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Volume IV of the Chronicle by Georgius Monachus

Background and Biography
Background and Biography

Excerpts
English from von Muralt (1863)

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.

Latin from von Muralt (1863)

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.

Seismic Effects
  • 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
  • The earthquake lasted 40 days and nights
Locations
  • Arabia
  • Palestine
  • Mesopotamia
  • Antioch
This account amalgamates seismic destruction from the 551 CE Beirut Quake with seismic destruction in Constantinople. Destruction in Constantinople would likely have been caused by an earthquake which was described by multiple authors as striking the city in 554 CE. By describing the earthquake as universal, Monachus may have amalgamated in yet another earthquake which was described by Procopius as striking Greece in 551 CE. This Greek earthquake was, according to Procopius, accompanied by a tsunami. Only locations which could have been affected by the 551 CE Beirut Quake are included in the lists above.

Online Versions and Further Reading
References