be a better rockfall-triggering candidate. We suggest that the two ages are clustered around one of these earthquakes, hence suggesting they represent one rockfall event in the 363 CE earthquake. However, we cannot completely rule out the possibility that these were two separate rockfall events, both triggered by large earthquakes in 363 and 502/551 CE. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bet Zayda | probable | ≥ 7 | Wechsler at al. (2014) may have seen evidence for this earthquake in Event CH3-E2 (Modeled Age 505-593 CE). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dead Sea - Seismite Types | n/a | n/a |
The table below shows projected PGA and Intensity at 3 Dead Sea Sites
and 1 Araba site for the 551 CE Beirut Earthquake
where the Magnitude (7.5) and Epicenter come from
Elias et al (2007).
Also included are calculated intensities for the seismites in question at the sites. En Feshka is the only site where projected intensity from the
551 CE Beirut Earthquake matches up well with the estimated
Intensity from the seismite. There is a mismatch at En Gedi and a large mismatch at Nahal Ze'elim. The
closer late 6th century CE Inscription at Areopolis Quake
seems a better candidate than the 551 CE Beirut Earthquake at En Gedi,
Nahal Ze 'elim, and in the Taybeh Trench. However, if one considers that
Lu et al (2020a) estimated a minimum PGA of 0.13 g and
Williams (2004)
estimated a minimum PGA of 0.23 g to generate a seismite in the Dead Sea, it isn't impossible
that the 551 CE Beirut Earthquake generated seismites at En Feshka,
En Gedi, and Nahal Ze'elim. A calculator is provided for experimentation.
Seismic Attenuation
Approximate distances to the epicenter of the 551 CE Beirut Quake
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dead Sea - En Feshka | possible | 5.6-7.0 | Kagan et. al. (2011) identified a 1 cm. thick "seismite" at a depth of 186.5 cm. (Modeled Ages ±1σ - 591 AD ± 48, ±2σ - 579 AD ± 103) which they assigned to the 551 CE Beirut Quake. However, the Inscription at Areopolis Quake appears to be a better match. It better matches the date range and appears to have had a much closer epicenter. That said, the "seismite" was labeled as questionable; indicating that it may not have been a result of seismic activity. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dead Sea - En Gedi | unlikely to possible | 7.9-8.8 | Migowski et. al. (2004) assigned a 551 CE date to a 0.3 cm. thick Type 4 mixed layer seismite at a depth of 220.33 cm. (2.2033 m) in the 1997 GSI/GFZ core in En Gedi. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dead Sea - Nahal Ze 'elim | unlikely | 8.4-9.3 | At site ZA-2, Kagan et. al. (2011) assigned a 551 CE date to a 17 cm. thick brecciated seismite at a depth of 315 cm. (Modeled Ages ±1σ - 537 AD ± 70, ±2σ - 540 AD ± 88). Due to distance from the epicenter, this date assignment for such a thick and brecciated seismite is extremely unlikely. The Inscription at Areopolis Quake is a better candidate. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Araba - Introduction | n/a | n/a | n/a | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Araba - Taybeh Trench | unlikely | Event E3 (Modeled Age 551 AD ± 264) in the Taybeh Trench (LeFevre et al., 2018) matches well with a 551 CE date however the spread of ages for this event is quite large and a number of other earthquakes with closer epicenters are better candidates for causing the deformation seen in Event E3 (e.g the Inscription at Areopolis Quake). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Araba - Qatar Trench | no evidence | Klinger et. al. (2015) didn't date any events which match with this earthquake. The closest event would likely be Event E6 which was dated to 251 CE ± 251. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Location (with hotlink) | Status | Intensity | Notes |
Sbeinati et. al. (2010)
report a seismic event X which they dated to 335 AD ± 175 years at a displaced aqueduct at al-Harif, Syria (close to Masyaf, Syria). The 551 Beirut
Quake is slightly outside modeled ages.
Elias et al (2007)
examined uplifted benches on the Lebanese coast between Sarafand and Tripolis; some in the vicinity of Tabarja
(~20 km. NE of Beirut). They estimated ~80 cm. of uplift took place on the lowest bench (B1) in the 6th century CE which they attributed to the
551 CE Beirut Quake. From their geophysical surveys, they also discovered a previously unknown thrust fault
system offshore which they called the Mount Lebanon Thrust. They surmised that the 551 CE Beirut Quake was a result of fault movement on these thrust faults.
Kanari, M. (2008) examined rockfalls in Qiryat-Shemona which were attributed to earthquakes. Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating was performed on soil samples beneath the fallen rocks. Kanari et al (2019) proposed that rockfalls QS-3 and QS-11 were most likely triggered by the northern Cyril Quake of 363 CE. Their discussion is quoted below:
QS-3 (1.6±0.1 ka) and QS-11 (1.7±0.2 ka) fit the historical earthquakes of 363 and 502 CE, and only lack 40 years in error margin to fit the one of 551 CE. Since the 502 CE earthquake was reported on shoreline localities only in the DST area, we find the 363 CE earthquake to be a better rockfall-triggering candidate. We suggest that the two ages are clustered around one of these earthquakes, hence suggesting they represent one rockfall event in the 363 CE earthquake. However, we cannot completely rule out the possibility that these were two separate rockfall events, both triggered by large earthquakes in 363 and 502/551 CE.
Wechsler at al. (2014) may have seen evidence for this earthquake in Event CH3-E2 (Modeled Age 505-593 CE).
Kagan et. al. (2011)
identified a 1 cm. thick "seismite" at a depth of 186.5 cm. (Modeled Ages ±1σ - 591 AD ± 48, ±2σ - 579 AD ± 103) which they assigned to the
551 CE Beirut Quake. However, the
Inscription at Areopolis Quake appears to be a better match.
It better matches the date range and appears to have had a much closer epicenter. That said, the "seismite" was labeled as questionable; indicating that it may not have been a
result of seismic activity.
Migowski et. al. (2004)
assigned a 551 CE date to a 0.3 cm. thick Type 4 mixed layer seismite at a depth of 220.33 cm. (2.2033 m) in the 1997 GSI/GFZ core in En Gedi.
At site ZA-2, Kagan et. al. (2011)
assigned a 551 CE date to a 17 cm. thick brecciated seismite at a depth of 315 cm. (Modeled Ages ±1σ - 537 AD ± 70, ±2σ - 540 AD ± 88).
Due to distance from the epicenter, this date assignment for such a thick and brecciated seismite is extremely unlikely.
The Inscription at Areopolis Quake is a
better candidate.
Event E3 (Modeled Age 551 AD ± 264) in the Taybeh Trench (LeFevre et al., 2018)
matches well with a 551 CE date however the spread of ages for this event is quite large and a number of other earthquakes with
closer epicenters are better candidates for causing the deformation seen in Event E3
(e.g the Inscription at Areopolis Quake).
Klinger et. al. (2015) didn't date any events which match with this earthquake. The closest event would likely be
Event E6 which was dated to 251 CE ± 251.
Russell (1985) noted that a number of earthquakes struck in 551 CE or thereabout leading to a host of catalog errors in those catalogs that did not examine source documents.
Both the dating and geographic extent of this earthquake became confused in later earthquake accounts and catalogs. The confusion appears to have occurred because there were several earthquakes in the eastern Mediterranean during the later reign of Justinian.
In the autumn of 551, another earthquake caused extensive damage in Greece around the Corinthian Gulf and in Boetia and Achaea; a consequent tidal wave destroyed two cities at the upper end of the Maliac Gulf. The historian Procopius (ca. 500-ca. 562) documented this latter earthquake but totally excluded that of July 9th (1928: 322-23), as did Evagrius Scholasticus (1964: 170-71).
On August 15, 554, yet another earthquake occurred in the regions of Byzantium and Bithynia. Aftershocks were felt for 40 days, and the event left such an impression on the affected populations that it was remembered annually in a festival held. appropriately, in an open field. This event is documented in Theophanes' Chronographia (1839: 354-55) and in the Anastasii Bibliothecarii Historia Ecclesiastica, an abridged Latin version of Theophanes' Chronographia made by the papal librarian Anastasius in the second half of the 9th century (1841: 105).
Finally, an earthquake in 561 severely damaged Anazarbus, the capitol of Cilicia II, as well as Antioch and Seleucia in the province of Syria I (Cedrenus 1838:678-79; Procopius 1954:224-27; Theophanes 1839: 364).
Cedrenus, writing in the early 12th century, also provided an account of the earthquake of August 15, 554. However, while most of his account reiterated the earlier narrative of Theophanes. he further stated that Antioch was also damaged at this time. along with cities in Arabia, Palestine. and Mesopotamia (1838: 674). Apparently. Cedrenus. or later editors of his work, 'conflated accounts of the July 9. 551 earthquake with those of 554 and 561.
A similar conflation of mid-6th century earthquakes appears in the Chronicle of Michael the Syrian (1901). written in Syriac in the mid- to late 12th century. Michael also recorded the earthquake of July 9, 551, noting damage to the cities of the Phoenician coast as well as villages in the Galilee (1901: 244). However, his subsequent account of the August 554 earthquake is apparently split in two, and one narrative appears at the end of his account of events in 551, while the other was placed within his account of events for 558 (190 I: 245-46). Further, his description of the collapse of Mount Lithoprosopus at Botryos and the damage incurred at Beirut during the 551 earthquake was conflated with the 554 earthquake narrative erroneously placed among the events of 558 (1901: 246-47).
Russell (1985) noted some of the catalog errors associated with the 551 CE Beirut Quake.
When Clinton compiled the tables for his Fasti Romani (1845), he apparently correlated the account of the July 9, 551 earthquake given by Agathius with the corrupt account of the 554 earthquake presented by Cedrenus. Both these accounts, along with Theophanes' narrative for 554, were then collectively used to document a 554 earthquake that ostensibly caused damage from Constantinople through Palestine (Clinton 1845: 802). However, Clinton did not record any earthquakes for the year 551 (1845: 792-96).
This temporal and geographic confusion has subsequently appeared in modern earthquake catalogs. Avranitakis noted (1903: 179) a 554 earthquake in Thrace, Asia Minor, Egypt, Syria, and Palestine while Willis (1928: 79) apparently added the account of Procopius for the 551 earthquake in Greece to document a 554 earthquake in "Greece, Syria, Mesopotamia, etc." Amiran (1950- 51: 226) subsequently included a 554 earthquake in his catalog by reference to Clinton, Arvanitakis, and Willis, stating that "Cedrenus mentions Palestine, Agathius Beirut."
Guidoboni et al (1994) and Ambraseys (2009) list other separate earthquakes in 551 CE based on the writings of Procopius and Agathias.
An earthquake occurred in Greece and destroyed almost
completely the walls of Corinth. This earthquake is mentioned only by later Syrian sources and dated to 854 a.S.
(Eli. Nis. BR 120). It is probably the earthquake mentioned by earlier writers (Procop. A. 225; B. 239) and
possibly a duplicate of the earthquake of AD 551 (see
below).
Ambraseys, N. N. (2009). Earthquakes in the Mediterranean and Middle East: a multidisciplinary study of seismicity up to 1900.
A destructive sea wave in the Black Sea flooded the
coast of Thrace, inundating Odessus (now Varna), Dionysopolis (now Balchik) and Aphrodisium by
advancing four miles inland, drowning many people
before retiring.
This event is mentioned by Theophanes, who
places it in a.M. 6037 (September 544 to August 545),
or in the 18th year of Justinian (Cedr. CS 657), which
commenced in April 544. He does not mention, however,
whether this event was associated with an earthquake.
Only an eighth-century Syrian chronicle, which is not so
reliable, says briefly that in 855 a.S. there was an earthquake and a submersion by the sea of many cities (Chron.
724, 111).
However, Guidoboni et al. associate this event
with a seismic sea wave (Guidoboni et al. 1994, 329), but
no earthquake is mentioned by any of the local sources.
Note
a.M. 6037: In that year the sea rose up against Thrace and covered it for four miles [inland] around the parts of Odyssus and Dionysopolis, and also Aphrodisium. And many people drowned in the waters. And then, at the divine command, the sea flowed back into its own limits.’ (Theoph. 224).
An earthquake and a seismic sea wave, which caused
great damage on the island of Cos. The town of Cos was
almost completely destroyed, as was all but a small part
of the island, and the death toll was heavy. Houses of
unbaked brick or mud survived, but most houses, built
of stone, were reduced to rubble and drinking water was
also polluted by the sea wave.
Agathias visited Cos, in the course of a voyage from Alexandria to Constantinople, shortly after the
event, and was thus able to see the effects (although of
course there may be some exaggeration). His chronology is so confused that the date of the event is uncertain.
Agathias says ‘at around that time’ just after narrating the
earthquake of July 551, but in ii. 15 and ii. 16 he regresses
four years in his time sequence.
Modern authors amalgamate this earthquake with
the event of AD 551 that destroyed the Phoenician coast,
800 km away from Cos (McCail 1967, 243).
Agathias also visited the island in AD 558, on
his return from Constantinople, but Guidoboni et al.
(1994, 338–339) note that this visit was before the Constantinople earthquake of AD 557 and date the event
between AD 554 and 558 on the assumption that Egypt
was affected by an earthquake in AD 554 (Guidoboni
1989, 703).
Note
And at the same time [as the earthquake in Syria and Lebanon] the island of Cos, which lies on the edge of the Mediterranean, was shaken by an earthquake, and while a small part of it was preserved, all the rest collapsed, in what was a complex and unprecedented disaster.
The sea rose up to an incredible height and engulfed all the buildings by the shore, destroying the property and people in them. Such was the size of the wave, and so extraordinary, that whatever its surging crests could not ride over, it dashed down and destroyed.
Almost all its citizens were killed in the confusion, whether they happened to have fled to sanctuaries, or stayed at home, or gathered elsewhere.
At that time I happened to be sailing from Alexandria to Byzantium, and I disembarked on the island, which lies en route: as soon as I stepped on to the shore I was confronted by the most pitiful sight which was beyond the power of words to describe. For almost the entire city was reduced to a pile of rubble, with stones and bits of broken pillars and wooden beams scattered everywhere, and the air was darkened with great clouds of dust, so that one could hardly discern the thoroughfares but only dimly perceive them.
A few houses remained standing, unharmed, but these were not built of gypsum or stone, or of any similar material which might seem more durable, but were built in peasant-fashion from unbaked brick or mud. Here and there a few men could be seen, whose expressions were of despondency, despair and dejection, as if this were the end, and also of apathy. For in addition to all the other ills, the drinking water from the river had been polluted by the sea, being thus rendered undrinkable . . . (Agath. ii. 16).
During AD 551, three separate earthquakes struck Boeotia, involving the areas around the Maliac and Crissean
Gulfs in central Greece. Eight cities were destroyed, the worst hit being Patrae, Naupactus, Chaeronea and Coronea, which were destroyed, with loss of life.
Procopius’s contemporary and only account of
these events in AD 551 says that at this time a (series) of
extraordinary earthquakes occurred throughout Greece,
affecting both Boeotia and Achaea and the country
around the Crisean Gulf, as a result of which many towns
and eight cities, which are not named, were levelled to the
ground, among which were Chaeronea, Coronea, Patrae
and all of Naupactus where there was also great loss of
life.
It adds that the earth was ‘rent asunder’ to the
extent that in many places the people were not able to
travel from one place to another without making many
detours.
It goes on to say that, at Echinus and at Scarphea
in Boeotia in the Gulf between Thessaly and Boeotia,
there was a sudden influx of the sea, which levelled both
towns. The sea flooded the mainland for a long time, so
that for a very considerable period it was possible for men
to walk to the islands, which are inside this gulf, since the
sea had abandoned its proper place and spread over the
land as far as the mountains. When the sea returned to its
proper place, fish were left on the ground.
It also adds that at the locality of the so-called
Schisma there was a tremendous earthquake, which
caused more loss of life than in all the rest of Greece,
particularly since a festival was being celebrated there (in
October?), for which many people had gathered from all
over Greece.
It is important to recognise that Procopius places
earthquakes in the plural, in the context of more than
one earthquake in more than one place. The time of
which he is speaking is about that of the defeat of the
Gepaedes, perhaps December 550 to January 551 and
he clearly refers to more than one, probably three, distinct earthquakes in central Greece, that is (1) a destructive shock in Boeotia that caused great loss of life in
Schisma and destroyed Coronea and Chaeronea, probably damaging Corinth; (2) a destructive sea wave at Echinus and Scarpheia, which was probably associated with
a second earthquake about 70 km away in the Maliakos
Gulf between Thessaly and Boeotia; and (3) a damaging
shock more than 100 km to the west of Schisma in the
Gulf of Corinth and in Achaea, which heavily damaged
Nafpaktos and Patra. Much of what has been said above
is based on a study of source credibility by White (2001a).
The sequence of these events is not possible
to establish, but it is possible, on physical grounds, to
exclude the possibility of a single earthquake being associated with an epicentral area of radius more than 100 km.
Many important centres, which are not recorded as having suffered in this earthquake, would have also been
utterly destroyed, such as Chalcis, Aegeum, Amphissa
and Delphi, for which there is no evidence.
Insofar as the first earthquake is concerned, the
name of the festival on which it occurred, which could
have helped with the reckoning of the date, is not given.
It is unlikely that this was the festival of Dionysus, which
was held in historical times on Mt Parnassus, and it could
have been a local affair.
This earthquake affected Schisma most seriously,
its name meaning a place cleft or rent. This may be the
place where the ground deformation described by Procopius took place, most probably as the result of surface
faulting and landslides. This locality may be the ‘Schisti
hodos’ mentioned by earlier writers, which is the name
of the junction of the road from Delphi that crosses the
spurs of Mt Parnassus–Xeromeri with the route to Levadia south of Daulia. This locality is only a few kilometres
from Cheronea and 15 km from Coronea, sites that were
totally destroyed by the earthquake.
Procopius mentions Corinth separately as having
suffered from more than one earthquake and notes that
its walls were repaired within his lifetime. However, when
he enumerates other cities that were renewed by Justinian after AD 553, he says explicitly that the restoration
of the walls of Plateae and Athens, which are between
Schisma and Corinth, was necessitated not because of
damage sustained by earthquakes, but because these
cities had suffered from the long passage of time. It is
probable, therefore, that the same earthquake as that at
Schisma damaged Corinth to some degree.
There are no other primary sources for this earthquake, and later sources either repeat some of this information or amalgamate it with that from other earthquakes in the Eastern Mediterranean region.
Procopius refers to a series of ‘extraordinary
earthquakes’ (seismoi) that occurred in Greece and Asia
Minor during the reign of the Emperor Justinian. While
seismoi can mean ‘shocks’, this translation is valid only in
the context of an obvious single earthquake in one place.
If the ordering of events in Procopius’s narrative can be trusted, this earthquake must have occurred
shortly after Narses’s march against the Goth Totila
(about March 551). Since the festival held in Schisma is
likely to have been the great June event, the Thesmophoria, it is probable that the earthquake happened during
that month.
Locating Schisma has proved difficult. It is not
mentioned in any contemporary sources. However, Pausanias says that ‘Going forward from there [the road
to Delphi] you will arrive at a road called the Branch
(“Schiste”)’ (Paus. X. v. 1/LCL. iv. 388–390). Of particular interest is a passage from Sophocles’s Oedipus
Tyrannus. Jocasta says to Oedipus, in the course of his
questioning her about the death of his father Laeus,
‘The land is called Phocis, and the branch road (“schiste
hodos”) to it leads from Delphi and Daulia.’ (Soph. OT
l.733/LCL. i. 400). Kammerbeek describes a road which
runs southeast–northwest through Greece from Thebes
to Lebadea (modern Livadia), just north of which it splits,
a branch road (“schiste hodos”) running west to Delphi
and the main road continuing northwest to Daulia. By
association the point at which the Delphi road split off
(actually a crossroads, since another road joined the main
road there, too) came to be known as “Schiste” (Kammerbeek 1967, iv. 153). This road remains substantially
the same today, although the crossroads has been moved
so that now Levadia is on the Delphi branch.
A report on excavations at the crossroads in 1907
describes extremely dilapidated buildings, one of them
being a fort on a rounded hill (Fossey 1986). Their condition was attributed to hurried construction in the second
century AD. Unfortunately, the article does not describe
their state in any detail, so it is possible only to conjecture
how the buildings came to be so dilapidated.
Regarding the alleged festival at Schisma, there
was a biennial festival at nearby Parnassus to celebrate
the rebirth of Dionysus, so it may be that the Thesmophoria of AD 551 was held there.
In his Buildings Procopius mentions terrible
earthquakes that had occurred in Corinth, as a result of
which Justinian repaired the city walls. This may refer
to many earthquakes over a long period, or to those
which occurred only during the reign of Justinian. However, in the Anecdota he lists many cities, mostly Asian,
but including Corinth, that were ruined by earthquakes
during Justinian’s reign. Modern writers claim that an
inscription from Corinth honours one Theodosius as
‘rebuilder of the town’ after the earthquake of AD 551,
but the source is not quoted (Bousquet and Pechoux ´
1983, 33).
It goes without saying that this could not have
been, as some modern writers claim, the same earthquake
as that which struck Asia Minor in July 551 since it would
have damaged an area of two million km2, and many
important cities between Greece and Asia Minor would
have been wiped out
Notes
‘It was at this time that extraordinary earthquakes occurred throughout Greece, both Boeotia and Achaea and the country on the Crisaean Gulf being badly shaken. And countless towns and eight cities were levelled to the ground, among which were Chaeronea and Coronea and Patrae and all of Naupactus, where there was also great loss of life. And the earth was rent asunder in many places and formed chasms. Now some of these openings came together again so that the earth presented the same form and appearance as before, but in other places they remained open, with the consequence that the people in such places are not able to intermingle with each other except by making use of many detours. But in the gulf between Thessaly and Boeotia there was a sudden influx of the sea at the city called Echinus and at Scarphea in Boeotia. And advancing far over the land it deluged the towns there and levelled them immediately. And for a long time the sea thus visited the mainland, so that for a very considerable period it was possible for men on foot to walk to the islands which are inside this gulf, since the water of the sea, obviously, had abandoned its proper place, and, strange to say, spread over the land as far as the mountains which rise there. But when the sea returned to its proper place, fish were left on the ground, and since their appearance was altogether unfamiliar to the people of the country, they seemed a kind of prodigy. And thinking them edible they picked them up to boil them, but when the heat of the fire touched them the whole body was reduced to a liquid putrefaction of an unbearable sort. But in that locality where the so-called Cleft (Schisma) is located there was a tremendous earthquake which caused more loss of life than in all the rest of Greece, particularly on account of a certain festival which they happened to be celebrating there and for which many had gathered in that place from all Greece.’ (Procop. Bell. VIII. xxv. 16–24/LCL. v. 324)
‘He [Justinian] also rendered secure all the cities of Greece which are inside the walls at Thermopylae, renewing their circuit-walls in every case. For they had fallen into ruin long before, at Corinth because of terrible earthquakes which had visited the city; and at Athens and Plataea and the towns of Boeotia they had suffered from the long passage of time, while no man in the whole world took thought for them.’ (Procop. Aed. IV. ii. 23–24/LCL. vii. 238).
He [the Emperor Justinian], after he had accomplished all this, learned that all the cities of the Peloponnesus were unwalled, he reasoned that obviously a long time would be consumed if he attended to them one by one, and so he walled the whole Isthmus securely, because much of the old wall had already fallen down.’ (Procop. Aed. IV. ii. 27–28/LCL. vii. 238)
And one might add to the list [of cities destroyed in earthquakes during Justinian’s reign] Ibora and also Amasia, which chanced to be the first city in Pontus, also Polybotus in Phrygia, which the Pisidians call Philomede, and Lychnidus in Epirus, and Corinth, all of which cities have from ancient times been most populous. For it befell all these cities during this period to be overthrown by earthquake and their inhabitants to be practically all destroyed by them.’ (Procop. Anecd. xviii. 42/LCL. vi. 224–226).
The second event in AD 551 mentioned by Procopius
is the sea wave in the Maliakos Gulf between Thessaly
and Boeotia, about 70 km to the north of Schisma, which
destroyed the towns of Echinus and Scarpheia. He does
not mention any damage to these or other towns due to
an earthquake (see the previous entry).
Ambraseys, N. N. (2009). Earthquakes in the Mediterranean and Middle East: a multidisciplinary study of seismicity up to 1900.
The third earthquake in AD 551 occurred more than
100 km to the west of Schisma in the western part of the
Gulf of Corinth and in Achaea, damaging Nafpaktos and
Patra (see AD 552 June entry).
The archaeological evidence that the collapse of
the temple of Zeus in Olympia was due to this earthquake
is very dubious (Decker 2000). It is based on Boetticher’s
argument that, according to the Scholiast of Lucian, the
temple of Zeus in Olympia remained standing during
the period of Theodosius (AD 408–450). As a result
of the edict of Theodosius in AD 426 the temple was
burned; but Boetticher believes that this should have
affected only the wooden construction of the temple
(Boetticher 1883; cf. Meyer 1979). On the other hand,
he points out that near the eastern front of the temple, within a wall dating from late antiquity, an early
Byzantine hoard of more than 1000 coins of the period
of Justinian II (AD 527–565) has been found buried
under large fragments of the temple of Zeus. This implies,
according to Boetticher, that the final destruction of the
temple took place sometime between AD 426 and 565.
Owing to the enormous size, but also due to the way
the columns had fallen, he suggests that only an earthquake could have been responsible for the collapse of
the structure. After mentioning all the earthquakes which
took place in the period between AD 426 and 565, Boetticher concludes that only two of the most disastrous
earthquakes during that period could have been responsible: the earthquake of AD 522 and/or the earthquake of
AD 551.
Guidoboni (1989, 698–699) and Guidoboni et al.
(1994, 331–332) amalgamate the three earthquakes of
AD 551 in Greece to create an enormous earthquake.
Ambraseys, N. N. (2009). Earthquakes in the Mediterranean and Middle East: a multidisciplinary study of seismicity up to 1900.
A destructive earthquake in the eastern part of the Sea of
Marmara.
In Constantinople many houses were ruined and
people were killed, especially in the southern part of the
city around the Golden Gate. Some churches and baths
as well as part of the city wall near the Golden Gate
were damaged. The spear of the statue of Constantine
at the Forum fell and penetrated three cubits into the
ground. The repair of the walls is recorded in extant
inscriptions.
At least part of Nicomedea was destroyed,
although the sources vary about the extent of the destruction: according to one source, the city was completely
destroyed and part of it fell into the sea.
Part of Nicaea may also have been damaged,
although this is mentioned by only one source. Other
towns, which are not named, were also damaged. Damaging aftershocks continued for 40 days (Malal. CS 489;
Sym. Styl. 1061).
This event was commemorated in Constantinople
annually with prayers in the Campus in the district of
Hebdomon (Sym. Styl. 1061; Mich. Syr. CH ii. 245).
Later authors say that also the sea flooded the
coast and advanced inland two miles, sinking many ships
(Cedr. CS 674), but this detail seems to belong to the
earthquakes of AD 551 in Beirut, which they conflate
with this event.
According to Malalas, this earthquake happened
in Constantinople and Nicomedea in August of the
second indiction (AD 554).
The contemporary Victor of Tunnuna lists a damaging earthquake in Constantinople in AD 553, and
Agathias syncretises what is probably this event with the
earthquakes of AD 551, including that on the island of
Cos, and adds no information apart from corroborating
the earthquake’s occurrence.
The Life of Symeon the Stylite the Younger (late
sixth or early seventh century) records that six days
after the great earthquake of AD 551, Constantinople,
Nicomedea, Nicaea, Rhegium ‘and most of the cities close
to Illyricum’ suffered a damaging earthquake during the
night. Obviously this is an amalgamation of this event
with the earthquake that affected cities close to Illyricum
in February 548.
The evidence from other sources suggests that
the earthquake of AD 554 affected Constantinople and
the area east to Nicomedea, whereas the AD 557 earthquake affected Constantinople and the region to the west
including Rhegium, so it is likely that they have been
syncretised in the Life. The pattern of subsequent earthquakes makes it probable that Nicaea was affected by the
‘eastward’ earthquake, that of AD 554.
Pseudo-Dionysius, probably copying John of
Ephesus, gives a detailed and somewhat rhetorical
account, dating the event to 7 Ab (August), a.S. 1862
(obviously an error for 862, thus AD 551), and claims that
part of Nicomedea was swallowed into the sea.
Theophanes dates the earthquake to the second
indiction, 15 August a.M. 6046 August (AD 554), adding
that the event occurred ‘as Sunday was dawning’, i.e.
Sunday 16 August.
Michael the Syrian claims that aftershocks were
felt for only twenty days, but this may be a confusion with
the earthquake of AD 557.
Millingen confirms the damage to the Golden
Gate, where an inscription records its restoration by
Justin II (Meyer-Plath and Schneider 1943). See also Cyr.
Scyth. 199; John Eph. NA 489; Leo Gramm. CS 128;
McCail (1967, 242) and Downey (1955, 598)
Later writers syncretise this earthquake with the
AD 551 event and others (Cedr. 674/736; Glyc. 269/504;
Abu’l Faraj 76/81). Guidoboni (1989, 700–701) associates
this earthquake with the shock felt in Alexandria in AD
551
Notes
‘In the month of August, in the 2nd indiction, there was a terrible earthquake, so that many houses and baths and churches and parts of the walls of Byzantium were damaged. In this terror also fell the spear which was held by the statue in the forum, and it penetrated the ground to a depth of three cubits. Other cities suffered in this terror, among which was Nicomedea, part of which collapsed. After a few days some survivors were pulled from the ruins of Nicomedea. This earthquake lasted for forty days.’ (Malal. 486–487/704–705).
‘a.553 While these things were going on [Justinian’s synod and anathemas] an earthquake shook the Imperial City and threw down many buildings and porticoes, and the arcades of many basilicas were flattened.’ (Vict. Tunn. 553/203).
At the same time [as the Frankish invasions], in summer, there was a great earthquake in Byzantium and in many parts of the Roman Empire, so that numerous cities, both on islands and the mainland were completely razed to the ground and their inhabitants all killed . . .’ (Agath. ii. 15).
And after six days a great earthquake occurred in Constantinople, and in various districts many houses partially collapsed, and many people were killed. Nicomedea also collapsed, as did the [suburb] called Rhegium, and part of Nicaea and the most of the cities close to Illyricum. And these things were known in the city of Antioch, and there was great mourning there, and they prayed night and day.’ (Vit. Sym. Iun. 106).
In the year 1862 (sic.) a great earthquake happened in the Imperial City, on the first day of the week.
On 7 Ab [August] there was a terrible quake, severe and ¯ violent, in the Imperial City during part of the night, at dawn of the first day of the week, and numerous houses were overthrown in this [event] and became awful tombs for their inhabitants. Many churches, baths and town walls collapsed, and above all the wall of the Imperial City, which is called the Gates (sic.) of Gold. And again many people died everywhere in this earthquake. Many towns were overthrown and razed, so that Nicomedea, capital of Bithynia, collapsed and was completely destroyed; and a good part of it was swallowed up in the sea and all the rest was buried in the collapse. Many of those who were found alive in the destruction were found alive; some were unharmed but others were injured. These earthquakes had been terrifying, as they went on, one after another, for forty days. Since those who loved God were filled with His mercy, they also called men to lives of penitence. And thus it was that everywhere men persevered in prayer in the churches and stayed there. It was in suffering and tears of penitence that the memorials of these earthquakes were born, seven miles from the city. And every year, during the days over which [the earthquake] had taken place, prayers went up, which were followed by prayers for the entire city to say; and all he way down from the nobles, [everyone] followed the prayers on the plain with zeal.’ (Ps.Dion. ii. 126/94).
‘a.M.6046. In that year on 15th August, in the 2nd indiction, in the middle of the night, as Sunday was dawning, there was a terrible earthquake, so that many houses and baths and churches and part of the walls of Constantinople were damaged, especially around the Golden Gate. And many people died. A large part of Nicomedea fell too. And this earthquake continued for forty days. And after a little, men kept vigil, supplicating and watching and going to the churches, and when God’s love for man was [manifested] again (i.e. when the earthquake stopped), they were worse. This earthquake is commemorated each year in the Campus (Hebdomon Plain) when the people pray.’ (Theoph. 229).
‘There was another, very violent, earthquake in the imperial city [Constantinople] in the month of ‘Ab [August]: many houses were overturned and became their inhabitants’ tombs. Churches, baths, and the wall, which used to be called the “Golden Gate” also collapsed. In this earthquake Nicomedea was completely destroyed. These earthquakes carried on for 20 days, as if to call men to repentance. They were commemorated each year by rogations, on a great plain seven miles from the imperial city.’ (Mich. Syr. ix. 29/ii. 245).
The outwork of the Theodosian Wall was restored under Justin and Sophia, our most pious Sovereigns, by Narses, the most glorious Spatharius and Sacellarius, and Stephen, who belonged to the servide, a servant of the most pious Sovereigns.’ (Millingen 1899, 96).
On the authority of Agathias (CS 96–97) and John Nikiou
(143), Guidoboni et al. (1994, 337–338) amalgamate two
earthquakes in Egypt to AD 554.
Agathias, who was born c. AD 531 (OCD 25), says
that there was an earthquake in Alexandria, which caused
much panic but no damage. This, he adds, happened at
the time he was preparing himself to enter the law school,
presumably when he was about 20 years old, and what he
describes should have been the far-field/distant effects of
the earthquake in Lebanon in AD 551.
John of Nikiu, a seventh-century writer, reports
an unidentified earthquake that was felt in Egypt during the reign of Justinian (AD 527–565) that he says was
an event commemorated on 17 Teqempt (14 October).
This event occurred during Justin’s reign, in AD 520 (see
14 October 520).
Ambraseys, N. N. (2009). Earthquakes in the Mediterranean and Middle East: a multidisciplinary study of seismicity up to 1900.
This is a duplicate of the earthquake of c. AD 551 in
Cos (see above). Guidoboni dates it to AD 558 or within
the period AD 554–558 (Guidoboni 1989, 703; Guidoboni
et al. 1994, 338–339).
Ambraseys, N. N. (2009). Earthquakes in the Mediterranean and Middle East: a multidisciplinary study of seismicity up to 1900.
551 *Chaeronea, •Coronea, •Echinus, •Naupactus,
• Patras [Patrae], •Scarphe, Achaia, Boeotia, the Crisaean Gulf
seismic sea-wave, surface faulting
sources
(219) the night of 15 August 554 *Constantinople, •Nicea?,
• Nicomedia
sources1
(220) 14 October 554 Alexandria, •Egypt
sources
(221) 554-558 •the island of Cos seismic sea-wave
sources
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