Jordan Valley Quake(s)

659/660 CE

by Jefferson Williams

Introduction & Summary

Jordan Valley Quake(s) Summary

Textual Evidence

Text (with hotlink)	Original Language	Religion	Date of Composition	Location Composed	Notes
Maronite Chronicle	Syriac	Maronite	shortly after 664 CE		The Maronite Chronicle lists three earthquakes The first earthquake occurred in the second hour (~8 am) on a Friday in June 659 CE and was described as a violent earthquake in Palestine where many places collapsed. A second earthquake is described as occurring in the 8th hour (~2 pm) on Sunday 9 June 659 CE. No details about location or seismic effects were given. The third earthquake suffers from some chronological inconsistencies and, unlike the first two earthquakes, does not specify details such as hour, day of the week, and date. It appears to have taken place in 660 CE but may be a false event which copied in seismic effects from one or both of the the first two earthquakes. It was described as an earthquake and a violent tremor where the greater part of Jericho fell, including all its churches, the House of Lord John at the site of our Saviour’s baptism in the Jordan was overthrown, and the monastery of Abba Euthymius as well as many convents of monks and solitaries and many other places also collapsed.
Chronicle of Theophanes	Greek	Orthodox (Byzantium)	810-814 CE	Vicinity of Constantinople	Theophanes wrote that there was a great earthquake and collapse in Palestine and Syria in the month of Daisos (May/June) and probably in the year 659 CE
Chronology by Elias of Nisibis	Syriac and Arabic	Nestorian	1st half of the 11th century CE	Nisibis (Nesaybin, Turkey) ?	Elias of Nisibis wrote that there was an earthquake and a great part of Palestine and many other places were ruined. He dated the earthquake to June 659 CE and cited his source as Jesudenah from the city of Basra.
Concise Description of the Holy Places by John Phokas	Greek		~1185 CE		Described seismic damage (after the fact) to two monasteries in Palestine due to earlier earthquakes. His text was based on his travels to the area.
Early Islamic History, the Maronite Chronicle, and Theophanes
Text (with hotlink)	Original Language	Religion	Date of Composition	Location Composed	Notes

Maronite Chronicle

Chronicle of Theophanes

Chronography by Elias of Nisibis

Concise Description of the Holy Places by John Phokas

Early Islamic History, the Maronite Chronicle, and Theophanes

Archaeoseismic Evidence

Location (with hotlink)	Status	Intensity	Notes
Qasr Tilah	possible		Haynes et al. (2006) examined paleoseismic and archeoseismic evidence related to damage to a late Byzantine—Early Umayyad birkeh (water reservoir) and aqueduct at Qasr Tilah and concluded that left lateral slip generated by several earthquakes cut through a corner of the reservoir and aqueduct creating displacement of the structures. The first seismic event was dated to the 7th century. Haynes at al (2006) suggested it was caused by either the Sword in the Sky Quake (633/634 CE) or the Jordan Valley Quake of 659/660 AD - favoring the Jordan Valley Quake. There was a repair after this 7th century destruction indicating that the site was occupied when the earthquake struck. Because of the repair, it it is unclear how much lateral slip was produced (or even if there was lateral slip during this earthquake ?). Haynes et al (2006) noted that archeological evidence at the site indicates that it was abandoned and was not occupied past the Early Umayyad Period (661-700 CE). If the repair fixed a problem caused by lateral slip rather than generalized destructive shaking, the slip would indicate that part of the Araba fault broke during this event.
Petra - Introduction	n/a	n/a	n/a
Petra - Petra Theater	possible		Jones (2021:3 Table 1) reports a second potential seismic destruction of the Theater in Phase VII noting that the Phase VII destruction of the Main Theatre is difficult to date, as the structure had gone out of use long before. Jones (2021:3 Table 1) suggested the late 6th century earthquake ( Inscription at Areopolis Quake) or the mid-8th century earthquake (e.g. earthquakes observed in the Qatar Trench in the South Araba by Klinger et al, 2015) as candidates.
Petra - Jabal Harun	possible	≥ 6	Phase 6 destruction was dated to the 1st half of the 7th century CE by Mikkola et al (2008). Destruction was inferred based on rebuilding evidence in Phase 7. No unambiguous and clearly dated evidence of seismic damage was found. Mikkola et al (2008) also noted a change in liturgy in Phase 7 which could have also been at least partly responsible for the rebuild.
Petra - The Petra Church	possible	≥ 8	Fiema et al (2001) characterized structural destruction of the church in Phase X as likely caused by an earthquake with a date that is not easy to determine. A very general terminus post quem of the early 7th century CE was provided. Destruction due to a second earthquake was identified in Phase XIIA which was dated from late Umayyad to early Ottoman. Taken together this suggests that the first earthquake struck in the 7th or 8th century CE and the second struck between the 8th and 16th or 17th century CE.
Yavne	probable	≥ 7	Langgut et al (2015) examined the kiln complex of a pottery factory near Tel Yavne which was destroyed sometime in the 7th century. They examined seasonal pollen beneath crushed pots inside the kiln which suggested collapse around June (Jordan Valley Quake of 659/660 AD) instead of September (Sword in the Sky Quake of 633/634 CE). A site effect may be present. Epicenter was possibly to the ESE
Bet Sh 'ean	possible		Tsafrir and Foerster (1997:143-144) dated a seismic destruction event to the 7th century CE. The event caused the destruction of Silvanus Hall; all the columns in the southwest part of the hall were found collapsed in the same direction, in a way that leaves no doubt about the cause of the destruction. They suggested it was likely that the same earthquake caused the collapse of the porticoes of the Byzantine agora, the portico of the sigma, and most probably the columns of Palladius Street.
Hammat Gader	possible		Phase IIB Earthquake (?) - Hirschfeld et al. (1997:6) note that, while it is not clear what fate befell the baths [in Phase II] at the end of the Byzantine period, it seems that the place was struck by one of the earthquakes that occurred in the region. The resulting damage, they state, is attested in the “Mu’awiya inscription” (no. 54) discovered at the site. This inscription, dated accurately to the year 662 C.E., details renovation activity carried out by Mu’awiya, the first Umayyad Caliph, but does not specifically mention an earthquake or prior damage to the site. This site may be subject to a liquefaction site effect as it is located on an oxbow of the Yarmuk River in a location that sits atop a thermal spring. At the same time, one must consider that the building’s state of preservation and the fact that the walls stand vertically without cracks led Hirschfeld et al. (1997:16) to conclude that the builders of the foundations did an excellent job, taking advantage of the best knowledge, skills, and certainly the well-known Roman cement.
Jerash - Introduction	n/a	n/a	n/a
Jerash - Umayyad House	possible		Gawlikowski (1992:358) reports that the Umayyad house was built on level ground after an earthquake. Construction was well dated by the numismatic findings. Earthquake destruction is inferred based on rebuilding evidence.
Jerash - Macellum	probable	≥ 8	Uscatescu and Marot (2000:283) dated seismic destruction of the Macellum to at the latest to the second quarter of the seventh century based on pottery and coins. The seismic destruction layer was found in a sealed and undisturbed context and is well-dated. Uscatescu and Marot (2000:281) report extensive destruction [] well evidenced by the fallen vaulted and tiled roofs and collapsed walls; a huge collapse that reaches a thickness of more than two and a half metres,and was composed by voussoirs, tiles, ashlars, architraves, column shafts, capitals and other architectonic elements.
Jerash - Temple of Zeus	possible	≥ 8	Rasson and Seigne (1989) reported on excavations of a cistern at the Temple of Zeus. Two seismic destruction events were interpreted from the excavation - one in the 7th century CE and another in the 8th. The 1st seismic event was manifest in partial roof collapse. Ceramics beneath the collapse layer dated to the Umayyad period and suggested an earthquake Which struck in the middle of the 7th century CE. Gawlikowski (1992:358) reports further 7th century CE archaeoseismic evidence in a vaulted corridor of the lower terrace where a herd of goats was buried along with a kid goat. According to Gawlikowski (1992:358), the age of a kid indicates that the cataclysm took place in May-June and moreover a Byzantine currency with an Arab countermark indicating the beginning of Muslim government (Seigne, unpublished report of 1984, kindly communicated by the author). This would suggest that the 1st earthquake was the one of the Jordan Valley Quake(s).
Jerash - Hippodrome	possible	≥ 8	Ostrasz and Kehrberg-Ostrasz (2020:4) report that the masonry of most of the building collapsed with only the carceres and the south-east part of the cavea surviving. Archaeological evidence seems to constrain the date of this earthquake to the 6th to 7th centuries CE.
Heshbon	possible	≥ 8	Walker and LaBianca (2003:453-454) uncovered 7th century CE archeoseismic evidence which they attributed to the Jordan Valley Quake of 659/660 CE from an excavation of an Umayyad-period building in Field N of Tall Hesban. They report a badly broken hard packed yellowish clay floor which was pocketed in places by wall collapse and accompanied by crushed storage jars, basins, and cookware. Storage jars and basins and cookware were dated in the field to the transitional Byzantine-Umayyad period.
Hippos Sussita	probable	≥ 8	7th or Early 8th century CE Earthquake - Segal et al. (2013:210) suggest that the Northwest Church suffered damage in a 7th or early 8th century CE earthquake. The final phase of the church (Phase III) was the decline of the basilica which must have been the result of some unspecified disaster of an unknown date but which clearly caused serious damage to the nave; it was probably one of the earthquakes which affected this region in the second half of the 7th century (658 CE) or at the beginning of the 8th century (717 CE).¹⁰¹ Indeed, eloquent testimony to the ancient repairs made to the mosaic floor can be seen at the southern pastophorion. Right under the arched entrance to this room, the mosaic bears traces of repairs carried out after it was damaged, probably during an earthquake (fig. 281). Footnotes 101 Ognibeni 2002, 112, mentions earthquakes of 658 and 717 or 718 CE as having caused the damage done to the West Church in Pella of the Decapolis. There is little doubt that the same earthquakes must have inflicted similar damage to the buildings on Sussita. Although Segal et al. (2013:210) suggested the the 717 CE Earthquake as a possible candidate, the epicenter of this event was likely too far away to have caused such damage. The Jordan Valley Quake(s) of 659/660 CE, however, is a plausible candidate as is an earthquake unreported in currently extant historical records. The potential for a topographic or ridge effect appears to be present at this location.
Tell es-Samak/Tel Shiqmona	possible to unlikely	≥ 7	7th century CE Earthquake (?) - Barzilay (2012) interpreted flexed stone structures as a consequence of a 7th century CE earthquake and estimated a local site Intensity of VII or higher. Excavator Hagit Torge (personal communication, 2021) attributed the deformations to the active clay soil. Taxel (2013:79-80) also cast doubt on the possibility that the site was damaged by an earthquake leading to it's abandonment. The Deformation Map shows that the displaced walls are due to vertical uplift and suggest an expansive active soil as the cause. If an earthquake caused the chaotic deformation patterns shown in the map, the site would have to have been above the hypocenter of a powerful earthquake which seems unlikely. If this was the case, more extensive deformation and collapse would be expected form this site and nearby sites and the local Intensity would have been IX (9) or higher. Thus, I agree with Hagit Torge (personal communication, 2021) and Taxel (2013:79-80) that a seismic origin for the observed deformations is not likely.
Khirbet al-Niʿana	possible		7th century CE earthquake - Taxel (2013:178-179) noted the following about archaeoseismic evidence in Khirbet al-Niʿana Excavation of the western fringes of the inhabited area (the results of which were only preliminarily published) show no clear evidence for occupation ater the mid-seventh century. According to the excavator (Torge, 2010) The site was largely abandoned at the beginning of the Umayyad period and most of the masonry stones were plundered. The signs of destruction and burning may point to its destruction in the earthquake of 633 CE. Unfortunately, however, the basis for this dating was not provided in the report.
Pella	possible	≥ 8	Blanke and Walmsley (2022:86) report that Urban Fiḥl was badly impacted by a 7th century CE earthquake resulting in permanent reconfigurations to the town’s layout. Dating was established by secure ceramic comparisons with the corpus from excavations of the eastern residential area on the main mound [i.e. Pella]. Although some of the reported archaeoseismic evidence may be based on rebuilding evidence, there are direct observations of interpreted seismic damage. Smith (1973:165) attributed damage to the West Church Complex (Area I) to the 659/660 CE Jordan Valley Quake(s) while noting that this event toppled most of the upper part of the walls of the sanctuary and Atrium and damaged the north dependency. Smith et al. (1989:92) suggested that this earthquake also damaged the Area IX Church.
Monastery of Euthymius	probable	9	Hirschfeld (1993:354) inferred that the monastery was destroyed by a 7th century earthquake based on rebuilding evidence. Reconstruction was dated to the 2nd half of the 7th century apparently based on the early Muslim period style of construction. The Maronite Chronicle states that the Monastery of Euthymius was destroyed by an earthquake in A.G. 971 (660-661 CE) along with the dwellings of many monks and solitaries. This suggests that the near total rebuild observed by Hirschfeld (1993) was due to near total collapse which leads to an intensity estimate of IX (9).
Monastery of John the Baptist	possible		The Maronite Chronicle states that the Monastery of John The Baptist (Mār John aka Qasr al-Yehud) was destroyed - uprooted from its foundations - in A.G. 971 (660-661 CE). I'm not aware of an corroborating archaeoseismic evidence.
Monastery of Khirbet es-Suyyagh	possible	≥ 8	7th century CE Earthquake(s) - Taxel et al (2009) surmised that Phase IIA ended with an earthquake and established a terminus post quem of 629/630 CE for repairs to damaged parts of the monastery at the start of Phase IIB. This was based on a 629/630 CE coin found below the mosaic floor in the northern aisle of the church (Locus 387) attributed to Phase IIB. Another coin of Constans II (641-648 CE) was found in the fill that covered the corridor north of the main gate (Locus 281) however it was noted that this fill could also be related to the construction of the blocking wall of the corridor in Phase III. Pottery found below the fieldstone paving which abutted on the new (southern) storeroom in the external courtyard and to the repaired doorway of the subsidiary gate (Loci 181 and 183) was dated to the mid-late 7th century. Lack of fire evidence and evidence of archaeoseismic damage led Taxel et al (2009) to conclude that observed damage and repairs of damage was probably due to an earthquake(s) although destruction due to Persian and, later on, Muslim military activity could not be entirely ruled out. Schmuel Marco in Taxel et al (2009:186-187) suggested that seismic intensity may have reached IX (1 g) apparently largely based on the broken threshold of the Main Gate and rebuilding evidence which inferred wall collapses down to the foundations. Archaeoseismic evidence at the Monastery of Euthymius as reported by Hirschfeld (1993) showed evidence for a near total rebuild after it was presumably destroyed in one of the Jordan Valley Quake(s) of 659/660 CE. Although direct archaeoseismic evidence was not observed at the Monastery of Euthymius, the contemporary Maronite Chronicle reported that the Monastery of Euthymius collapsed during this earthquake - which supports the idea that a near total rebuild supports such a high level of local seismic intensity. However, the Monastery of Euthymius is closer to active Jordan Valley faults that seem to have broken during the Jordan Valley Quake(s) which means that Khirbet es-Suyyagh, further away from these faults, would have likely experienced lower levels of intensity during this event(s). This would explain why there were repairs at Khirbet es-Suyyagh rather than a complete rebuild. Given the distance between Khirbet es-Suyyagh and the active faults of Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea, Schmuel Marco in Taxel et al (2009:186-187) suggested that such an elevated intensity estimate (guesstimate ?) of IX (1 g) could be explained by a site effect or being above the hypocenter when the Quake struck (e..g in a blind thrust scenario). While a site effect is possible as it is described as being located on a spur, the Deformation Map (see in Figures above) suggests that North-South walls were preferentially damaged which is not what one would suspect above a hypocenter where inclination and collapse typically do not display directional patterns. Such directional patterns, which seem to be evident at Khirbet es-Suyyagh, are what one would expect at some distance form the epicenter (e.g. see Korzhenkov and Mazor, 1999).
Caesarea	possible	≥ 8	mid-7th century CE Earthquake - According to Raban et al. (1993 v. I:64), Vault 2 in Area CV collapsed suddenly, crushing pottery vessels that had been resting on the floors. The destruction was dated to the mid-7th century CE, with researchers attributing the collapse to seismic activity. This dating was based on ceramics and coins, the most recent of which belonged to the reign of Heraclius [r. 610-641 CE]. Two possible earthquake events were suggested as causes: the ~634 CE Sword in the Sky Quake and the 659/660 CE Jordan Valley Quake(s). Raban et al. (1993 v. I:64) reported that Vault 2 was a two-story structure that collapsed downward, with its arcade falling downward and westward. Additionally, evidence suggested that the second-story floor had flipped over during the event.
Mount Nebo	needs investigation
Ein Hanasiv	possible	≥ 8	Karcz et. al. (1977) list archeoseismic evidence (oriented collapse, alignment of fallen masonry) in Ein Hanasiv in the 7th century AD based on Vitto (1975).
Giv’ati Junction	possible	≥ 7	Baumgarten (2001) excavated a round pottery kiln at Giv'ati Junction dated to the 4th-7th century CE (Shmueli, 2013). Langgut et al (2015) report that four fired Late Roman Amphora (similar to those at Yavne) "were found inside the kiln’s collapsed firing chamber" covered by a thick layer of aeolian sand. Langgut et al (2015) noted that while "the excavator suggested that the kiln was destroyed during operation, possibly due to some technical fault, and was consequently abandoned (Baumgarten 2001)", Langgut et al (2015) believe an earthquake should also be considered as a cause of destruction. Shmueli (2013) excavated Stratum III in a rectangular building (L109, L119) at Giv'ti Junction in 2011 where, on the floor, they found three Gaza jars which were set upside down (Fig. 4) and broken. A fourth jar was found upright but also broken. Based on numismatic finds, they dated the beginning of the settlement to the fourth or fifth century CE. Construction and use of the rectangular building was dated to the fifth to seventh centuries CE. In the seventh century the installation and building went out of use.
Avdat/Oboda	possible	≥ 8	7th century Earthquake - A terminus post quem for a 7th century CE earthquake was established from the latest inscription found at the site in the Martyrion of St. Theodore (South Church) in 617 CE (Negev 1981: 37) (Erickson-Gini, 2014). Erickson-Gini (2014) noted that there was massive destruction evident throughout the site, and particularly along the western face of the site with its extensive caves and buildings (Korjenkov et al., 1996). Korzhenkov and Mazor (1999) uncovered extensive archeoseismic effects from the earthquake and estimated an Intensity of 9 - 10, posited that destruction was caused by a compressional seismic wave, and located the epicenter SSW of Avdat somewhere in central Negev. Discontinuous Deformation Analysis of the bulges in the Roman Tower of Avdat by Kamai and Hatzor (2005) leads to an Intensity Estimate of 8 - 10. A Ridge Effect is likely present at Avdat
Mizpe Shivta	possible		Erickson-Gini (personal correspondence, 2021) relates that this site in the Negev suffered seismic damage in the 7th century CE - sometime after 620 CE.
Mezad Yeruham	possible		Erickson-Gini (personal correspondence, 2021) relates that this site in the Negev suffered seismic damage in the 7th century CE - sometime after 620 CE.
Shivta	possible	≥ 8	Late Byzantine Earthquake - Early 7th century CE ? - Erickson-Gini (2013) suggested that a revetment wall outside Room 123 was evidence of a Late Byzantine earthquake Revetment walls present around the North Church and buttressing the western wall of Building 123 (Hirschfeld 2003 - see highlighted site plan above) are indications that some damage to the site took place in the Late Byzantine period, probably in the early seventh century CE when the neighboring site of ‘Avdat/Oboda was destroyed in a tremendous earthquake. A site effect at Shivta is unlikely due to a hard carbonate bedrock. Korzhenkov and Mazor (1999a) estimate Intensity of 8 -9 with the epicenter a few tens of km. away and to the WSW
Rehovot ba Negev	possible	≥ 8	"The Byzantine Shock" - 7th century CE - Korzhenkov and Mazor (2014) identified an earthquake which they beleive struck in the 7th century CE. Rehovot ba Negev appears to be built on weak ground. There is a probable site effect present as much but not all of Rehovot Ba Negev was built on weak ground (confirmed by A. Korzhenkov, personal communication, 2021). Korzhenkov and Mazor (2014) estimated an Intensity of 8-9 with an epicenter to ESE.
Saadon	possible	≥ 7	Phase 2 Earthquake - mid-7th century CE - Erickson-Gini (2018) reports that The [Southwestern] church was heavily damaged and subsequently repaired in the mid-7th century CE and continued to be used for several years in the Umayyad period (mid-7th - 8th centuries CE). A `wine-press' hewn along the bedrock shelf on the northeast bank of Nahal Sa'adon was apparently broken by the same seismic event. Damage observations reveal that walls aligned in a WNW direction were damaged.
Nessana	possible		Erickson-Gini (personal correspondence, 2021) relates that Nessana suffered seismic damage in the 7th century CE - sometime after 620 CE.
Mamphis	possible	≥ 8	The 2nd earthquake at Mampsis suffers from dating ambiguities and a chronological debate between Negev (1974:412, 1988) and Magness (2003). Considering all possibilities of this debate leads to a date between the 5th and 7th centuries CE. Korzhenkov and Mazor (2003) estimated an Intensity of 9 or more with an epicenter to the SW.
Haluza	possible	≥ 8	Second earthquake. Korjenkov and and Mazor (2005) discussed chronology of the second earthquake. The Early Arab – Second Ancient Earthquake Negev (1976:92) suggested that a strong earthquake caused the final abandonment of Haluza. He summed up his observations at one of the excavated courtyards: Voussoirs of the arches and extremely long roof slabs were discovered in the debris, just above the floor. It seems that either the destruction of the house occurred for a very short time after its abandonment or the house had to be abandoned because of its destruction by an earthquake. Korjenkov and and Mazor (2005) noted that while the Sword in the Sky Quake of 634 CE destroyed Avdat ⁴⁴ and ruined other ancient towns of the Negev ⁴⁵, archeological data demonstrate that occupation of the [Haluza] continued until at least the first half of the 8th cent. A.D.⁴⁶. This led them to conclude that one of the mid 8th century CE earthquakes was a more likely candidate. Unfortunately, it appears that we don't have a reliable terminus ante quem for the second earthquake. Korzhenkov and Mazor (1999a) estimated a minimum Intensity of 8-9 with an epicenter a few tens of kilometers away and an epicentral direction to the NE or SW - most likely to the NE
Aqaba/Eilat - Introduction	n/a	n/a	n/a
Aqaba/Eilat - Aila	possible	7	Thomas et al (2007) identified earthquake destruction (Earthquake IV) in a collapse layer which they suggested struck in the early to middle 7th century CE. The pottery constrains the date of Earthquake IV to sometime between the seventh century and the mid seventh to eighth century. In this case, an early to middle seventh-century date would best fit the dating evidence.
Aqaba/Eilat - Ayla	posible but unlikely	≥ 8	The first earthquake was revealed in the constructions built during the late Rashidun period (644-656 A.D.) ( al-Tarazi and Khorjenkov, 2007) thus providing a terminus post quem of 644-656 A.D.. A terminus ante quem of ~750 CE was provided by the Early Abbasid structures built after the first seismic destruction. This suggests that the seismic damage was caused by the Jordan Valley Quake of 659/660 CE (less likely due to distance) or one of the mid 8th century CE earthquakes. In reporting on excavations in 2008, Damgaard (2008) observed substantial infilling and leveling in Phase 3 which based on its artefactual yield, must be considered Abbasid in date and corresponds roughly to Whitcomb's `Phase B'. Damgaard (2008) suggested that this levelling appears to be associated with a period of widespread reconstruction following a significant collapse - most probably due to the 748 CE earthquake. Of particular interest was an east-west running wall perpendicular to a north-south running wall (L57/W13). Only the negative profile of this wall remains - i.e. it is a robber trench. Although nothing of its foundation remains, the fact that the remnants of a wall [are] now gone was confirmed by a patterned collapse of mud-brick (including a carbonised wooden beam) on its south side. Damgaard (2011, Appendices:12) also reports a collapse layer in Tower 2 dated to the mid 8th century. Thus, it appears that the terminus ante quem is fairly reliable for this archeoseismic evidence and suggests a mid 8th century CE earthquake. A site Effect likely present as the location appears susceptible to liquefaction. It is next to the beach and there is a shallow water table. al-Tarazi and Khorjenkov (2007) estimated an intensity of IX or more and surmised that the epicenter was close - a few tens of kilometers away. They estimated that the epicenter was to the NE.
el-Lejjun	possible	≥ 8	The 3rd earthquake is dated to between ~530 and ~750 CE. Numismatic finds and demobilization evidence provide a terminus post quem of ~530 CE. Groot et al (2006:183) report discovery of a nearly complete Umayyad Lamp in Square 4 of Area B (Barracks - B.6.038) in the Post Stratum Gap (551 - 1900 CE) - above and later than the 3rd earthquake layer which provides a terminus ante quem of ~750 CE. It is likely that the 3rd earthquake was the Inscription at Areopolis Quake as Areopolis is only ~12 km. away from el-Lejjun. The 4th Earthquake is dated to between ~600 CE and 1918 CE. It lacks a reliable terminus ante quem.
Apamea	unlikley to possible		Walmsley (2007b:334), without citing a reference, claims archaeoseismic evidence at Apamea due to the Jordan Valley Quake of 659/660 CE. Unless an earthquake couplet was involved, such an assignment seems unlikely due to distance. The causitive earthquake may have been an earthquake at Aleppo which is discussed in the Notes section for the Sword in the Sky Quake of ~634 CE (collapsible panel titled Earthquake in Aleppo) and in Archaeoseismic Evidence for Aleppo in the Sabbatical Year Earthquakes entry.
Location (with hotlink)	Status	Intensity	Notes

Qasr Tilah

Haynes et al. (2006) examined paleoseismic and archeoseismic evidence related to damage to a late Byzantine—Early Umayyad birkeh (water reservoir) and aqueduct at Qasr Tilah and concluded that left lateral slip generated by several earthquakes cut through a corner of the reservoir and aqueduct creating displacement of the structures. They identified 4 seismic events which produced coseismic slip on the Wadi Arava fault and led to a lateral displacement of 2.2. +/- 0.5 m at the northwest corner of the reservoir (aka birkeh) and 1.6 +/- 0.4 m of the aqueduct. The first seismic event was dated to the 7th century. Haynes at al (2006) suggested it was caused by either the Sword in the Sky Quake (633/634 CE) or the Jordan Valley Quake of 659/660 AD - favoring the Jordan Valley Quake. There was a repair after this 7th century destruction indicating that the site was occupied when the earthquake struck. Because of the repair, it is unclear how much lateral slip was produced (or even if there was lateral slip ?). At some point the site was abandoned. Haynes et al (2006) noted that archeological evidence at the site indicates that it was abandoned and was not occupied past the Early Umayyad Period (661-700 CE). They also noted that

MacDonald (1992) [] collected some Byzantine and Umayyad surface potsherds at the site and documented ruins of Byzantine houses (village) along the fan surface of Wadi Tilah.

If the repair fixed a problem caused by lateral slip rather than generalized destructive shaking, the slip would indicate that part of the Araba fault broke during this event.

Petra - Introduction

Petra - Petra Theater

Petra - Jabal Harun

Petra - The Petra Church

Yavne

Bet She'an

Hammat Gader

Jerash - Introduction

Jerash - Umayyad House

Jerash - Macellum

Jerash - Temple of Zeus

Jerash - Hippodrome

Heshbon

Hippos Sussita

Tell es-Samak/Tel Shiqmona

Khirbet al-Niʿana

Pella

Monastery of Euthymius

Monastery of John the Baptist

Monastery of Khirbet es-Suyyagh

Caesarea

Mount Nebo

Ein Hanasiv

Giv’ati Junction

Avdat

Mizpe Shivta

Mezad Yeruham

Shivta

Rehovot ba Negev

Saadon

Nessana

Mampsis

Haluza

Aqaba/Eilat - Introduction

Aqaba/Eilat - Aila

Aqaba Eilat - Ayla

el-Lejjun

Apamea

Tsunamogenic Evidence

Paleoseismic Evidence

Location (with hotlink)	Status	Intensity	Notes
al-Harif Syria	possible	≥ 7	Sbeinati et al (2010) state that Event Y, characterized from paleoseismology, appears to be older than A.D. 650–810 (unit d, trench A) and younger than A.D. 540–650 (unit d3 in trench C). The results of archaeoseismic investigations indicate that ages of CS-1 (A.D. 650–780) and tufa accumulation CS-3-3 (A.D. 639–883) postdate event Y. Combined together, this constrains Event Y to 540-780 CE.
Bet Zayda	possible	≥ 7	Wechsler at al. (2014) may have seen evidence for this earthquake as Event CH3-E1 (Modeled Age 662-757 CE). Event CH2-E1, which struck next (Modeled Age 675-801 CE), appears to correlate with the Holy Desert Quake of the Sabbatical Year Earthquake sequence.
Dead Sea - Seismite Types	n/a	n/a	n/a
Dead Sea - ICDP Core 5017-1	possible	7	Lu et al (2020) associated a turbidite in the core to a middle 8th century earthquake. CalBP is reported as 1248 ± 44 yr B.P. This works out to a date of 702 CE with a 1σ bound of 658 - 746 CE indicating that the Jordan Valley Quake, Sword in the Sky Quake, and the Sabbatical Year Quakes are all possibilities. Ages come from Kitagawa et al (2017). The deposit is described as a 16.5 cm. thick turbidite (MMD). Lu et al (2020) estimated local seismic intensity of VII which they converted to Peak Horizontal Ground Acceleration (PGA) of 0.18 g. Dr. Yin Lu (personal correspondence, 2021) relates that "this estimate was based on previous studies of turbidites around the world (thickness vs. MMI)" ( Moernaut et al (2014). The turbidite was identified in the depocenter composite core 5017-1 (Holes A-H).
Dead Sea - En Feshka	probable	5.6-6.4	Kagan et. al. (2011) assigned a 660 AD date [707 AD ± 41 (±1σ) - 686 AD ± 87 (±2σ)] to a 3 cm . thick Type B (microbreccia) seismite at a depth of 157.0 cm..
Dead Sea - En Gedi	possible	5.6-6.3	Migowski et. al. (2004) assigned a date of 660 AD to a 0.5 thick Type 1 (linear waves) seismite at a depth of 1.99 m.
Dead Sea - Nahal Ze 'elim	no evidence		At site ZA-2, Kagan et. al. (2011) did not assign any seismites to a date of 660 AD. No seismites in her section have a modeled age which overlaps with a 659/660 CE date (± 1σ or ± 2σ).
Araba - Introduction	n/a	n/a	n/a
Araba - Taybeh Trench	possible	≥ 7	LeFevre et al. (2018) might have seen evidence for this earthquake in the Taybeh Trench (Event E3 - Modeled Age 551 AD ± 264).
Araba - Qatar Trench	no evidence	≥ 7	The Jordan Valley Quake is just outside the modeled ages for Events E4 (758 CE ± 87), E5 (758 CE ± 87), and E6 (251 CE ± 251) (Klinger et. al., 2015).
Location (with hotlink)	Status	Intensity	Notes

Displaced Aqueduct at al Harif, Syria

Sbeinati et al (2010) state that Event Y, characterized from paleoseismology, appears to be older than A.D. 650–810 (unit d, trench A) and younger than A.D. 540–650 (unit d3 in trench C). The results of archaeoseismic investigations indicate that ages of CS-1 (A.D. 650–780) and tufa accumulation CS-3-3 (A.D. 639–883) postdate event Y. Combined together, this constrains Event Y to 540-780 CE.

Bet Zayda (aka Beteiha)

Wechsler at al. (2014) may have seen evidence for this earthquake as Event CH3-E1 (Modeled Age 662-757 CE). Event CH2-E1, which struck next (Modeled Age 675-801 CE), appears to correlate with the Holy Desert Quake of the Sabbatical Year Earthquake sequence.

Dead Sea - Seismite Types

Dead Sea - ICDP Core 5017-1

Lu et al (2020) associated a turbidite in the core to a middle 8th century earthquake. CalBP is reported as 1248 ± 44 yr B.P. This works out to a date of 702 CE with a 1σ bound of 658 - 746 CE indicating that the Jordan Valley Quake, Sword in the Sky Quake, and the Sabbatical Year Quakes are all possibilities. Ages come from Kitagawa et al (2017). The deposit is described as a 16.5 cm. thick turbidite (MMD). Lu et al (2020) estimated local seismic intensity of VII which they converted to Peak Horizontal Ground Acceleration (PGA) of 0.18 g. Dr. Yin Lu (personal correspondence, 2021) relates that "this estimate was based on previous studies of turbidites around the world (thickness vs. MMI)" ( Moernaut et al (2014). The turbidite was identified in the depocenter composite core 5017-1 (Holes A-H).

See the following from Lu et al (2020b) regarding estimating intensity from turbidites:

Previous studies have revealed that the intensity threshold for triggering historic turbidites are variable in different regions and range from MMI V½ to VII½ (Howarth et al., 2014; Moernaut, 2020; Van Daele et al., 2015; Wilhelm et al., 2016). The intensity threshold constrained from the Dead Sea data (≥VI½) is situated in the middle of this range.

Previous studies in Chilean lakes have indicated that the (cumulative) thickness of historic turbidites across multiple cores correlates with seismic intensity, and can thus be used to infer paleo-intensities in this setting (Moernaut et al., 2014). However, in the case of the Dead Sea core 5017-1, there is a random relationship (a correlation factor of 0.04) between the thickness of prehistoric turbidites and seismic intensity (Figure 5a).

Dead Sea - En Feshka

Kagan et. al. (2011) assigned a 660 AD date [707 AD ± 41 (±1σ) - 686 AD ± 87 (±2σ)] to a 3 cm . thick Type B (microbreccia) seismite at a depth of 157.0 cm..

Dead Sea - En Gedi

Migowski et. al. (2004) assigned a date of 660 AD to a 0.5 thick Type 1 (linear waves) seismite at a depth of 1.99 m.

Dead Sea - Nahal Ze 'elim

At site ZA-2, Kagan et. al. (2011) did not assign any seismites to a date of 660 AD. No seismites in her section have a modeled age which overlaps with a 659/660 CE date (± 1σ or ± 2σ).

Araba - Introduction

Araba - Taybeh Trench

LeFevre et al. (2018) might have seen evidence for this earthquake in the Taybeh Trench (Event E3 - Modeled Age 551 AD +/- 264).

Araba - Qatar Trench

The Jordan Valley Quake is just outside the modeled ages for Events E4 (758 CE ± 87), E5 (758 CE ± 87), and E6 (251 CE ± 251) (Klinger et. al., 2015).

Notes

Guidoboni et al (1994)

Guidoboni et al (1994:357-358) notes the following

Daesius was the Macedonian month corresponding to the Attic Thargelion (May/June; Russell 1985, p.47)
depending on the region concerned, the month "Daesius" ("Haziran" in the Syriac calendar) will fall somewhere between mid-April and August.

Historical Horoscopes

Theophilus of Edessa was a professional astrologer and his lost history may have sourced some of the extant textual accounts. This is here in case it provides some insight into any celestial observations accompanying this or other relevant earthquakes. The tables below come from:

Pingree, D. (1962). "Historical Horoscopes." Journal of the American Oriental Society 82(4): 487-502.

JW: Everybody dies on 20 March ?

Ambraseys (2009)

AD 659 June 7 Palestine

AD 659 June 7 Palestine

An earthquake in Palestine destroyed the greater part of Jericho, together with all its churches. The monastery and the church of St John the Baptist by the Jordan River were ruined, and the monastery of Aba Euthymius, 15km east of Jerusalem, collapsed, killing many of its monks. The shock destroyed villages in Palestine and presumably also in Syria.

There is no indication that Jerusalem suffered in this earthquake, but sanctuaries in the Jordan valley may have been affected, including perhaps that of Mar Elias.

An aftershock followed on 9 July.

This earthquake is beset with chronological difficulties. The Maronite Chronicle, a contemporary document, dates this event to A.S. 970 Haziran = June 659, on Friday morning at the second hour. This event is mentioned just before the Jacobite disputation and earthquake of Sunday 9 June 659 (q.v.). This is also given as the 17th year of Constans II Pogonatus (end September 657 to end September 658) [1], which is clearly inconsistent.

However, the same Chronicle places what is apparently the same event in A.S. 971 = October 659 to September 660 [2], which is also given as the year in which Mo’awia (or Mo’awiyah) became Khaliph, but this was in 41 A.H. (May 661 to April 662; Grumel 1958, 380), and in the same month as that in which the disputation of the Jacobites was held (June 659), on the ninth day, a Sunday, at the eighth hour [3].

Theophanes, who may have used an Alexandrian source for this event (Theoph. (1997), 485), gives the date as the 17th year of Constans (end September 657 to end September 658) but A.M. 6150 Daesius (June 659) and indiction 2 (September 658 to August 659). It would thus seem that Theophanes’s regnal year of Constans is a year too low, which is a general tendency of Theophanes’s dates during the periods A.M. 6099–6204 (AD 607–712) and A.M. 6219–6266 (AD 727–774) (Grumel 1954, 128 and passim). In any case, this lemma shows a degree of chronological confusion, including as it does the exile of Pope Martin I, who died in AD 656. Theophanes adds that this earthquake caused damage in Syria as well.

Considering the peculiarities of the system used by Theophanes for the dating of events in the seventh and eighth centuries AD (Grumel 1934, 406; 1958, 174), the chronological elements given are consistent with 7 June 659, the day of the month having been deduced from the day of the week and the fact that the aftershock occurred on a Sunday [3].

Elias of Nisibis (writing in the tenth or eleventh century) dates the earthquake to A.H. 39 (29 May 659 to 16 May 660) and A.S. 970 (October 658 to September 659), in Haziran (June).

The damage to the sanctuaries of St John the Baptist and Mar Elias near Bethlehem, alluded to in Descriptio terrae sanctae (c. 1185), may be due to this earthquake.

Russell argues that in fact there was only one earthquake in Palestine in AD 659, on the basis of the chronological inconsistencies in the Maronite Chronicle, and he notes that the A.S. 971 earthquake is associated with the proclamation of Mo’awiyah as Caliph (Russell 1981, 24; for a detailed discussion of the chronology, see Nöldelke 1876, 83).

The ruins of the monastery of Aba Euthymius near Khan al-Aram, 10km from Jerusalem, are still visible (Vailhe 1899, 533; Gil 1983, i. 65 n. 92).

Russell suggests that Caesarea Maritima was damaged again by this earthquake, since it was inhabited briefly after the AD 632/3 earthquake (Russell 1985, 42). Indeed, Russell remarks that it is impossible to ascertain the effects of this and the AD 632 (634) earthquake on the Mt Nebo monastery owing to the manner in which the excavations were conducted. In Avdat it seems that occupation of the city after the AD 634 earthquake was fairly limited, so the city may have finally been abandoned after AD 658/9. The same could be said of Mampsis, Gerasa and Pella, which may have been affected too, but the nature of the damage is not clear (Russell 1985, 55, 59, 52, 51). Russell’s results from the survey of the damage to the above towns which has been brought to light by archaeological excavations must be treated with caution.

The occurrence of an earthquake that caused serious damage and the abandonment of sites, deduced from archaeological evidence, extending from Khiret Karak in the north to Oboda in the south and from Caesaria on the Mediterranean coast in the west to Gerasa in Jordan in the east, cannot be established from literary sources. However, it is possible, on physical grounds, to exclude the possibility of a single earthquake being associated with such a large epicentral area of radius more than 80km. Many important centres that are not recorded as having suffered in this earthquake would have also been utterly destroyed, for which there is no evidence.

Guidoboni et al. (1994, 357–358) give to this event three different dates: April, June 659 and September 659–666 (Guidoboni 1989, 706).

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A contemporary source, the Maronite Chronicle, says that on the Feast of St Thomas (Friday 7 June 659) at the second hour, a violent earthquake occurred in Palestine and many places collapsed. A second earthquake followed two days later, and another, a year later, which has a theological rather than a factual basis. A similar date is given by Elias of Nisibis, who places it in the month of Haziran of the year 970 of the Greeks, and says that a great part of Palestine and many other places were ruined. These earthquakes are also recorded by Theophanes, who reports that in the month of Daisios (May/June) there was a great earthquake and collapse in Palestine and Syria. It is possible that this earthquake was felt east of Jerusalem and Bethlehem and that it caused the destruction of Jericho mentioned in a later entry in the Maronite Chronicle (Palmer et al. 1993).

There is archaeological evidence for destruction around this time at Yavneh (Langgut et al. 2015) and possibly at Jerash (Gawlikowski 1992:358).

Notes

In the year 970, the 17th of Constans, in the month of Haziran, on Friday, at the 2nd hour, there was a violent earthquake in the region of Palestine: many places there fell down. (Chron. Mar. 70/54)

(a.S. 970, 17th year of Constans, Haziran) And in the same month as that in which the disputation of the Jacobites was held (with Mo’awia and Mar Maro), on the 9th day, a Sunday, at the 8th hour, there was an earthquake. (Chron. Mar. 70/55)

(a.S. 971, 18th year of Constans) In those days, while the Arabs were congregated with Mo’awia (in Jerusalem), there was a commotion and a violent earthquake in which a great part of Jericho fell, with all its churches. And the church of Mar Johannes, built by the Jordan in honour of the baptism of Our Saviour, was overturned from its foundations up, with the entire monastery; also the monastery of Father Euthymius with many of the monks’ and anchorites’ houses, and many places collapsed in this earthquake. (Chron. Mar. 71/55)

(a.M. 6150) And at this time a great earthquake occurred, [causing] collapse in Palestine and Syria in the month of Daesius in the 2nd indiction. (Theoph. 347)

(a.39/a.S. 970) And in the month of Haziran there was an earthquake and the larger part of Palestine and many other places collapsed. (Eli. Nis. 140–141/68)

References

Ambraseys, N. N. (2009), Earthquakes in the Mediterranean and Middle East: A Multidisciplinary Study of Seismicity up to 1900, p. 282

Palmer, A., Brock, S., & Hoyland, R. (1993), The Seventh Century in the West Syrian Chronicles

Langgut, D., Yannai, E., Taxel, I., Agnon, A., & Marco, S. (2015), Resolving Historical Earthquake Date at Tel Yavneh, Palynology 40(2):145–159

Gawlikowski, M. (1992), Jerash Excavations, ADAJ 36:358

AD 659 June 9 Palestine

AD 659 June 9 Palestine

Another earthquake in Palestine, probably an aftershock, occurred on Sunday 9 June 659 (Chron. Mar. N323;ND 95).

References

Ambraseys, N. N. (2009), Earthquakes in the Mediterranean and Middle East: A Multidisciplinary Study of Seismicity up to 1900, p. 282

Guidoboni et al. (1994)

(240) June 659 Palestine, Syria

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from Chat GPT 4o, 8 June 2025
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A violent earthquake struck Palestine in June 659. The Maronite Chronicle reports that the event occurred on a Friday at the second hour in the month of Haziran. Theophanes confirms the event and states that Syria was also affected, dating it to the month of Daesius in the second indiction. Elias of Nisibis places the earthquake in June of the same year, noting widespread collapse across Palestine. Grumel also dated the earthquake to June 659. Due to calendar differences, the month of Daesius or Haziran could fall between mid-April and August depending on the regional tradition.

(240) June 659 Palestine, Syria

sources

Chron. Maron. 70
Theoph. 347
Elias Nisib. Syr. versio 140–1

literature

Russell (1985)

catalogues

Bonito (1691)
Mallet (1853)
Schmidt (1881)
Sieberg (1932a)
Amiran (1950–51)
Grumel (1958)
Ben-Menahem (1979)
Guidoboni (1989)

Quotes in other languages may not be accurate

The Maronite Chronicle, a Syriac source, reports a violent earthquake in Palestine: "In 970 [of the Greeks; i.e. 659 A.D.], the seventeenth year of the reign of Constans, there was a violent earthquake in the region of Palestine, at the second hour on a Friday in the month of Haziran [June]. Many places collapsed".

ܒܫܢܬ ܬܫܥܡܐܐ ܘܫܒܥܝܢ (970) ܕܝܘܢܝܐ، ܒܫܢܬܐ ܕܫܒܥܣܪܐ ܕܟܘܢܣܛܢܛܝܢܘܣ ܩܣܪܐ، ܗܘܬ ܙܥܘܬܐ ܪܒܬܐ ܒܐܬܪܐ ܕܦܠܣܛܝܢ ܒܫܥܬ ܬܪܬܝܢ ܒܦܪܓܐ ܕܚܘܕܫ ܚܙܝܪܢ. ܘܢܦܠܘ ܐܬܪ̈ܐ ܣܓܝܐܐ.

According to Theophanes, the earthquake also struck Syria in the seventeenth year of the reign of Constans II [658–659 A.D.]: "In this year there was also a violent earthquake which caused destruction in Syria and Palestine. It happened in the month of Daesius [in the second indiction]".

Ἐν τούτῳ τῷ ἔτει σεισμὸς μέγας ἐγένετο καὶ συντριβὴ μεγάλη ἐν τῇ Παλαιστίνῃ καὶ Συρίᾳ κατὰ τὸν μῆνα Δαισίῳ ἐν δευτέρᾳ ἰνδικτιῶνι.

Daesius was the Macedonian month corresponding to the Attic Thargelion (May/June; Russell 1985, p.47).

Elias of Nisibis dates the earthquake to June 659: "The 39th year [of the Hegira] began on Wednesday 29 Iyyar in the year 970 of the Greeks [i.e. 29 May 659 A.D.]. Isho'denah, metropolitan of Basra [-J]. And in the month of Haziran [June] there was an earthquake, and many places collapsed, including most of Palestine".

وفي شهر حزيران كانت زلزلة، فسقطت أمكنة كثيرة منها أكثر فلسطين.

Grumel (1958, p.479) dates the earthquake to June 659, and this is probably correct. However, depending on the region concerned, the month "Daesius" ("Haziran" in the Syriac calendar) will fall somewhere between mid-April and August.

References

Guidoboni, E., et al. (1994). Catalogue of ancient earthquakes in the Mediterranean area up to the 10th century. Rome, Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica

(241) September 659 – August 660 Jericho

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The Maronite Chronicle reports that a violent earthquake struck Jericho sometime between September 659 and August 660, during the 18th year of Constans II. This tremor caused widespread collapse in the city of Jericho, destroying churches including the Church of St. John at the Jordan, the Monastery of St. Euthymius, and other monastic and hermitic dwellings. The earthquake occurred while the Arabs, under Mu‘awiyah, were gathered in the region.

(241) September 659 – August 660 Jericho

sources

Chron. Maron. 71

literature

Russell (1985)

catalogues

Bonito (1691)
Mallet (1853)
Schmidt (1881)
Sieberg (1932a)
Amiran (1950–51)
Grumel (1958)
Ben-Menahem (1979)
Guidoboni (1989)

Warning

Quotes in other languages may not be accurate

The Maronite Chronicle describes an earthquake at Jericho which caused deaths and damage: "In the year 971 [of the Greeks], the eighteenth [September 659 – August 660] of the reign of Constans [...]. And in those days, when the Arabs had gathered there with Mu'awiyah, there was a tremor and a violent earthquake, and most of Jericho collapsed with all its churches. The church of St. John at the Jordan of the Baptism of our Redeemer was razed to the ground, and the entire monastery as well. And not only did the monastery of St. Euthymius collapse, with many residences of monks and hermits, but many other places as well".

ܒܫܢܬ ܬܫܥܡܐܐ ܘܫܒܥܝܢ ܘܚܕ (971) ܠܝܘܠܦܐ ܕܝܘܢܝܐ، ܒܫܢܬܐ ܕܬܡܢܝܐ ܕܩܘܣܛܢܛܝܢܘܣ، ܘܒܐܝܢܝܢ ܝܘܡܬܐ ܟܕ ܟܢܫܘ ܐܪܒܝܐ ܥܡ ܡܘܥܘܝܐ ܬܡܢܐ، ܗܘܐ ܪܬܝܬܐ ܘܙܘܥܐ ܪܒܐ ܘܢܦܠܬ ܪܘܒܐ ܕܐܝܪܝܚܘ ܥܡ ܟܠ ܥܕܬܗ. ܘܥܕܬܐ ܕܡܪܝ ܝܘܚܢܢ ܥܠ ܝܘܪܕܢܢ ܕܡܥܡܘܕܝܬܐ ܕܦܪܘܩܢ ܫܬܬܚܬ ܡܢ ܫܘܪܫܗ ܥܕܡܐ ܠܥܠ ܘܟܠ ܕܝܪܐ. ܐܦܠܐ ܕܝܪܐ ܕܐܒܐ ܐܘܬܐܡܝܘܣ ܢܦܠ ܥܡ ܣܓܝܐܐ ܡܢ ܒܬ̈ܐ ܕܪܗܒܢܐ ܘܐܚܕܝܐ، ܘܢܦܠܘ ܐܬܪ̈ܐ ܣܓܝ̈ܐܐ.

References

Guidoboni, E., et al. (1994). Catalogue of ancient earthquakes in the Mediterranean area up to the 10th century. Rome, Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica

Comparative Analysis: AD 659–660 Jericho Earthquake

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comparison by ChatGPT version 4o

Primary Sources and Scope

Both Ambraseys (2009) and Guidoboni et al. (1994) cite the same key text: the Maronite Chronicle, a Syriac source. However, their emphasis, presentation, and interpretative framing differ substantially. Ambraseys (2009) places the Jericho earthquake within a sequence of events, including two other earthquakes around the same time (7 and 9 June 659), and treats this third event (dated to AG 971, or AD 659/660) as part of a chronicled theological narrative. He suggests caution, interpreting it potentially as an exaggerated or legendary addition with limited seismological value. His entry minimizes emphasis on specific damage, using summary language rather than detailed quotation. In contrast, Guidoboni et al. (1994) devote a full catalog entry to this Jericho quake, placing it confidently within the 18th year of Constans II (September 659 – August 660) and reproducing a fuller description from the Maronite Chronicle, including extensive detail on the destruction of churches and monasteries. They highlight the presence of Muʿāwiyah and Arab forces in the region as temporal context. Guidoboni et al. also provide the original Syriac quote in Unicode, reflecting a philological approach to source preservation and cross-verification, which is absent from Ambraseys' treatment.

Chronology

Ambraseys treats the event as a possibly theological construct placed roughly a year after a known seismic cluster (7–9 June 659). He does not assign it a clear independent date or validate its seismological distinctness. Guidoboni et al., however, treat it as a standalone earthquake with a clear chronological bracket (Sep 659–Aug 660) based on the Syriac AG 971 and imperial reign-year reference. Their entry situates it confidently as a real, destructive earthquake localized around Jericho.

Damage Description

Ambraseys offers a minimal and skeptical description, primarily noting the destruction of Jericho and referencing the collapse of Christian religious structures, but without direct quotation. Guidoboni et al. quote fully and include the Syriac, highlighting widespread collapse, including the Church of St. John at the Jordan, the Monastery of St. Euthymius, and many hermitages. They describe the event as significant in scale and culturally impactful.

Historiographical Style

- Ambraseys (2009): Emphasizes textual criticism and caution, noting possible theological embellishment or legendary elements.
- Guidoboni et al. (1994): Emphasize source fidelity and reconstruction of earthquake history via both translated and original language quotes, asserting the event’s historical and seismic significance. Their contrast reflects the broader distinction in style between these two catalogs: Ambraseys focuses on reliability and textual ambiguity; Guidoboni focuses on reconstructing historical earthquakes from maximal textual evidence.

References

Ambraseys, N. (2009). Earthquakes in the Mediterranean and Middle East: A multidisciplinary study of seismicity up to 1900, Cambridge University Press

Guidoboni, E., et al. (1994). Catalogue of ancient earthquakes in the Mediterranean area up to the 10th century. Rome, Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica

Russell (1985)

The Earthquake of June 659 and a Subsequent Earthquake in the Jordan Valley

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Russell (1985) identifies two related earthquakes during 659 and 660 CE. The first occurred in June 659 and affected Palestine and parts of Syria. It is recorded by Theophanes, Elias of Nisibis, and the Maronite Chronicle, and dated to the 17th year of Constans II. The second is described by the Maronite Chronicle as occurring the following year, during the 18th year of Constans, at a time when Mu'awiyah was proclaimed Caliph. This earthquake destroyed Jericho and religious structures near the Jordan River. Russell links this event to possible stress transfer from the first quake, citing archaeological evidence of 7th-century reconstruction at the Monastery of St. Euthymius.

As a result of internal Arab discord in 659, the Islamic governor of Syria, Mu'awiyah (who later founded the Omayyad Caliphate), entered a brief truce with the Byzantine empire (Hitti 1951: 427). After documenting these events for the year A.M. 6150 (= September, 658 through August, 659), Theophanes further noted an earthquake, writing, "... in the month of Daesio in the second indiction, a great earthquake throughout Palestine and Syria had given cause for an extensive collapse of the buildings of the East" (1839: 531). The second indiction would have occurred between September 1, 658 and August 31, 659 (Ware 1976: 227; Ostrogorsky 1934: 2130). Further, Daesio was the Macedonian month corresponding to the Attic Thargelion (= May/June; Hamilton 1969: 39), dating this event to May–June 659.

This earthquake was also recorded in the 11th century Chronographia of Elias of Nisibis: "And in the month of Haziran there was an earthquake and it overthrew a major portion of Palestine and many neighboring regions" (1954: 68). Elias placed this event in A.G. 970, thus dating it to June 659.

Further documentation of this earthquake is found in the Maronite Chronicle (1899: 323; 1955: 54), written in Syriac shortly after 664: "In the year 970, the 17th of Constans, in the month of Haziran, on a Friday at the second hour, there was a violent earthquake in the region of Palestine: many places were overthrown by that." Again, the date was June 659. Further, since Constans II was proclaimed emperor in the autumn of the ancient year 641/2 (as derived from Theophanes 1839: 523; see also Vasiliev 1958: 193), the 17th year of his reign would have been from the autumn of 658 through the summer of 659.

Apparently this earthquake affected the region of Palestine, with damage extending north through Syria. That the Jordan Valley and regions east of the rift were not immediately affected is suggested by the subsequent occurrence of an earthquake in the Jordan Valley, recorded in the Maronite Chronicle. According to this document, a very large crowd of Arabs had gathered in Jerusalem to proclaim Mu'awiyah as Caliph. Mu'awiyah, with a crowd following him, had gone to pray on Mount Golgotha, and subsequently at the Sepulchre of Mary in Gethsemane. The continuing narrative reads:

At that moment, while the Arabs were gathered there with Mu'awiyah, there was a foreshock and a violent earthquake, by which it overthrew the greater part of Jericho and all of its churches. And the Church of St. John, built next to the Jordan in honor of our Savior's baptism, was destroyed to its foundations, along with the entire monastery. The Monastery of St. Euthymius, along with many habitations of monks and hermits and many villages, were also overthrown in this quake.

This event was dated to both A.G. 971 (= September, 659 through August, 660), and the 18th year of Constans II (= autumn 659 through summer 660). It seems plausible that the June 659 earthquake had created stress along the tectonic structures of the Jordan Valley, which triggered an earthquake the following year. Chitty (1928: 176; 1932: 196) correlated evidence of extensive 7th century reconstruction in the Monastery of St. Euthymius with the 659/60 earthquake in the Jordan Valley. Regions east of the rift may also have been affected at this time.

References

Russell, K. W. (1985). "The Earthquake Chronology of Palestine and Northwest Arabia from the 2nd through the Mid-8th Century A.D." Bulletin of the American School of Oriental Research 260: 37-59.

Paleoclimate - Droughts

References

Ambraseys, N. (2009). Earthquakes in the Mediterranean and Middle East: a multidisciplinary study of seismicity up to 1900. Cambridge, UK, Cambridge University Press.

http://books.google.com/books/about/Earthquakes_in_the_Mediterranean_and_Mid.html?id=x2veAAAACAAJ

Ben-Menahem, A. (1979). "Earthquake Catalogue for the Middle East, 92 BC - 1980 AD." Bolletino di Geofisica Teorica ed Applicata 21: 245-310.

http://books.google.com/books/about/Earthquake_Catalogue_for_the_Middle_East.html?id=YCSJNwAACAAJ

Ben-Menahem, A. (1991). "Four Thousand Years of Seismicity along the Dead Sea rift." Journal of Geophysical Research 96((no. B12), 20): 195-120, 216.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/91JB01936/abstract

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