Historia Romana by Paul the Deacon

Background and Biography

Background and Biography

Excerpts, Chronology, Seismic Effects, and Locations

Holy Desert Quake

Excerpts

English

• from Text published in 1569, Book XXII p. 696

In the 6th year of Constantine, there was a great earthquake in Palestine, by the Jordan, and in all of Syria; in the month of January at the 4th hour. An innumerable multitude perished - many tens of thousands. Churches and Monasteries collapsed. The worst was in the wilderness of the Holy City (Jerusalem).

Latin

• from Text published in 1569, Book XXII p. 696

Anno sexto imperij Constantini, factus et terraemotus magnus in Palestina, & circa lordanem, & totam Syriam, mense lanuario, hora quarta, & multa milia, quin & innumerabilia mortua funt, ecclesiaeq; ac monasteria corruerút, & maxime penes eremum Sanctae ciutatis.

Chronology

Year(s)

Year	Reference	Corrections	Notes
18 June 746 to 17 June 747 CE	In the 6th year of Constantine	none	calculated using CHRONOS reign started 18 June 741 CE

Time and Date

Time and Date	Reference	Corrections	Notes
~10 am in January	in the month of January at the 4th hour.	none	4th hour refers to the 4th hour of daylight

Seismic Effects

• there was a great earthquake in Palestine, by the Jordan, and in all of Syria
• An innumerable multitude perished - many tens of thousands
• Churches and Monasteries collapsed
• The worst was in the wilderness of the Holy City (Jerusalem)

Locations

• Palestine
• by the Jordan
• all of Syria
• the wilderness of the Holy City (Jerusalem)

Talking Mule Quake

Excerpts

English

• from Text published in 1569, Book XXII pp. 700-701

9th year of Constantine ...

[Porrò] On the 8th of February [eiusdem] 3rd indiction, the son Leo was born to emperor Constantine from the daughter of Chagan of Chazaria. That same year there was an earthquake in Syria, an enormous and terrible [calamity]. Many died. A spring [moved ?]. In another place in the mountains, a village moved for about six miles with its walls and homes intact and without any small thing dying. Finally, In Mesopotamia, the earth split two thousand [feet?] and out of the chasm came a different soil which was white and sandy. Out of this chasm emerged a spotless mule speaking in a human voice which predicted an invasion by a foreign army into the land of the Arabs. This came true.

Latin

• from Text published in 1569, Book XXII pp. 700-701

Anno nono imperij Constantini ...

Porrò octaua Kalendas Februarij eiusdem tertię Indictionis, natus est Imperatori Constantino filius quem nominauit Leonem, ex Chaiani Cazariae filia. Anno verò eodem terraemotus factus est in Syria, & ingens ac terribilis caſus, vnde ciuitatum aliae quidem penitùs extermininatae ſunt, aliae verò mcdiocriter, aliae autem à motanis ad fubiecta campeſtria cum muris & habitationibus ſuis integrae migrauerunt & laluę quaſi ad miliaria ſex, vel etiam modicum quid vltrà. Denique aſſeuerauerút hivqui proprijs viſibus terram Mesopotamiae contemplati ſunt, in longitudine diſruptam fuiſſe ad miliaria duo, & ex profundo eius afcendiffe aliam terram nimis albam & hareno fam, de cuius medio aſcendit, vt aiunt, animal mulinum incontaminatum, loquens humana voce, & praenuncians gentis incurſionem ab eremo aduerſus Arabes. quod & factum eſt.

Chronology

Year(s)

Year	Reference	Corrections	Notes
1 Sept. 749 to 31 Aug. 750 CE	3rd indiction	none	calculated using CHRONOS
18 June 749 to 17 June 750 CE	9th year of Constantine	none	calculated using CHRONOS reign started 18 June 741 CE

Seismic Effects

• there was an earthquake in Syria
• Many died
• A spring [moved ?]
• block slide type of landslide - in the mountains, a village moved for about six miles with its walls and homes intact and without any small thing dying.
• Sand boils appeared in an earth fissure - In Mesopotamia, the earth split two thousand [feet?] and out of the chasm came a different soil which was white and sandy.

Despite any possible exaggerations, these describe real secondary effects of an earthquake. As noted by Karcz (2004), the translational landslide and the sand boils would be more likely to occur in the rainy season when water table was higher. Sand boils are a common liquefaction effect and can be used to estimate a minimum intensity. There was also an oracular talking mule which, though only a secondary seismic effect in fiction, may have been the most memorable part of the story to subsequent readers and authors. All the Byzantine authors listed in this catalog who describe the Talking Mule Quake mention the talking mule and by the time we get to Glycas, the talking mule is all that remains in his shortened account. He doesn't even mention the earthquake.

Locations

• Syria
• Mesopotamia

Sources

Sources

Online Versions and Further Reading

References