Chronography (aka Chronographikon Syntomon) by Nicephoros
Background and Biography Background and Biography
Excerpts, Chronology, Seismic Effects, and Locations Talking Mule Quake
Excerpts English from Mango (1990)
69. Thereafter a son was born to the emperor, whom he named Leo. At the same time a severe earthquake occurred in Syria, causing enormous damage. For some cities that were there (were completely destroyed and) the ground round about opened up to a great extent, while others suffered this fate but partially. Others were shifted from their high positions and slipped down entire, with their walls and houses, to the plains below, moving a distance of as much as six miles, more or less, from their original situation. Some affirmed they had seen the ground in Mesopotamia (which is near Syria) crack deeply along (a distance) of two miles, and another ground, sandy and very white, thrown up from below; and that along with the latter was cast up a female mule, which proclaimed in a human voice the destruction of the Arabs. A short time thereafter a tribe appeared from the desert beyond and slew many multitudes (of Arabs) without resistance.
- from Mango (1990:140-143)
Chronology
Year Reference Corrections Notes ~749/750 CE around the time of the birth of Leo none
- Leo was born on 25 January 750 CE according to Theophanes and 8 February 750 CE according to Paul the Deacon
Seismic Effects
- a severe earthquake occurred in Syria, causing enormous damage
- some cities that were there were completely destroyed
- the ground round about opened up to a great extent
- others suffered this fate but partially
- block slide type of landslide - Others were shifted from their high positions and slipped down entire, with their walls and houses, to the plains below, moving a distance of as much as six miles, more or less, from their original situation
- Sand boils appeared in an earth fissure - Some affirmed they had seen the ground in Mesopotamia (which is near Syria) crack deeply along (a distance) of two miles, and another ground, sandy and very white, thrown up from below
Locations
- Syria
- Mesopotamia (which is near Syria)
Online Versions and Further Reading References
Notes Missing Holy Desert QuakeKarcz (2004) speculated that the Holy Desert Quake may not be in Nicephoros' Book due to a lacuna or illegible paragraph in the manuscript(s).
