Antonopoulos (1980)
Although he did not cite him, Ambraseys (2009) catalog entry appears to be largely derived and sometimes directly quoted from Antonopoulos (1980:148-150). Ambraseys (2009) included Antonopoulos' (1980:148-150) apparently flawed analysis for dating the earthquake based on moving of the Roman Mint. In his acknowledgments, Antonopoulos' (1980:157) noted that he had beenmuch assisted by Professor N. Ambraseys of the Imperial College — University of Londonwith whoseinvaluable help, he (Antonopoulos) could not have carried out his work. Thus, it is entirely possible that this section of Antonopoulos (1980) was authored or co-authored by N.N. Ambraseys. Antonopoulos (1980:148-150) entry, which includes a wealth of valuable references, is quoted in its entirety below.3. 76* AD. Cyprus. Cition, Paphos and Salamis.
References
- 39 (p. 139) - OBERHUMMER, E., 1903. - Die Insel Cypem. Eine Landeskunde auf Historischer Grundlage. Ed. Th. Ackermann, München.
- 44 (p. 775) - SIEBERG, A., 1932. - Die Erdbeben. In B. Gutenberg's Handbuch der Geophysik, vol. 4, Berlin, Ed. G. Borntraeger.
- 15 (vii) - HIERONYMOS.
- 18 (P. 342) - SYNCELLOS.
- 20 (P. 277) - EUSEBIOS, PAMPHILIOS, c. 330 A.D. - Armenian Text: in C. Coenobi's « Chronicon », Ed. Aaronis, Venice, 1868.
- 14 (P. 54) - ELIAS NISIBINOS.
- 22 (vii, 9.11) - OROSIUS, PAULUS, 416 A.D. - Historiae adversum paganos libri vii. In C. Zangenmeister's Edition, Ausburg 1570; also in BSGR, PCCL, and in « King Alfred's Anglo-Saron version of the history by Orosius », translated by J. Bosworth, Longman's Edition, London 1859.
- 30 (p. 459) - BURSIAN, C., 1862. - Geograplie von Griechenland. Ed. Teubner, 2, p. 522, Leipzig.
- 9 (P. 248) - CEDRINOS - Chronicon Paschale.
A disastrous earthquake occurred in Cyprus in 76 or 77 AD. This earthquake is generally dated together with a pestilence in Rome, in 77 AD, but early chroniclers differ in it slightly1. We are inclined to think rather of 76 AD as the year for this earthquake because this was the year at which the Romans transferred their mint to Cyprus and the first coins minted there are dated July 76, August 77 and September 78 (Hill 1940, p. 234). It is not improbable that this transfer of the mint was connected with the measures taken to relieve the island after the earthquake which is generally dated 767 AD but may have taken place a year earlier. Some few early chroniclers may have put the earthquake in 77 AD in order to synchronise it with the pestilence in Rome.
The facts about the particular places in Cyprus which were destroyed by this earthquake and the seismic sea-wave which is supposed to have accompanied this earthquake, are very obscure. If we trust the allusion in the Sibyllina Oracula (lib. iv, lines 125, 126, 140, 141), the places in Cyprus which suffered most should have been Salamis, Paphos and Cition, but it is questionable whether these places suffered from the 76 AD earthquake or from a later shock. It seams probable, from the slight indications, mostly inferences from statements at a later date, that, with the possible exception of Cition, Salamis and Paphos should have been damaged to some extent by the 76 AD earthquake. The chroniclers were evidently not quite certain of the particular places in Cyprus which were damaged by this earthquake.
The Sibyllina Oracula prophesies also a destructive seismic sea-wave (lib. iv, lines 126, 140; lib. v, lines 450-453; lib. vii, line 5). This prophesy constitutes the sole authority upon which Oberhummer (1903, p. 139)2 and after him many authors have based their arguments for the 76 AD seismic sea-wave in Cyprus. But we find no mention of such an event in the narrations of early chroniclers3, and we feel that should an event such as a catastrophic seismic sea-wave had in fact accompanied this earthquake, it should have been most certainly included by these chroniclers in their description of the seismic events of 76 AD.
Whether, in this instance, the Sibyllina Oracula can be trusted as a source of authentic historical information, and if so, whether the seismic sea-wave in Cyprus which is mentioned in the text refers to the earthquake of 76 AD, all yet remains to be investigated. No other data worthy of any confidence has come to our attention.