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Synopsis Historion by Cedrenus

Background and Biography
Background and Biography

Excerpts
English translated from Niebuhr (1839)

Year 24

... On the 9th day of July, 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. In the City of Botryos which means "cluster of grapes" a large part of Lithoprosopus, the name of the mountain next to the city, slid down into the sea and created a harbor capable of receiving many large ships that could not dock there before. The water also withdrew for a mile out to sea and then by command flowed back.

Latin from Niebuhr (1839)

Anno 24 missus est Narses cubicularius Romam ad debellandum Gotthos. name post receptan Romam a Belisario Gotthi denuo rebellarant urbemque occuparant. nona Iulii dio terribilis motus terrae fuit per universam Palaestinam Arabiam Mesopotamiam Syriam et Phoeniciam, qui multis urbibus damna intulit permultosque mortales perdidit. in urbe uae Botryos (hoc est uvae) dicitur, magna pars mentis qui mari adiacet, nomine Lithoprosopos, avulsa in mare decidit magnumque effecit portum, multis magnis navibus recipiendis ideneum, cum ante urbs ea portu caruisset. mare quoque in altum recessit ad mille passus rursumque dei iussu refluxit. Augusto mense nuntius Roma de victoria Narsetis allatus est, nempe Romanos rege Totila oociso Roman recepisse.

Greek and Latin from Niebuhr (1839) - embedded



Chronology
Year Reference Corrections Notes
9 July 550 CE On the 9th day of July in Justinian's 24th year none
  • Justinian's reign began on 1 April 527 CE which places his 24th year to between 1 Apr. 550 and 30 Mar. 551 CE. For the month of July, this equates to 9 July 550 CE
  • Calculated with CHRONOS
  • Russell (1985), for reasons unstated and unknown, calculated that the 24th year of Justinian's reign spanned from Aug. 550 - July 551.
  • Ambraseys (2009) noted that the 24th year of Justinian's reign is one year too low (ie 550 CE).
Seismic Effects
  • 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
  • In the City of Botryos which means "cluster of grapes" a large part of Lithoprosopus, the name of the mountain next to the city, slid down into the sea
  • tsunami - The water also withdrew for a mile out to sea and then by command flowed back.
Locations
  • Palestine
  • Arabia
  • Mesopotamia
  • Syria
  • Phoenicia
  • many towns and villages
  • City of Botryos which means "cluster of grapes" (landslide)
Online Versions and Further Reading
References