01 Sbeinati

ANNALS OF GEOPHYSICS, VOL. 48, N.
3, June 2005
The historical earthquakes of Syria:

an analysis of large and moderate
earthquakes from 1365 B.C. to 1900 A.D.
Mohamed Reda Sbeinati (1), Ryad Darawcheh (1) and Mikhail Mouty (2)
1
( ) Department of Geology, Atomic Energy Commission of Syria, Damascus, Syria
(2) Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria
Abstract
The historical sources of large and moderate earthquakes, earthquake catalogues and monographs exist in many
depositories in Syria and European centers. They have been studied, and the detailed review and analysis re-
sulted in a catalogue with 181 historical earthquakes from 1365 B.C. to 1900 A.D. Numerous original documents
in Arabic, Latin, Byzantine and Assyrian allowed us to identify seismic events not mentioned in previous works.
In particular, detailed descriptions of damage in Arabic sources provided quantitative information necessary to
re-evaluate past seismic events. These large earthquakes (I0 >VIII) caused considerable damage in cities, towns
and villages located along the northern section of the Dead Sea fault system. Fewer large events also occurred
along the Palmyra, Ar-Rassafeh and the Euphrates faults in Eastern Syria. Descriptions in original sources doc-
ument foreshocks, aftershocks, fault ruptures, liquefaction, landslides, tsunamis, fires and other damages. We
present here an updated historical catalogue of 181 historical earthquakes distributed in 4 categories regarding
the originality and other considerations, we also present a table of the parametric catalogue of 36 historical earth-
quakes (table I) and a table of the complete list of all historical earthquakes (181 events) with the affected lo-
cality names and parameters of information quality and completeness (table II) using methods already applied
in other regions (Italy, England, Iran, Russia) with a completeness test using EMS-92. This test suggests that the
catalogue is relatively complete for magnitudes >6.5. This catalogue may contribute to a comprehensive and
unified parametric earthquake catalogue and to a realistic assessment of seismic hazards in Syria and surround-
ing regions.
Key words historical earthquakes – historical quakes can date back several hundred years
sources – seismic hazards – Dead Sea fault system – B.C. When available, historical earthquake
Eastern Mediterranean – Lebanon – Syria records are a critical database for characterizing
earthquake sources and assessing seismic haz-
ards. Previous compilations of historically doc-
1. Introduction umented earthquakes in Syria and adjacent re-
gions indicate noteworthy seismic activity with
The Middle East is one of the few regions large damage (e.g., Sieberg, 1932; Ben-Mena-
worldwide where historical accounts of earth- hem, 1979; Plassard and Kogoj, 1981; Guido-
boni et al., 1994; Ambraseys and Jackson,
1998). Despite these invaluable contributions to
the understanding of seismicity in the Middle
East, considerable information has remained
Mailing address: Dr. Mohamed Reda Sbeinati, Depart-
unexploited in numerous original sources that
ment of Geology, Atomic Energy Commission of Syria, P.O. provide important and quantitative input for de-
Box 6091, Damascus, Syria; e-mail: sbeinati@scs-net.org veloping a parametric catalogue.
347
Mohamed Reda Sbeinati, Ryad Darawcheh and Mikhail Mouty
Since 1990 and within the framework of the Agency (IAEA), the Seismology Section in the
«Seismic Data for Siting and Site-Revalidation Department of Geology and Nuclear Ores at the
of Nuclear Facility» research project, under the Atomic Energy Commission of Syria (AECS)
patronage of the International Atomic Energy has investigated the historical seismicity of Syr-
Fig. 1. Summary of major fault zones of the northern Arabian plate (redrawn from Garfunkel et al., 1981;
Barazangi et al., 1993).
348
The historical earthquakes of Syria: an analysis of large and moderate earthquakes from 1365 B.C. to 1900 A.D.
ia. Original sources were identified, located, 2. Seismotectonic setting

and exploited to extract the necessary informa-
tion for constructing a unified parametric cata- The study area is located in the northern part
logue. We studied 181 historical earthquakes, of the Arabian plate and encompasses Syria and
and estimated the related intensities for each lo- Lebanon and adjacent areas of neighboring coun-
cality with a standardized methodology. A final tries. It is bounded from the west, by the northern
parametric catalogue for 36 major earthquakes section of the Dead Sea Fault system (DSF), a
reports the epicenter locations, maximum inten- plate boundary consisting of the northeast trend-
sities and estimated magnitudes. ing Al-Yammouneh Fault (YAF) and the north
This paper documents historical earthquakes trending Al-Ghab Fault (GAF) (fig. 1). Northeast
of Syria and addresses the following points: i) of Antioch, the DSF intersects the Eastern Ana-
the study of new historical seismic events; ii) the tolian Fault system (EAF) and the Bitlis Suture
re-appraisal of historical seismic events in the zone (BS), both of which comprise the northern
light of original and new sources; iii) re-evalua- border of the Arabian plate. Between Damascus
tion of past events by means of a careful exami- and the Euphrates River, the northeast trending
nation of all available references; iv) historical Palmyra fold-thrust belt is located within the
earthquakes in previous works, and finally a dis- northern Arabian plate (fig. 1). This belt consists
cussion on the distribution of large earthquakes of many asymmetrical elongated anticlines sepa-
along the main fault systems. In addition, all rated by narrow depressions.
events are listed in table II which represents The seismicity of Syria can be qualified as
complete information about the historical earth- moderate during the last century (fig. 2). How-
quakes with estimated intensities at relevant lo- ever, the historical seismicity indicates the oc-
calities and accompanying effects, with informa- currence of large earthquakes in the past. The
tion completeness (A – complete; B – accepted; main instrumental seismicity with many mod-
C – incomplete) and information quality factors erate earthquakes (5 < Ms < 6) is located along
(1 – good source quality; 2 – moderate source the East Anatolian Fault and the Dead Sea fault
quality; 3 – poor source quality). system (Sbeinati, 1993). An apparent lack of
Fig. 2. Map of Syria showing the seismicity during 1900-1993 (Sbeinati, 1993).
349
seismicity can be observed along the Ghab fault Arabic sources about the earthquakes that hit the
zone and motivates a careful analysis of seismic Arab World; the work by Plassard and Kogoj
documentation of the region. (1981) is generally related to Lebanon and Syria;
Focal mechanisms of the main recent events Russell (1985) used the available ancient textual
indicate a NNW-SSE trending of P axes with and archaeological data in order to compile the
strike slip movements along faults (see Harvard seismic events of Palestine, Lebanon and Syria
CMT Catalogue). These mechanisms illustrate between the 2nd and the mid-8th century; Am-
the left-lateral pattern of active deformation with braseys et al. (1994) offered a seismic catalogue
minor component of normal faulting associated for Egypt, Arabia and the Red Sea; work of
with pull-apart basins along the Dead Sea Fault. Guidoboni et al. (1994) represents a critical com-
The rate of active deformation and relative Ara- pilation and a historical review on the historical
bia-Africa plate motion determined from GPS earthquakes that hit the Mediterranean area; Am-
studies varies from 5.6 to 7.5 mm/yr from south braseys and Finkel (1995) compiled a catalogue
to north, respectively (McCluskey et al., 2003). for Turkey and adjacent areas for the period
Recent paleoseismic and archeoseismic investi- 1500-1800; finally the compiled catalogue on
gations along the Missyaf segment south of the Lebanon and parts of Syria presented by Abu
Ghab Basin show successive faulting with 13.6 Karaki (1992) is not based on primary sources.
m of left-lateral displacements during the last On the other hand, there are two detailed pa-
2000 years yielding an average 6.9 mm/yr slip pers dealing with the 1202 A.D. earthquake in
rate (Meghraoui et al., 2003). In contrast, the in- the Eastern Mediterranean region (Ambraseys
traplate area of Syria is generally aseismic, with and Melville, 1988) and 1759 A.D. earthquake in
infrequent earthquakes some of which can be of Bekaa Valley (Ambraseys and Barazangi, 1989).
significant size (Mw 5.5) (fig. 2). Although some of these catalogues consist of
many usual and unusual problems, they are, to a
large extent, valuable and helpful for preparing
3. Previous works our catalogue.
Earthquake catalogues of the Middle-East are

from Hoff (1840), Mallet (1853) and Perrey 4. Sources of the catalogue
(1850) who compiled a list of earthquakes (see
the parametric catalogues and seismological Syria has been home to some of the world’s
compilations in References Section). Tholozan earliest civilizations. It is located on the eastern
(1879) mentioned information about earthquakes shore of the Mediterranean Sea, at the crossroads
that hit the Middle-East between 7th and 17th of three continents (Asia, Europe and Africa).
centuries; Willis compiled in 1928 and 1933 The main sources for the pre-Islamic period
(Willis, 1928, 1933a,b) an earthquake list for are official letters, accounts of travelers who
Palestine; catalogue of Sieberg (1932) is a global visited the affected regions shortly after the
work with an incomplete description; Amiran earthquakes, diaries, chronicles of historians
prepared in 1950-1951 and 1952 a revised cata- written in Syriac and Greek. Most of these
logue of Willis’ work; Ergin et al. (1967) pre- sources are not available in Syria. The rise of Is-
sented a parametric earthquake catalogue for lam in the early 7th century in Mecca, followed
Turkey and surrounding areas between 11 A.D. by many conquests for Syria and other regions
and 1964 A.D.; Al-Sinawi and Ghalib (1975) represented the first step for real systematic doc-
compiled a detailed and descriptive earthquake umentation in the region. The Muslims paid
catalogue of Iraq and partly some adjacent coun- considerable attention to the history of the Is-
tries using modern references; the parametric cat- lamic World. Earthquakes are among natural
alogue of Ben-Menahem (1979) is a real attempt phenomena that attract Muslim historians. Ara-
at parameterization of the historical earthquakes bic chronicles are one of the main primary
specifically concerned with the Middle East; sources for the history of earthquakes for our
Taher (1979) presented a full corpus of texts from region, from the 9th century till the 19th centu-
350
ry. Between the 7th century and 1000 A.D., ed from libraries in Syria, Turkey, Lebanon and
there were universal chronicles covering various Italy. This information is translated, when need-
events that happened in the Islamic Empire. ed, to the English language. Then, this informa-
Then and due to many known reasons, history tion is assessed and evaluated. In addition, all
was written to be more local. By the 17th centu- other catalogues, monographs and books were
ry, the European sources started to mention also searched.
events of our region in the form of travel litera- Both occidental and oriental sources con-
ture and diplomatic correspondence reports. taining useful data about earthquakes during the
These latter were preserved in archives in Eu- years under consideration have been identified,
rope and Turkey. particularly Arabic, Greek, Syriac and to a less-
An extensive bibliographical research has er extent English, French and Ottoman.
been performed as a base step and continued Arabic chronicles are one of the main
throughout the research period in order to dy- sources of information for the present catalogue,
namically improve the result (see References and they generally date earthquakes according to
Section). the Muslim calendar of 12 lunar months. The
Scientific visits to the Turkish Atomic Ener- Muslim Era started in 622 A.D. (date of migra-
gy Authority, Ankara, and ENEA, Rome, were tion of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca for
made in 1994 and 1995, in an attempt to collect Medina). Therefore, it is called the Hijiri (mi-
available sources and to better understand the gration) calendar, which is indicated here by the
methodology of studying historical earthquakes suffix A.H. (i.e. After Hijira). In all cases, Gre-
where many important historical sources on gorian calendar comes in the heading, while the
Byzantine and Ottoman eras were found. Hijiri one is sometimes mentioned in the second
Our investigations were achieved in the fol- part. On the other hand and for the sake of con-
lowing libraries: Al-Assad National Library in Da- sistency, all needed conversions from Hijiri into
mascus, Syria (this cultural center represents one their corresponding dates in the Christian calen-
of the largest depositories in our Arabian region, dar were made from the comparative tables in
containing a huge number of histories, mother Wolseley Haig (1932) which takes 16 July 622
books); the Institut Français de Damas in Damas- A.D. as the start of the Muslim Era. The Arabic
cus; Süleymaniye Library in Istanbul; the Nation- documents are not without internal problems. As
al Library in Ankara; the Vatican Library in Rome becomes clear below, the exact date of a earth-
(by Dr. C. Margottini); Library of Pontificio Istitu- quake is only rarely given in Arabic documents.
to Orientale in Rome (by Dr. C. Margottini). In principle, the applied methodology in
There are numerous sources used for prepa- this research is in accordance with the topology
ration this catalogue, these are original docu- presented by the IAEA (1987) and by Stucchi
ments such as manuscripts, diaries, ambassador (1994) as follows:
letters, existing catalogues and modern papers. – Identifying the historical sources of infor-
To retrieve data already available in seismolog- mation: historical sources (contemporary and
ical literature, a supplement of research was de- near-contemporary), previous catalogues (para-
voted to a systematic reading of most sources. metric and compilations) and monographs have
Due to our belief that they are good inter- been investigated and collected from many li-
pretations, parameters of 1202 and 1759 events braries in Syria, Lebanon, Turkey and Italy.
have been considered by this research as they – Grouping all available information relat-
are. ing to one historical earthquake and arranging it
in chronicle order.
– Reading descriptions for each event in
5. Methodology order to build up the earthquake flow and its
date. Those descriptions which belong to the
For the study of historical earthquakes in and same event have been interpreted in terms of in-
around Syria, all available relevant information tensity for each affected locality using the Eu-
concerning the history in the region was collect- ropean Macroseismic Scale 1992.
351
Fig. 3. Standard nomograph for determining local depht of shallow earthquakes from macroseismic data (area
of isoseismal Si, their average radius ri, or distance to points of known intesity ∆i), for attenuation coefficient
ν = 3.5 (Shebalin, 1970).
– Assessing parameters of each historical tioned, so there is only a choice of locating the
earthquake (date, epicentral location, epicentral earthquake near this center. In other cases, two
intensity, locality intensity, depth and macroseis- or more localities are reported, so there is a good
mic magnitude), when the available descriptions chance for locating the epicenter in between.
are adequate to permit accurate assessment. Intensity – Effects of any earthquake on the
Date – Date of the earthquake is the first pa- environment should be evaluated using any de-
rameter that should be assessed. Date of the scriptive scale. In our case, epicentral intensity
earthquake was assumed to be the most reliable (I0) and intensities for each affected locality for
one according to the nearest historical sources the same earthquake have been assessed in accor-
to the event in space and time. dance with the EMS Scale 1992. It is worth men-
Location – Latitude and longitude of the epi- tioning that the assessment of the intensity for
center of the earthquake is the second parameter each locality was defined on the basis of analyz-
that should be also assessed. For the large earth- ing all sources taking into account their quality.
quakes, this location was defined as a center of Depth – Depth of the earthquake foci can be
the isoseismal lines. However, all sources uti- evaluated when intensities of many localities are
lized in the catalogue give some idea of the lo- available. However, this assessment was per-
cation, with the indication of the area worst af- formed according to the transparency of She-
fected. In some cases, one locality was men- balin (1970), with ν =3.5 where ν is coefficient
352
historical seismic events in the light of original

and new sources; 3) re-evaluation of 116 seismic
events; and 4) contains 9 historical seismic events
without re-evaluation.
6.1. New sources for past unknown events
In this section, we present unknown historical

earthquakes and their associated original sources
which has never been referenced elsewhere.
These references correspond to Arabic sources
collected from different depositories.
〈004〉 331 B.C. Syria: VI.

Sources
– Al-Boustani (1887): In the year of 331, there
was a heavy earthquake causing many victims
and destruction in Syria.
〈069〉 1046 July 8-1047 June 27 Diyar Bakr:

≥ VII; Khlat: ≥ VII.
Sources
– Al-Suyuti: In the year 438 A.H. (1046 July 8-
1047 June 27) many earthquakes occurred in
Fig. 4. Standard nomograph of M, h, ∆ and I. It is Khlat and Dyar Bakr destroying the citadels
averaged for shallow earthquakes (b = 1.5, ν = 3.5, and the fortresses, and killing people.
c = 3) (Shebalin, 1970).
〈073〉 1094 April 20-May 18 Damascus: V-VI.
Sources
– Ibn Al-Athir: In this month, 487 Rabi’ II A.H.
of intensity attenuation (fig. 3). It is worth men- (1094 April 20-May 18), there was a sequence
tioning that the tectonic setting of western of earthquakes in Bilad Al-Sham for a long time
boundary of the Arabian plate (transform system) without a significant damage.
suggests that earthquakes originating in the study – Al-Dawadari: In this year there were 12 shocks
area are shallow events within the crust (44 km). for one day, causing destruction of the country
Magnitude – Size of the earthquake is the and killing a great scientist [at Damascus].
most important parameter that should be calcu-
lated. For large events in the catalogue, it is de- 〈081〉 1140 August 17-1141 August 6 Qalaat
rived using the nomograph proposed by She- Sheizar: VI-VII.
balin (1970) (fig. 4). Sources
– Al-Dawadari: In this year [535 A.H.] [1140
August 17-1141 August 6] there was an earth-
6. Catalogue of historical earthquakes quake in Sheizar, causing damaging its citadel.
This catalogue contains all historical earth- 〈111〉 1537 March 08 Damascus: IV.
quakes affecting Syria and neighboring regions, Sources
the 181 events distributed in four categories re- – Al-Ghazi: A slight shock was felt in Damas-
garding the following parameters: 1) new sources cus on 27 Ramadan 943 A.H. (08 March 1537)
for past unknown 14 events; 2) re-appraisal of 42 (Badr Al-Ghazi).
353
〈113〉 1563 September 13 Damascus: VI. Sources

Sources – Al-Nablsi: An earthquake occurred in a night
– Al-Ghazi: A strong shock hit (Damascus), ac- of 1095 A.H. (1683), causing a village called
companied by a sound from the earth, on Sun- Safineh in Al-Shouf region (Lebanon) to shift
day early morning, 24 Muharram 971 A.H. (13 with its houses and trees from its location on
September 1563), causing a few houses to col- the top of the mountain to the bottom of the val-
lapse and many fractures to appear on walls ley, but without any damage.
(Badr Al-Ghazi).
〈135〉 1712 December 28 Damascus: IV.
〈117〉 1604 March 13 Damascus: V; Bekaa: V. Sources
Sources – Al-Nablsi: He reported that a shock was felt
– Al-Nablsi: A strong shock was felt in Damascus in Damascus on Wednesday night, 29 Zu-l-Qa’-
and Bekaa on Friday night, 11 Shawwal 1012 da 1124 A.H. (28 December 1712).
A.H. (13 March 1604) (Al-Ghazi).
〈118〉 1606 October 19 Baalbak: IV. 6.2. Re-appraisal of historical seismic events
Sources in the light of original and new sources
– Al-Nablsi: A shock was felt in Baalbak on
Monday night, 17 Jamada II, 1015 A.H. (19 Oc- The seismic events of this section have al-
tober 1606) (Al-Ghazi). ready been mentioned in previous works, but
original documents and new sources of informa-
〈121〉 1618 July 8 Damascus: IV. tion (most of them from the Arabic and Byzantine
Sources period) provide new information on earthquake
– Al-Nablsi: A slight shock was felt [in Damas- size and related damage distribution. Therefore,
cus] on Wednesday 15 Rajab 1027 A.H. (08 Ju- for some large events we provide a special sec-
ly 1618) at sunset time (Al-Ghazi). tion on «Sources» added to the «Parametric cata-
logues and previous studies» and «Seismological
〈122〉 1618 July 23-August 21 Damascus: IV. compilations».
Sources
– Al-Nablsi: A slight shock was felt [in Damas- 〈001〉 ~ 1365 B.C. Ugharit: VIII-IX. Tsuna-
cus] in Sha’ban 1027 A.H. (23 July-August 21, mi, fire.
1618) (Al-Ghazi). Sources
– Schaeffer (1948): A violent earthquake hit
〈123〉 1619 December 8-1620 November 25 Ugharit in the Recent Bronze Era between 1370
Darkoush. Landslide. and 1360 B.C. (probably in 1365 B.C.). The lay-
Sources er of destruction that found in level I of Ugharit
– Al-Nablsi: A landslide, probably resulting from represents archaeological evidence for the catas-
an earthquake, happened in Darkoush in the year trophe. Preliminary investigation in Ugharit per-
of 1029 A.H. (1619 December 08-1620 Novem- mited that this layer caused by 1365 B.C. earth-
ber 25), destroying many houses and killing quake is corresponded with the text found in
about 70 persons (Al-Ghazi). Tell Al-Amarneh in Syria, which was reported
by Abimilki of Tyre to Amenophis IV as fol-
〈125〉 1627 November 24. Damascus: V. lows: «Ugharit, city of the king, was destroyed
Sources by the fire; half of the city burnt, other half was
– Al-Nablsi: A strong shock hit Damascus on intact». Schaeffer estimated the intensity of this
Wednesday night, 15 Rabi’I 1037 A.H. earthquake at Ugharit to be VIII after Mercalli
(24 November 1627), but without any damage scale or IX-X after the international scale. De-
(Al-Ghazi). tailed regional studies allow the establishment
of the layers of destruction that found in Beit
〈131〉 1683 Safineh. Landslide. Mirsin, level CI, Recent Bronze II of Jerico and
354
probably those of Megiddo VIII, Bissan VII, Sources

Hésy V, Ascalan V ... were a result of the same – Joshua the Stylite: 502 August 22, Friday: Pto-
earthquake of Ugharit. Farther away, the site of lemais destroyed to the extent that nothing stayed
Troie in Asia Minor was subjected to serious standing. Half of Tyre and Sidon fell down. In
damage due to an earthquake in the middle of Beirut, only the synagogue fell down.
XIV century (American excavations). In the Parametric catalogues
center of Asia Minor, Boghazkeuy-Hattousas, – Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 502 August 21-
the capital of Hittites was subjected to serious 22, in Lebanon I = IX, half of Tyre and Sidon
destruction during the time of 1365 B.C. earth- were destroyed, at Beirut (I = VII) some dam-
quake. age in houses, remarkably in the synagogue
– Saadeh (1982): A possible earthquake was in (Joshua the Stylite).
Ugharit. It was accompanied by a high sea- – Ben-Menahem (1979): 502 August 21 off
wave covered the region of Minet Al-Biada, coast Acre, Io = X, M l = 7.0, Acre destroyed. De-
and with a fire (indicated accidentally in a let- struction at Sur, Sidon, Beirut and Byblos. La-
ter from the King of Tyre «Abimilki» to Pharoa trun (Nicopolis) destroyed (Amiran; Plassard
of Egypt and archaeological excavation in and Kogoj).
Ugharit according to Schaeffer, 1954). Seismological compilations
Parametric catalogues – Guidoboni et al. (1994): 502 August 22, Ak-
– Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 1365 B.C., I = X, ka I = X, an earthquake happened between 501
destruction in Ugharit and Byblus (A letter from and 502, where Akka was overturned and de-
a King of Tyre to Akenton Pharoa). stroyed completely, half of Tyre and Sidon fell,
– Ben-Menahem (1979): In 1356 B.C., destruc- the synagogue in Beirut fell down (Pseudo-
tion of Ugarit, with tsunami at the Syrian coasts. Joshua’s Chronicle). Palaces in Palestine were
Other works also affected (Russell).
– Klengel (1985): Between 2100 and 1200 B.C., – Russell (1985): 502 August 22, Akko was
there was a catastrophe in Ras-Shamra (Ugharit) overturned by an earthquake at night and nothing
transferring the flourishing city into ruins and ash. left standing. Half of Tyre and Sidon fell. The
synagogue at Beirut fell down (Chronicle of
〈006〉 148-130 B.C. February 21, afternoon Joshua the Stylite). Safad and Reina in Galilee
Antioch: ≥ VII. could be affected.
Sources
– Al-Boustani (1887): 115 B.C., it was a heavy 〈034〉 526 May 20-29 Antioch: VIII; Dafneh:
earthquake and many victims in Antioch. VII; Seluecea: VII. Aftershocks. Liquefac-
Parametric catalogues tion at Antioch. Fire in Antioch.
– Ben-Menahem (1979): 184, Ml = 6.8, an earth- Sources
quake was near Antioch (Willis). – Malalas (1831): A large catastrophe occurred in
Seismological compilations Antioch. Citizens were buried under the debris.
– Sieberg (1932): 148 or 184, a destructive The houses, located only near the mountain, sur-
earthquake in Antioch. vived. The rest of the buildings were completely
– Guidoboni et al. (1994): Antioch IX ≤ I ≤ XI, destroyed. Fire following the earthquake de-
Antioch was suffered from the wrath of God. It stroyed the Big Church (so was named the an-
could be dated at the year 130 B.C. (Malalas) cient church of Antioch) and the remaining hous-
regarding the confusion in Malalas dating or es. There were 250000 casualties because of hol-
there were two separate earthquakes. idays. Shocks lasted 18 months. Some buildings
– Sieberg (1932): 140 B.C., a destructive sea in Selucea and Dafneh fell down.
wave was along the Syrian coast. – John of Ephesus: In Antioch, the disaster was
on the 7th hour, fire from the land and sky. City
〈032〉 502 August 22, Friday Akka: VIII; wall, houses and churches were destroyed.
Tyre: VII-VIII; Sidon: VII-VIII; Beirut: VII; There was a fire following the earthquake. The
Palestine: VI; Safad: VI?; Reina: VI? Big Church was burned after 7 days and de-
355
stroyed completely. There were 255000 casual- Lebanon I=V, Antioch was destroyed for the
ties ... as Malalas. fifth time with a large number of victims
– Procopius of Caesarea: A severe earthquake (Michael the Syrian).
occurred in Antioch where most of the build- – Poirier and Taher (1980): 526 May mid-day
ings and the most beautiful ones fell down. 20-29, I0 = IX-X (MMS), very severe earth-
There were 300000 casualties. quake in Antioch.
– Evagrius Scholasticus: An earthquake, fol- Seismological compilations
lowed by a fire, occurred in Antioch. – Guidoboni et al. (1994): 526 May mid-day 20-
– Chronicon Edessenum (Urfa): A great earth- 29, Antioch I = X, a disastrous earthquake was at
quake ruined Antioch. Antioch, causing a great fire and thousands of
– Zachariah of Mitylene: A severe earthquake deaths. There were fire and liquefaction resulted
in Antioch. Houses fell down over their inhabi- by the earthquake at Antioch, and everything had
tants. been destroyed, 250000 people perished (Mala-
– Giovanni Lido: The earthquake split Antioch las). Much of Antioch collapsed and vast num-
and Selucea, no damage to the desert place be- bers of people were killed (The Chronicle of
tween the mountain and the city where runs the Zacharia of Mitylene). Dafneh was struck by a
river of Orontes. violent earthquake which reduced the whole city
– Marcellinus Comes: A severe earthquake de- to ruins and three hundred thousand Antioch per-
stroyed Antioch. The fire, following the earth- ished (Procopius of Caesarea).
quake, increased by the wind. – Sieberg (1932): In 526, a strong earthquake, fol-
– John of Nikiu: An earthquake and a fire were in lowed by a fire, destroyed Antioch with 250000
Antioch. Houses were completely destroyed as deaths (?). In Seleucea, there was damage.
well as a house located on the nearby hill. Many
churches were destroyed or divided in two parts 〈035〉 528 November 29 Antioch: VII-VIII;
from the bottom to the top. The Big Church was Lattakia: VI-VII.
destroyed. The casualties were 250 000. Towns Sources
of Dafneh and Selucea at 20 miles from Anti- – Malalas (1831): in Antioch, duration one
och were destroyed. hour, terrible rumbling, all buildings which
– Theophanes: A large part of Antioch was de- were rebuilt fell down, as well as the city wall
stroyed by the earthquake. The survived citi- and some churches. Damage to other cities near
zens were killed by the fire. Antioch, with 5000 casualties. In the same year,
– Chronicle of 819: A severe earthquake. Antioch Laodicia had the first earthquake, where its half
was destroyed. The casualties were 255000. was destroyed with 7500 casualties, the syna-
– Georgius Monachus: An earthquake and a fire gogue fell down but the church did not.
were in Antioch. There were many casualties. – John of Ephesus: A terrible earthquake with
– Leo Grammaticus: Most of Antioch was de- rumbling, ... as Malalas as well as the city gate
stroyed by the earthquake and fire. fell down. The Big Church fell down and all the
– Georgius Cedrenus: There was an earthquake, surviving houses and churches from the previ-
followed by 6 days fire. There were many thou- ous earthquake fell down except few numbers
sands of casualties. of buildings, villages in the vicinity 10 miles
– Michael Glykas: The earthquake produced a were destroyed. Seleucea and Dafneh did not
big opening. The fire killed the survivors. affect. Surviving citizens of Antioch ran away
– Chronicle of 1234: An earthquake and a fire to the open. In the 529 Laodicia was complete-
occurred in Antioch, destroying all buildings ly destroyed from the gate of Antioch to the
and churches. Ghetto, but the left zone east of the church of S.
– Girgis Bar Hebraeus: An earthquake occurred Mother of God did not fall down, there were
in Antioch. The casualties were 255000. Shocks 7500 casualties without a fire.
continued for one year and six months. – Evagrius Scholasticus: The earthquake split
Parametric catalogue Antioch.
– Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 526 May 29, in – Theophanes: A strong earthquake lasted for one
356
hour with terrible sound such as a bull’s sound, – Sieberg (1932): In 528 November, a destruc-
all the constructions, the city wall and old con- tive earthquake was in Antioch, Dafneh and
structions which survived from the previous Betelma (?). There was damage in Seuleucea,
earthquake fell down, there were 4870 casualties. Loadicea and Pompejopolis (?). In the latter,
– Georgius Monachus: One hour duration, sound, surface rupture appeared. There were 4870 vic-
the area 5 miles around Antioch fell down. tims.
– Leo Grammaticus: An earthquake at Antioch.
– Georgius Cedrenus: A large earthquake lasted 〈036〉 531-534 Area between Aleppo and
for one-hour duration, there was a terrible Homs: VI-VII; Antioch: VI; Mesopotamia: IV.
sound, all constructions were destroyed with Sources
4870 buried casualties, emigration of survivors. – Malalas (1831): (earthquake between 531-
– Chronicle of 1234: There was a severe earth- 534) After a short time, a terrible earthquake
quake, followed by a sound from the sky like occurred at Antioch, but without damage.
thunder and a sound from the earth like a bull’s Seismological compilations
sound. City walls, churches and the surviving – Sieberg (1932): 532, a destructive widespread
constructions from the previous earthquake earthquake in Syria. It destroyed the area from
were destroyed as well as the vicinity villages, Aleppo to Homs. It was said that 130 000 were
there were 2740 casualties. killed. It was felt in Mesopotamia.
– Nicephorus Callistus: A severe earthquake at – Guidoboni et al. (1994): 532, An earthquake in
Antioch. Antioch without damage (Malalas). It dated back
– Saadeh (1984): 529 January 2, a violent earth- to between 531 and 534 (Downey, 1961).
quake occurred in Lattakia, causing destruction
of its large part and killing 7500 people. 〈037〉 551 July 9 Beirut: IX-X; Sur: IX-X;
Parametric catalogues Tripoli: IX-X; Byblus: IX-X; Al-Batron: IX-
– Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 529 November X; Shaqa: IX-X; Sarfand: VII-VIII?; Sidon:
29, in Lebanon I = IV, Antioch was destroyed for VII-VIII; Arwad: III-IV. Tsunami along the
the sixth time (Cedrenus; Michael the Syrian). Lebanese coast. Landslide near Al-Batron.
– Poirier and Taher (1980): 528 November 29, Fire at Beirut (fig. 5).
I0 = X-XI (MMS), Antioch, a mountain fell into New original sources
the Euphrates at Quludhya, the Euphrates shift- The following publication summarizes the
ed its bed. main information with new original sources on
– Ben-Menahem (1979): 528 November 29, the earthquake of Beirut.
Ml = 6.9, destruction of Antioch. Damage in – Darawcheh et al. (2000): 551 July 9, 34.00N-
Jerusalem and Damascus. Felt in Egypt, Turkey, 35.50E, Ms = 7.2. This event destroyed several
Armenia and Mesopotamia (Ergin et al.; Plas- cities in Lebanon (Beirut, Tripoli, Saida, Djbil,
sard and Kogoj; Sieberg). Al-Batron, Tyre, Shakka and Sarfand) with great
Seismological compilations loss of lives. The shock was felt throughout the
– Guidoboni et al. (1994): 528 November 28, An- Eastern Mediterranean region. There were tsuna-
tioch and Lattakia I=IX, an earthquake struck mi along the Lebenese coast, a local landslide
Antioch destroying both the new buildings put up near Al-Batron and a large fire in Beirut.
after the previous one (526), and those old build- Among the main original references we mention:
ings which had survived it, victims number was – Theophanes: A large and terrible earthquake
few thousands. Antioch suffered from an earth- took place in the territories of Palestine, Arabia,
quake collapsing the new buildings, walls and Mesopotamia, Syria and Pheonicia. Tyre, Sidon,
some of churches, from one side and killing up to Beirut, Tripoli and Byblus suffered much damage
5000 lives (Malalas). Laodicea suffered its first and many thousands of people were killed. A part
earthquake disaster by destroying its half and of the mountain named Lithoprosopus fell down
7500 deaths (Malalas). Antioch was subjected to forming a harbor in Botro, the sea went back for
a violent earthquake causing all the buildings and 1000 feet and many ships sunk.
walls to collapse (Theophanes). – Georgius Monachus: A large and widespread
357
Fig. 5. Map of intensity distribution for July 9, 551 A.D. earthquake. F – felt; D – damage; LS – landslide, and
SW – Sea-Wave. Triangles represent possible damaged archaeological sites (Darawcheh et al., 2000).
earthquake. Most of the Earth shocked. The sea Egypt, Arabia and Mesopotamia. Tsunami.
went back for two miles. This event caused de- (Amiran; Al-Sinawi and Ghalib; Plassard and
struction in Arabia, Palestine, Mesopotamia, An- Kogoj; Sieberg; Willis).
tioch and many others and near cities, killing Seismological compilations
large numbers of people. – Guidoboni et al. (1994): 551 July 9, the earth-
– Georgius Cedrenus: A big earthquake destroyed quake affected the following localities: Byblus,
houses, churches and the most part of the city Beirut and Tripoli I = X, Sidon, Botrus (Al-Ba-
wall near the Golden Gate. The sea went back for tron), Tyre, Arabia, Mesopotamia, Palestine and
two miles. In Arabia, Palestine, Mesopotamia, Syria, seismic sea wave and landslide, the prin-
and Antioch, many villages were destroyed. The cipal damage was between Antioch and Tyre
earthquake destroyed most part of Nicomedia. whereas there was apparently only minor dam-
Shocks continued for 40 days. age further north and south. A disastrous earth-
Parametric catalogues quake along the Lebanese coast reducing many
– Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 551 July 6, in cities to ruins: Tripoli, Byblus, Beirut, Triaris,
Lebanon I = XI, an earthquake caused destruc- and killing thirty thousand known people in
tion of Beirut (I = XI), Tripoli (I = X), Sidon and Beirut (Antoninus of Piacenza). A severe and
Tyre (I = VIII or IX) and 101 sites, a landslide tremendous earthquake occurred throughout the
occurred in the Lithoprosopon Mountain near land of Palestine, in Arabia and in the land of
Ras Chekka, Wujj Al-Hajar, creating a harbour Mesopotamia, Antioch, Phoenice Maritima and
near Al-Batron, there was a tsunami in Beirut and Phoenice Libanensis including Tyre, Sidon,
Tripoli in particular, where the sea retreated for Beirut, Tripoli, Byblus and parts of other cities,
two miles (Agathias; Fragment of Tusculum). killing large numbers of people, cutting a large
– Ben-Menahem (1979): 551 July 09, off coast part of Lithoprosopon mountain at Botrus and
Beirut, I0 = XI-XII, Ml = 7.8, destruction of accompanyied by a seismic sea wave (John of
Beirut, Sur, Sidon, Tripoli and Galilee. Felt in Ephesus; Malalas; Theophanes). Beirut was
358
completely ruined and many inhabitants were Syria. It is possible that there where two distinct
crushed to death under the weight wreckage earthquakes, but it is more likely that the date 570
(Agathias). It dated back to 557 (Michael the is the result of confusion on the part of James of
Syrian). Edessa. A severe earthquake on 5 October with
– Ambraseys et al. (1994): 551 July 9, 32.0N- sound (Elias of Nisibis). The earth was shaking at
36.0E, I ≤ VI, tsunami. Antioch, Seleucea and the two Cilicias collapsing
– Russell (1985): 551 July 9, a disastrous earth- them (Chronicle of 724). It was in 571 (Maronite
quake occurred throughout the regions of Pales- Chronicle). It was in 560-561 at Cilicia, Anazar-
tine, Arabia, Mesopotamia, Syria and Phoenicia, bus and Antioch (Theophanes). There were
to such an extent that Tyre, Sidon, Beirut, Tripoli tremors at Edessa and Samosata (Micheal the Syr-
and Byblus received great damage, and many ian). It was in 567 October (Chronicle of 1234).
thousands of people perished. In Botryos, a large – Seiberg (1932): 565, a destructive earthquake
part of the mountain called «Lithoprosopus» near in Syria. Aleppo, Baalbak, Damascus, Apamea
the sea was separated and displaced into the sea. and Beirut were suffered. It was felt in Meso-
The water also withdrew for a mile out to a sea potamia.
(Theophanes). Same description was mentioned – Lemmens (1898): An earthquake was in East-
by Cedrenus, but dated this event between Au- ern Mediterranean.
gust 550 through July 551. Agathius described
the extensive damage to Beirut, without provid- 〈041〉 580-581 Antioch: VI-VII; Dafneh: VI.
ing an exact date for this earthquake. He men- Sources
tioned that this event was felt in Alexandria. Sites – Evagrius Scholasticus: 580-581, there was an
in the eastern delta may have been damaged, par- earthquake in Antioch and Dafneh. In Antioch,
ticularly Damieta. public and private buildings were destroyed,
– Sieberg (1932): 551 July 9, a vast earthquake oc- some of these were completely. Dafneh was de-
curred in Syria, Palestine, Egypt, Arabia and Me- stroyed.
sopotamia. Beirut was completely destroyed with – Nicephorus Callistus: 580-581, as Evagrius
many deaths. It was said that 600 persons were Scholasticus.
buried under the debris. There was damage in the – Agapius of Menbij: 580-581, a severe earth-
coastal cities between Tripoli and Tyre. Antioch, quake at Antioch, destroying two towers of the
Apamea, Bosra and Alexandria were among the city wall.
cities destroyed. The sea waves destroyed a large Parametric catalogues
number of ships, especially in Botrys. – Poirier and Taher (1980): 580-581, I0 = VIII-
IX (MMS), Antioch, the suburb Dafneh was de-
〈040〉 565-571 Antioch: VI-VII; Seleucea: stroyed.
VI-VII; Kilikia: VI; Anazrabo: VI; Orfa: IV. Seismological compilations
Sources – Guidoboni et al. (1994): 580-581, Antioch-
– Procopius of Caesarea: Earthquakes de- Dafneh I = IX, a violent earthquake struck
stroyed Antioch and near Selucea. Theopolis (Antioch) and the suburb of Dafneh
– Theophanes: A severe event took place in precisely at noon, causing total destruction of
Cilicia, Anazarbo, and Antioch. Dafneh and destroyed many public and private
– Georgius Cedrenus: A plague and earthquake buildings in Antioch (Evagrius).
occurred in Cilicia, Anazarbo and Antioch. – Sieberg (1932): 579, Antioch and Dafneh
Parametric catalogues were destroyed.
– Ben-Menahem (1979): 565, Ml = 6.7, strong
in Baalbak and Damascus. It was felt in Pales- 〈042〉 588 Antioch: VI-VII. Aftershocks.
tine and Mesopotamia (Sieberg; Willis). Sources
Seismological compilations – Evagrius Scholasticus [this author was an
– Guidoboni et al. (1994): 570, a violent earth- eyewitness because the earthquake took place
quake affected Antioch IX ≤ I ≤ XI, Anazarbus, during his marriage]: There was an earthquake
Edessa, Samosata, Seleucea Pieria, Cilicia and with a big sound at Antioch. Many buildings
359
fell down. A part of the holy church fell down. – Chronicle of 1234: A great earthquake took
The dome was inclined in north direction and place in Syria and many cities were destroyed.
fell down by the following shocks. Same hap- Seismological compilations
pened for most of the district of Ostracina and – Guidoboni et al. (1994): 601-602, Cilicia and
Brisia. The buildings near the church of the Syria IX ≤ I ≤ XI, with surface faulting. Towards
Deipara Virgin fell down, except the Central the third hour of the day, there was a violent
Portico. The towers in the Kampos fell down earthquake in the territory of Rum [Cillicia] de-
while other buildings survived. A large number stroying many cities in Syria and Cillicia, and
of persons were killed. No fire. killing a large number of people (Ibn Batriq).
– John of Nikiu [no indication of the year can be On 2 Nisan [April], in the year of 599, a de-
found, except the name of the Emperor Mau- structive earthquake affected towns and villages
rice]: An earthquake destroyed Antioch. Many burying their inhabitants, for the earth boiled
streets at the west and on the island were de- and split open (Michael the Syrian). There was
stroyed. Men were killed. a great earthquake in Syria in 599, on Monday
– Agapius of Menbij: An earthquake at Antioch. 19 Canun II [January], and many cities were laid
The big churches were destroyed as well as waste (Chronicle of 1234).
most of the city wall, trade square and houses.
– Nicephorus Callistus: Same as mentioned in 〈044〉 634 Aleppo: VII-VIII; Palestine: IV-V.
Evagrius Scholasticus. Aftershocks.
Parametric catalogues Parametric catalogues
– Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 589 October 21 or – Poirier and Taher (1980): 634, I0 = VIII (MMS),
31, I = III, an earthquake caused destruction in Ramparts and fortress were destroyed in Aleppo.
Antioch with many victims (Perrey). Seismological compilations
– Poirier and Taher (1980): 588 October 31, I0 = – Guidoboni et al. (1994): 634, Aleppo VII ≤ I ≤
= IX (MMS), Antioch destroyed with 60000 ≤ VIII, an earthquake destroyed the fortress and
victims. walls of Aleppo (Ibn Shaddad).
Seismological compilations – Ibn Shaddad: When Abu ‘Ubayda conquered
– Guidoboni et al. (1994): 587-588, Antioch VI- the city of Aleppo in the year 15 of the Hegira, the
II≤I≤IX. In the year of 588 a disaster earthquake walls and the citadel were restored, for an earth-
in Antioch causing thousands of deaths 60000), quake before the conquered had destroyed them.
razing most buildings to the ground, accompa- – Theophanes: An earthquake in Palestine.
nied by many aftershocks (Evagrius). Antioch – Michael the Syrian: A severe earthquake.
suffered a great earthquake, many roads in the Churches of Resurrection and Golgotha and
east were destroyed, as well as islands and count- many places fell down.
less victims (John of Nikiu). It was a violent – Agapius of Menbij: An earthquake in Palestine.
earthquake in 587-588 destroying most of Anti- – Erpenius: A large earthquake was in Palestine.
och and killing the inhabitants (Ibn Batriq). It was Shocks lasted 30 days.
in the winter of 587 (Michael the Syrian). It was
in 588-589 (Chronicle of 1234; Barhebraeus). 〈046〉 678 Batnan: VI-VII; Orfa: VI-VII; Me-
– Sieberg (1932): 587 September 30, a destruc- sopotamia: VI.
tive earthquake in Antioch. It was said that it Sources
caused 60000 victims. – Theophanes: A large earthquake took place in
Mesopotamia. Church of Edessa was partly de-
〈043〉 601-602 Kilikia; Syria. Surface faulting. stroyed.
Sources – Michael the Syrian: A violent earthquake.
– Ibn Batriq: A severe earthquake in the Greek Batnan of Sarugi fell down, the church of
territory. In Syria, many cities were destroyed Edessa was partly destroyed.
and many persons were killed. – Chronicle of 846: A violent earthquake de-
– Michael the Syrian: Like Ibn Batriq but indi- stroyed Batnan of Sarugi and the ancient church
cate only «Greek territory». of Edessa, a large number of people was killed.
360
– Chronicle of 819: A violent earthquake de- fell down killing the inhabitants, some men were
stroyed many places in Syria. Batnan of Sarugi burned and other survivors in Antioch and dis-
was demolished, some destruction in the church trict of Sidqa and Ksyut and coastal entire island,
of Edessa. it was remaining until 1027.
– Agapius of Menbij: An earthquake was at – Ibn Al-Athir: In this year (713 A.D., 94 A.H.)
Beisan and Qatnan (unknown sites), city of Saru- there were earthquakes in Al-Sham which last-
gi was struck, and the city wall and its houses fell ed for 40 days, causing destruction of the
down as Edessa and damage in many places. towns, particularly at Antioch.
– Chronicle of 1234: An earthquake destroyed – Al-Suyuti: In this year (713 A.D., 94 A.H.)
Sarugi and partly the ancient church of Edessa. March 20, earthquakes lasted for 40 days in the
– Chronicon Pseudo-Dionysus of Tell-Mahre: world, causing destruction of buildings (tall
A big and violent shock. Batnan of Sarugi was buildings). Most of Antioch fell down.
destroyed and the ancient church of Edessa. Parametric catalogues
There was a large number of casualties. – Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 713 February 28,
Seismological compilations in Lebanon I = IV, an earthquake caused de-
– Guidoboni et al. (1994): 679 April 3, an earth- struction at Antioch, where there was a seismic
quake struck Batnan, the city of Edessa and crisis between December 712 and 715 (Berloty;
Mesopotamia. A great earthquake struck Bat- Michael the Syrian; Perrey).
nan of Sarug and the old church of Edessa col- – Poirier and Taher (1980): 713 March 20, I0 = IX
lapsed and many people died (Chronicle of (MMS), Antioch was completely destroyed.
846). There was a violent earthquake in 677- – Ben-Menahem (1979): 713 February 28,
678, it struck Mesopotamia and the dome of the Ml = 7.0, destruction of Antioch. Felt in Egypt.
church of Edessa collapsed (Theophanes). (Ergin et al.; Plassard and Kogoj; Sieberg).
– Sieberg (1932): 678, a strong earthquake de- Seismological compilations
stroyed many cities in Syria. It was said that – Guidoboni et al. (1994): 713 February 28-
170000 people were killed. Edessa and Batnae March 10, Antioch, Aleppo and Qennesrin VI-
in West Mesopotamia were damaged. II ≤ I ≤ X and other earthquake in 717 December,
24 in Mesopotamia and Syria. A violent earth-
〈047〉 713 February 28 Antioch: VI-VII; Alep- quake struck Syria in 713, 28 February (Theo-
po: VI-VII; Kennesreen: VI-VII. Aftershocks. phanes). On 28 February, 713 there was a tremor
Sources and severe earthquake causing many villages
– Theophanes: A strong earthquake in Syria. and towns to collapse on their inhabitants, some
– Agapius of Menbij: A violent earthquake de- houses, villages and cities were swallowed up in
stroyed many buildings at Antioch. the region of Antioch and district of Sidqa and
– Chronicle of 819: A violent earthquake in all Ksyut, and the whole coast and the islands, this
places of Syria, causing many casualties. earthquake or tremor lasted from 28 February to
– Chronicle of 846: An earthquake destroyed in 715-716 (Notitia annorum 712 -716). During the
all Syria and many casualties. year (7 October 712-25 September 713), earth-
– Chronicle of 1234: A violent earthquake, quakes began in the world and lasted for 40 days,
where many places were destroyed in the zone causing the collapse of high buildings and hous-
of Antioch, Aleppo and Qennesrin, all churches es in Antioch (Al-Asfahani). There were earth-
and temple fell down. quakes in Syria lasting for forty days, and the
– Elias of Nisibis: Earthquakes lasted 40 days. whole country collapsed, the strongest shocks
Antioch fell down. took place at Antioch (Ibn Al-Athir). There was
– Al-Isfahani: Earthquakes took place in some a tremor in every region of Syria, killing count-
part of the world for 40 days. In Antioch, build- less people (Syriac Chronicle of 846). Aleppo
ings and houses fell down. and Qennesrin were damaged by a violent earth-
– Notitia annorum 712-716 (information of the quake on 28 February where many places col-
years 712-716): A shock and violent earthquake. lapsed in the region of Antioch, Aleppo and Qen-
Houses, villages, churches and many large cities nesrin (Michael the Syrian).
361
– Sieberg (1932): 713 February 28, a strong VII; Nawa: VIII; Balqa: VIII; Al-Quds: VII;
earthquake occurred in Syria, destroying Anti- Beit Qubayeh: VII-VIII; Tabaryya: VII; Al-
och. The earthquake was felt in Egypt. After- Ghouta and Manbej: VII; Darayya: VI; Dam-
shocks continued for one month. ascus and Daraa: V-VI; Ariha. Surface fault-
ing and liquefaction in Mesopotamia. Land-
〈048〉 717 December 24 Antioch: VI-VII; Bat- slide at Mount Tabor.
nan: VI-VII; Orfa: VI-VII. Aftershocks. Sources
Sources – Al-Suyuti: In the year of 130 A.H. (started
– Theophanes: A violent earthquake in Syria. from 747 September 11) a shock occurred in
– Agapius of Menbij: A violent earthquake took Damascus causing panic and the Hens Souk fell
place, where many places were damaged. down. In the year 131 A.H. (started from 748
– Chronicle of 846: A violent earthquake oc- August 31) a great shock occurred in Damas-
curred and sound like a big torus. cus, fracturing the roof of the Mosque.
– Michael the Syrian: A big earthquake. – Al-Mansouri: In the year 132 A.H. (started
– Georgius Cedrenus: An earthquake in Syria. from 749 August 20) there was an earthquake at
– Elias of Nisibis: An earthquake was in Meso- Al-Sham.
potamia, where many houses fell down. Shocks – Theophanes: 749 January 18, a violent earth-
continued for 3 months. quake occurred in Palestine, Jordan and in all of
– Chronicon Pseudo-Dionysus of Tell-Mahre: A Syria, many tens of thousands of casualties,
big earthquake destroyed many places, temples, churches and monasteries fell down especially
churches and the ancient church of Edessa and near Jerusalem. Some cities were completely
Batnan of Sarugi. Same happened for important destroyed and some partly. In Mesopotamia, the
tall constructions which fell down over the citi- land was opened for 2 miles where the eyewit-
zens [note: the author seems to be merging infor- ness saw an ancient statue. Landslide for one
mation from different dates or earthquakes 678]. city completely.
Parametric catalogues – Michael the Syrian: 749 January 18, an earth-
– Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 717, I=III, an quake was in Damascus for some days; one
earthquake occurred at Antioch and Syria (Al- fortress was completely destroyed and 800 casu-
Suyuti; Anastase; Perrey). alties in the city. In Ghouta and Daraya, many ca-
Seismological compilations sualties. Bosra, Nawa, Dar’a, Baalbak were com-
– Guidoboni et al. (1994): In 717-718 a strong pletely swallowed up. In the region of Balqa
earthquake in Syria (Theophanes). A great (Mu’ab), a fortress was taken and thrown 3 miles
earthquake on 24 December (Syriac Chronicle away. City of Tiberias destroyed. Near the mount
of 846). In 717-718 a severe and terrible earth- of Thabor, a village was moved for 4 miles with-
quake destroyed many places, including tem- out damage. A source of water near Ariha was
ples, churches and great buildings, in particular moved 6 miles. In Maboug, the earthquake was
Batan and the ancient church of Edessa were during the prayer time.
destroyed (Pseudo-Dionysius). In the year (14 – Chronicon Pseudo-Dionysus of Tell-Mahre:
August 717-2 August 718) an earthquake was 749 January 18, in Manbej, and during the time
in Mesopotamia, where many houses collapsed of prayer, the church fell down.
and the shocks lasted for six months (Elias of – Chronicle of 1234: 749 January 18, there was an
Nisibis). earthquake for some days in Damascus, a fortress
– Sieberg (1932): 717 or 718, an earthquake in at Beit Cubaya was destroyed, 800 casualties, the
Syria. same in Ghuotah and Daraya, many casualties
were heavily damaged, Bosra, Nawa and Baalbak
〈049〉 749 January 18 (It seems to be that there fell down partially, a fortress in Mo’ab was
are two earthquakes, the first is in Southern Syria thrown for 3 miles. The city of Tabaria was de-
while the second is in the northern part and stroyed and a village near Thabor Mountain was
Mesopotamia that Manbej could be affected). shifted without damage. Mabboug was destroyed.
Mount Tabor: VII-IX; Baalbak: VIII; Bosra: – Elias of Nisibis: 749 January 18, many earth-
362
quakes occurred and many places fell down. A bak, Beit Qubayeh, Bosrah, Damascus, Daraa,
village near Tabor Mountain was shifted for 4 Darayya, Al-Ghouta, Jerico, Jerusalem, Mabbug,
miles. The church of Mabboug fell down over the Nawa, Tiberias, Mt. Tabor, Palestine, Mesopo-
people. tamia and Syria (Jerusalem and Mabbug IX ≤
– Agapius of Menbij: 749 January 18, a violent ≤ I ≤ X), in the mid 8th century, a powerful earth-
earthquake hit the coast of Palestine, many vil- quake struck Palestine, inflicting serious damage
lages were hit and many casualties in Tiberias at Jerusalem and Tiberias, and causing a landslide
more than 100000 casualties at a village near Mt. Tabor. There are two prob-
– Georgius Cedrenus: 749 January 18, a big lems relating date of this event and either it was a
earthquake took place in Palestine, Jordan and single earthquake or a series of tremors, however
all of Syria. There were many thousands of ca- it dated back to 18 January 749 (Tsafrir and Fo-
sualties. Monasteries and temples fell down. erster, 1992). A powerful earthquake dated back
– Nicephorus of Costantinopolis: 749 January 18, to 18 January 747 occurred in Palestine, along the
a violent earthquake hit Syria, the cities were swal- Jordan River and throughout Syria, killing thou-
lowed up and some buildings were shifted for 7 sands of people and collapsing churches and
miles. In Mesopotamia, a deep hollow was formed. monasteries, especially in the desert near Jerusa-
– Georgius Monachus: 749 January 18, a big lem (Theophanes). There was a strong earth-
earthquake destroyed the cities, some completely quake in Syria during the year (11 September
and other partially, the tall buildings fell down or 747-30 August 748), where the strongest shocks
shifted. In Mesopotamia, a deep hollow was occurred in Jerusalem, causing the death of many
formed for three miles. conquering troops and others (Al-Dhahabi).
– Al-Dhahabi: A strong earthquake in Syria. It There was a strong earthquake in Syria which de-
was the strongest in Jerusalem, causing many stroyed Jerusalem, during the year (31 August
casualties. 748-19 August 749) (Ibn Tagri Birdi). A severe
– Ibn Tagri Birdi: A violent earthquake in Syria and powerful earthquake in the West, the temple
destroyed Jerusalem. of Mambej collapsed totally in the year 747-748
Parametric catalogues (Pseudo-Dionysius). During the year (30 August
– Plassard and Kogoj (1981): They considered 748-19 August 749) there were many earth-
that there were two events, the first was on 746 quakes and many places were reduced to ruins, a
January 18 (I=V) in Palestine with destruction village near Mt. Tabor moved four miles from its
(Anastase; Perrey; Sieberg) and the second was original position and in that year a church in
in 748 (I=VII) at Damascus with destruction (Al- Mambej collapsed (Elias of Nisibis). A tremor at
Suyuti). Damascus lasted for days, a fortress in Beit
– Ben-Menahem (1979): 746, January 18, Qubayeh collapsed and many people were killed,
wednesday evening after 16 h, 32.0N, 35.5E, many myriads of people perished in Al-Ghouta
fault extended northwards over 120 km, I0 =XI, and Dareya, while Bosra, Nawa, Dar’a and Baal-
Ml =7.3, felt in Egypt, Syria, Arabia and Meso- bak were completely swallowed up, changing the
potamia. Great damage in Tiberias (30 syna- color of water spring in the city, sea waves de-
gogues destroyed), Jerusalem, led, Arad and to stroyed most of the cities and villages along the
monasteries north of the Dead Sea. About 600 coast, the fortress of Balqa on the coast was up-
settlements in Judea, Samaria and Galilee were rooted, Tiberias collapsed, a village near Mt. Ta-
hit and many casualties reported. Destruction of bor was moved four miles with its houses and
Hisham palace near Jerico and the city of other buildings without any destruction, a water
Gerasa. Tsunami in the Dead Sea and possible spring near Jerico changed its original place for
flooding of Dead Sea southern basin (Al-Sinawi six miles, destruction of churches and deaths in
and Ghalib; Amiran; Avi-Yonaha; Bahat et al.; Mambej, most the buildings in Constantinople,
Michel the Syrian; Neev and Emery; Plassard Nicea and other cities collapsed (Michael the
and Kogoj; Sieberg; Willis). Syrian). Regarding (Tsafrir and Foerster, 1992)
Seismological compilations chronological analysis, they considered the
– Guidoboni et al. (1994): 749 January 18, Baal- Babylonian dating instead of the Antiochene sys-
363
tem, they dated this event back to 749 January, villages along the coast, the fortress of Balqa on
18. An earthquake in Mesopotamia and Syria in the coast was uprooted, Tiberias was destroyed
the year of 749-750, causing various levels of de- except for a house, a village near Mt. Tabor was
struction in many cities and large-scale surface moved four miles with its houses and other
faulting in Mesopotamia (Theophanes). buildings without any destruction, a water
– Ambraseys et al. (1994): 747 January 18, spring near Jericho changed its original place
morning, 31.8N-35.7E, I ≤ VI. In 747 January for six miles, destruction of churches and
18, a large earthquake centering the Dead Sea re- deaths in Mabbug (Michael the Syrian). Russell
gion was felt in Egypt, some damage was caused suggested a date between September 747 and
in Damietta, in Fustat the shock was strongly felt August 748 for this event. There were many
and caused fear but no damage. There is a con- earthquakes where many regions gave way. A
siderable confusion over the dating of this event, village near Mt. Tabor was displaced 4 miles
which the Arabic sources put in 130 A.H. began along with houses and their possessions, but
11 September 747 (Al-Dhahabi; Al-’Ulami; Al- without damage. The church of the Jacobites in
Suyuti; Caetani; Sibt Ibn Al-Jawzi; Taher), and Mabbug collapsed on Sunday and many people
January 748 has recently been proposed as the perished in it (Elias of Nisibus). Russell also
correct date (Ben-Menahem; Gil; Russell; Sie- suggested that this event occurred between Sep-
berg), the effects of the earthquake are frequent- tember 747 and August 748.
ly confused with those of another event that af- Monographs
fected parts of Syria two years later (Al- – Tsafrir and Foerster (1992): A major earth-
Khwarazmi; Tsafrir and Foerster). quake occurred in 749 January 18 (according to
– Russell (1985): 748 January In January 18, Margaliot and archaeological evidences found
747, a great earthquake occurred in Palestine, in Bet Sheam), in Palestine and throughout Syr-
around the Jordan, and in all of Syria, to such ia, destroying Jerusalem, Gerasa, Jericho, Pella,
an extent that many innumerable and countless Capernaum, Sussita, Bet Sheam and many sites
people perished in its power, and churches and along the Jordan Valley, killing many tens of
monasteries collapsed (Theophanes). On 18th thousands of people (Cedrenus; Dionysus of
day of January at the 4th hour in the 6th year, Tellmahr; Ibn Tagri Birdi; Ibn Al-Muqaffa; Mar-
there was a great earthquake in Palestine, and galiot; Michael the Syrian; Sibt Ibn Al-Jawzi;
towards the Jordan, and throughout all of Syria. Theophanes).
Many thousands of people perished, and
churches and monasteries collapsed (Ce- 〈050〉 757 March 9 Habura: VII; Mesopota-
drenus). Russell evaluated the date to be from mia; Syria; Palestine.
June 746 through May 747. That night there Sources
was a great earthquake in the land from the city – Theophanes: A strong earthquake in Syria and
of Gaza to the furthest extremity of Persia, Palestine.
many houses were ruined in all the cities, and – Chronicon Pseudo-Dionysus of Tell-Mahre: A
none was saved from them. On the sea, many big and terrible shock in the region of Meso-
ships were sunk on that night. Six hundred potamia. Near Harbura, three villages fell down.
cities and villages were wrecked with a vast de- Seismological compilations
struction of men and beasts, but Egypt was un- – Guidoboni et al. (1994): 757 March 9, Habu-
injured, except Damietta. At Misr, there was ra, Palestine, Syria and Mesopotamia I = IX. A
only great fear without damage (Severus Ibn powerful earthquake struck Syria and Palestine
Al-Muqaff). There was an earthquake at Dam- on 9 March 757 (Theophanes). In the year 756
ascus which lasted for days, a fortress in Beit on Tuesday 3 March, there was a great, violent
Qubayeh collapsed and many people were and terrible earthquake in the land of Mesopo-
killed, many myriads of people perished in Al- tamia where three villages near Habura col-
Ghouta and Darayya, while Bosra, Nawa, lapsed, many people there were crushed and
Dar’a and Baalbak were completely swallowed perished (Pseudo-Dionysius).
up, sea waves destroyed most of the cities and – Russell (1985): An earthquake by no means
364
mild, affected Palestine and Syria on 9 March (the earthquakes), Al-Hafez Ibn Asaker men-
757 (Theophanes). tioned that there was an earthquake in Damas-
cus on Thursday 11 Rab’ 253, destroying a
〈054〉 835 January 5-December 25 Antioch: quarter of the Ommyad Mosque the great, the
VI-VII. Aftershocks. minaret fell down and bridges and houses col-
Sources lapsed, this earthquake reached Al-Ghouta
– Al-Suyuti: In the year 220 A.H. (started from where Darayya, Al-Mazzeh, Bait Lahya and
835 January 5) the earth shook for 40 days and others were destroyed.
Antioch destroyed. New original sources
Seismological compilations – Ibn Al-Imad: an earthquake caused heavy
– Guidoboni et al. (1994): 835 January 5-De- shaking in Damascus since morning for 3 h,
cember 25, Antioch IX ≤ I ≤ XI, the earth shook destroying houses and displacing huge stones
for forty days, and Antioch was destroyed (Al- and breaking many windows of Souks and
Suyuti). killing many people under debris. Many ter-
races of Ommyad Mosque the Great fell down,
〈055〉 846 August 28-847 August 16 Antioch: a quarter of its minaret fell down. A village in
> VIII; Damascus: VII; Homs: VII; Antioch, Al-Ghoutah was overturned on its inhabitants
Al-Jazira: VI; Al-Mousel: VI. Aftershocks. unless one person survived. It was strong at
Sources Antioch and Al-Mousel where more than 2000
– Al-Suyuti: During the year 232 A.H. (started houses collapsed over their residents and
from 846 August 28) many earthquakes occurred 20000 victims.
in the world in particular, in Morocco and Al- Parametric catalogues
Sham. The walls of Damascus and Homs were – Plassard and Kogoj (1981) 847 November 24,
collapsed. It was worst at Antioch. It caused de- I = V in Lebanon, this earthquake caused de-
struction in Al-Jazira and Al-Mousel and lasted struction in Damascus and damage in Homs
for many days. (Al-Suyuti).
Seismological compilations – Ben-Menahem (1979): 847, Ml = 6.2, destruc-
– Sieberg (1932): 846, numerous places in tion in Lebanon (Plassard and Kogoj; Sieberg;
Lebanon exposed to many sequences of shocks, Willis).
to such an extent that landslides occurred. Seismological compilations
– Guidoboni et al. (1994): 847 November 24,
〈056〉 847 November 24 Damascus: VII-VIII; Antioch, Bayt Lahya, Damascus IX ≤ I ≤ XI,
Al-Ghouta: VII-VIII; Al-Mazzeh: VII; Beit Darayya, Al-Ghoutah, Al-Mousel and Al-Maz-
Lahya: VII; Darayya: VII; Antioch: VI; Al- zah. A dreadful earthquake occurred at Damas-
Mousel: V. cus, causing the walls to collapse and people to
Sources die in the ruins, the earthquake reached Antioch
– Al-Dhahabi: In 253 A.H. Rabi’ II, it was a and 20000 people died there and it reached
dreadful earthquake in Damascus which lasted Mawsel where 50000 people died in the ruins
for three hours, causing walls to fall down and (Al-Dhahabi). The earthquake took place on 24
people die under debris. It extended to Antioch November 847, it was strong in Damascus, de-
killing 20000 as it was said, then to Al-Mousel stroying a part of the Ommiad Great Mosque,
where 50000 people were killed under debris as the minaret fell down and bridges and houses
it was said. collapsed, it reached Al-Ghouta, Darayya, Al-
– Al-Suyuti: In 253 A.H. 11 (847 A.D. Novem- Mazzeh, Bayt Lahya and others were destroyed
ber 25) there was a dreadful earthquake in (Al-Suyuti).
Damascus where houses fell down and people
died under debris. This earthquake extended to 〈057〉 853 June 12-854 June 1 Tabariya: VIII-
Antioch causing destruction, to Al-Jazira caus- IX. Landslide.
ing damage, and to Al-Mousel killing 50000 Sources
people as it was said. In his book Al-Zalazel – Ibn Al-Imad: The earth shook Tiberias at
365
night, then a huge part (80×50 Zeraa) of its 19-859 April 7], a great earthquake occurred in
mountain split open, and many people were Al-Sham, damaging Antioch, Homs and
killed. Palmyra.
Parametric catalogues – Al-Tabari: In Shawwal 245 A.H. (859 Decem-
– Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 853-854, I = III, a ber 30-860 January 29), there was an earthquake
strong earthquake occurred in Tiberias (Al- at Antioch, collapsing 1500 houses, killing
Suyuti). many people, half of the city wall and 90 towers
Seismological compilations fell down and people ran out to desert. A part of
– Guidoboni et al. (1994): 853 June 12-854 June Jabal Al-Akraa was split and sank into the sea
1,Tiberias VIII≤I ≤X, landslide, The earth shook generating high waves, disappearing river there.
at Tiberias, a huge part of the mountain split It was said that inhabitants of Tnis (Egypt) heard
open, and so ... many people died (Ibn Al-Imad a high noise which led to the killing of a large
Al-Hanbali). number of victims. In this year the earthquake
shook Balis, Raqqa, Harran, Ras Al-Ain, Homs,
〈058〉 859 December 30-860 January 29 (It Damascus, Al-Ruha, Tarsus, Adana and the Syr-
could be two earthquakes, the first one is between ian coasts. In Lattakia the shock caused destruc-
Antioch and Lattakia while the second is on the tion of all houses and some survivals there es-
Euphrates). Antioch: VIII; Lattakia and Jab- caped. Same happened to Jableh.
leh: VIII; Homs: VII; Palmyra: VII; Tarsus: – Al-Suyuti: [...] The earthquake passed the Eu-
VI; Balis: VI; Damascus: VI; Adana: VI; Al- phrates after destroying Balis and its around [...].
Quds: V-VI; Ar-Raqqa: V; Ras Al-Ein: V; Har- – Saadeh (1984): in the year 859-860, a violent
ran: V; Orfa: V; Egypt: IV (fig. 6). Landslide. earthquake occurred at Lattakia, causing de-
Sources struction of most buildings with a large number
– Al-Mansouri: In the year 244 A.H. [858 April of victims.
Fig. 6. Map of intensity distribution for the December 859-January 860 A.D. earthquake.
366
Parametric catalogues – Sieberg (1932): 859 April, a strong earth-

– Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 859 April 18, in quake in Northern Syria. It was felt in Asia Mi-
Lebanon I = VI, this earthquake caused destruc- nor, Armenia, Mesopotamia, Palestine and
tion in Antioch and damage in Damascus and Egypt. It killed a large number of people. In
Homs (Al-Suyuti, Erpenius). Poirier and Taher Antioch, 1500 houses and 90 towers of the city
(1980): 859 December, I0 = X-XI (MMS), in An- rampart collapsed. Lattakia and Jableh lost
tioch 1500 houses were destroyed, 90 towers fell most of their inhabitants. A part of Casius
from the ramparts. Casios Montain (Jabal Al- mountain fell into the sea. Damascus, Tarsus,
Aqra’), 30 km SW of Antioch, fell into the sea. A Edessa, Baghdad, Homs, Balis, Adana Harran,
river disappeared into the ground. Cities of Urfa, Marsin and ...? affected. Minor damage in the
Adana, Tarsus, Misis, Homs and Damascus were mosque of Al-Aqsa in Al-Quds. Shocks lasted
destroyed. for 3 months.
– Ben-Menahem (1979): 859 April 8, 36.2N,
36.1E, I0 = XII, Ml = 8.0, near Samandag, an in- 〈066〉 1002 November 10-1003 October 29
habited mountain fell into the sea. Total de- Western Syria: ≥ VIII.
struction of Antioch. Felt in Mecca, Egypt, Sources
Turkey, Armenia, Mesopotamia. Damage in – Al-Suyuti: In the year 393 A.H. (1002 No-
Jerusalem (Al-Sinawi and Ghalib; Amiran; Er- vember 10-1003 October 29) an earthquake oc-
gin et al.; Plassard and Kogoj; Sieberg). curred in Al-Sham, cities and towns along the
Seismological compilations frontiers, causing citadels and fortresses to fall
– Guidoboni et al. (1994): [859 December 30- down, and people to die under the debris.
860 January 29] Adhana, Antioch, Balis, Damas- Parametric catalogues
cus, Jableh, Harran, Homs, Laodicea IX≤I≤X, – Poirier and Taher (1980): 1002, I0 = VIII-IX
Al-Massisa, Edessa, Raqqa, Ra’s al-’Ayn, Tar- (MMS), Syria, border zone much destruction.
sus, Mt. Casius and Syria, landslide, in the year
(30 December 859-29 January 860) there was an 〈067〉 1029 January 20-1030 January 8 Dam-
earthquake at Antioch, killing a large number of ascus: VII.
people and causing the collapse of 1500 houses Sources
and about 90 towers in the walls of the city, Mt. – Al-Dawadari: in the year 420 A.H. (1029 Jan-
Casius (Jabal Al-Aqra’a) split open and rocks fell uary 20-1030 January 8) a heavy earthquake oc-
into the sea, which was stormy that day, people in curred in Damascus, collapsing its half and
Tinnis in Egypt were killed, there was another killing many people under the debris.
earthquake in the cities of Balis, Raqqa, Harran, Parametric catalogues
Ra’s Al-’Ayn, Hims, Damascus, Al-Ruha, Tarsus, – Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 1029 January 29,
Al-Massisa, Adhanah and along the Syrian coast, I = VII, this earthquake caused the destruction
the earthquake reached Laodecea, where no home of half of Damascus (Perrey; Sieberg).
remained standing and only a small number of Seismological compilations
people escaped (Al-Tabari). Syria was struck by – Sieberg (1932): 1029 January 20, a strong
earthquakes which destroyed Laodicea and earthquake in Syria destroying half of Damascus.
Jableh and many people were killed (Ya’qubi).
– Ambraseys et al. (1994): 860 January, 37.0N- (068〉 1042 August 21-1043 August 9 Palmyra:
38.0E, I ≤ VI. In one day of January 860, a large > VII; Baalbak: V; Tabriz: III; Egypt: III.
earthquake in Eastern Anatolia and North Syria, Sources
particularly destructive in Antioch, Jableh and – Al-Suyuti: in the year 434 A.H. (1042 August
Lattakia, was felt in Egypt (Al-Suyuti; Al- 21-1043 August 8) an earthquake occurred in
Tabari; Ibn Al-Athir; Taher). This earthquake Palmyra and Baalbak. Most people in Palmyra
could be dated in other catalogues on 859 and were killed under the debris.
often under 8 April (Al-Sinawi and Ghaleb; Parametric catalogues
Ben-Menahem; Kallner-Amiran; Poirier and – Ben-Menahem (1979): 1042 August 21,
Taher; Sieberg). 35.1N, 38.9E, near Palmyra, Ml = 7.2, destruc-
367
Fig. 7. Map of intensity distribution for July-August, 1063 earthquake.
tion of Palmyra. It was strong in Baalbak. It great earthquake in Al-Sham, causing destruc-
was felt in Tabriz and Egypt. tion of many cities. The wall of Tripoli col-
Seismological compilations lapsed.
– Sieberg (1932): 1042 August 21, a strong – Ibn Kathir: In that year [455 A.H.] in Sha’ban
widespread earthquake occurred to such an ex- [1063 July 30-August 27], there was a great
tent that it was felt in Tabriz and Egypt. The earthquake in Al-Sham land, where it caused
center of this earthquake seems to be at destruction of many towns. Wall of Tripoli was
Palmyra, where it killed most of its inhabitants. destroyed.
It was felt strongly in Baalbak. Victims were Parametric catalogues
evaluated to be 50000. – Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 1063 May, in
Lebanon I = IX, this earthquake caused destruc-
〈070〉 1063 July 30-August 27 Tripoli: VII- tion in Tripoli and Akkar region (Al-Suyuti;
VIII; Lattakia: V-VI; Acre: V-VI; Sur: V-VI; Perrey).
Antioch: V (fig. 7). – Poirier and Taher (1980): 1063 July, I0 = VIII
Sources (MMS), Antioch, Lattakia, Tripoli and Acre.
– Al-Suyuti: In 455 A.H. Sha’ban (1063 July 30- – Ben-Menahem (1979): 1063 August, Ml = 7.1,
August 27) there was a great earthquake at Waset, damage in Antioch, Tripoli, Lattakia, Sur and
Antioch, Lattakia, Tyr, Akka, Al-Rum and Al- Acre (Amiran; Ergin et al.; Willis).
Sham, falling down a part of Tripoli wall. Seismological compilations
– Abu Al-Fida: In this year (455 A.H.) (1063 – Sieberg (1932): 1063 or 1083, a strong earth-
January 4-1063 December 25), there was a quake occurred in the Syrian coast. Walls of
368
Tripoli collapsed. Antioch and Damascus suf- Sha’ban 9 (1091 September 26) many earth-
fered. quakes happened in Bilad Al-Sham and other
countries, where people left their houses. In An-
〈072〉 1091 September 26 or October 6 Anti- tioch, it caused destruction of many houses
och: VI-VII. with many victims under the debris, and 90
Parametric catalogues towers of its wall collapsed.
– Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 1091, Ι = III (in – Al-Dawadari: In 494 Sha’aban 19 (1091 Oc-
Lebanon), an earthquake caused destruction at tober 6), an earthquake occurred in Antioch,
Antioch where 80 towers collapsed (Abu Al-Fi- causing the collapse of 70 towers of its wall.
da; Al-Suyuti; Berloty).
– Poirier and Taher (1980): 1091 September 17, 〈075〉 1114 November (Two earthquakes could
I0 = IX (MMS), in Antioch, 70 towers fell from have happened; one at Maraash and other at
the ramparts. Orfa). Maskaneh: VIII; Maraash: VII-VIII;
Seismological compilations Samsat: VII-VIII; Orfa: VII-VIII; Harran:
– Sieberg (1932): 1092, an earthquake was in VII, Aleppo: V; Antioch: IV (fig. 8). Landslide.
Syria from Antioch to Damascus. Many build- Sources
ings were destroyed. – Ibn Al-Jawzi: In the year 508 A.H., the night of
– Ibn Al-Athir: In that year [484 A.H.] in 18 Jamada II Sunday (1114 November 19), an
Fig. 8. Map of intensity distribution for November 1114 earthquake.
369
earthquake occurred, causing collapse of 13 tow- ber 13, repeating what happened in August in
ers of Al-Ruha Wall, a part of Harran Wall fell the same regions with the same damage.
down and many houses collapsed on their inhab-
itants, Samasat was swallowed up, 100 houses 〈078〉 1137 October 19-November 16 Syria:
and half of the citadel collapsed at Balis. VII; Al-Jazira: VII; Al-Mousel: VII; Iraq: VII.
– Ibn Al-Athir: In this year (508 A.H.) in Jama- Sources
da II (November 2-30), there was a strong – Ibn Al-Athir: In this year [532 A.H.] in Safar
earthquake in Al-Jazira area, Al-Sham and oth- [1137 October 19-November 16], there was a
ers, causing a wide destruction at Al-Ruha, Har- great earthquake in Al-Sham, Al-Jazira, Diyar
ran, Samsat, Balis and others, and many people Bakr, Al-Mousel, Iraq and other countries,
killed under debris. causing a lot of destruction in these regions and
– Al-Dawadari: In this year (508 A.H.), there was many people were killed under debris.
an earthquake at Aleppo. Samsat and Marash – Abu Al-Fida: In this year [532 A.H.] [1137
were swallowed up and many people killed. September 19-1138 September 08], there was a
– Ibn Kathir: In this year (508 A.H.) (1114 Janu- great earthquake in Al-Sham, Iraq and other
ary 7-1115 May 26), there was a great earthquake countries, causing a lot of destruction and many
in Al-Jazira, causing destruction of 13 towers and people killed under debris.
many houses in Al-Ruha and some houses in Parametric catalogues
Khurasan (?) and many houses in many countries – Ben-Menahem (1979): 1137 September 13,
where many of its inhabitants were killed about NE Aleppo, Ml = 7.2, felt in Mesopotamia and
100000 victims, and half of Harran castle was Egypt (Al-Sinawi and Ghaleb; Sieberg; Willis).
collapsed, Samsat was swallowed up and many Seismological compilations
people were killed under debris. – Sieberg (1932): 1137 September 13, a destruc-
Parametric catalogues tive earthquake in Syria caused a large number of
– Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 1114 August 10 and people to kill. It was felt in Mesopotamia and
November 13, in Lebanon I=II, there were two Aleppo. Aftershocks lasted for the next year.
earthquakes, causing destruction in Cilicia with – Ambraseys et al. (1994): 1138 October 15, af-
tsunami and damage in Antioch (Al-Suyuti; ternoon, 36.5N-37.0E, I≤VI. Earthquake. Shocks
Sempad). were felt in Egypt, originating from the series of
– Ben-Menahem (1979): 1114 August 10, earthquakes that devastated Northern Syria.
36.5N, 36.0E, Ml = 7.0, destruction of Antioch. It
was accompanied by a tsunami. It was strongly 〈079〉 1138 October 11-26 Al-Sham: VI-VII; Al-
felt in Palestine. Jerusalem (MM = IV) (Amiran; Jazira: VI-VII; Aleppo: VI-VII. Aftershocks.
Plassard and Kogoj; Sieberg). Sources
– Ergin et al. (1967): Antioch was felt by the – Ibn Al-Athir: In this year [533 A.H.] in Safar
first event. The epicenter of the second one was [1138 October 11-26] there were many great
between Urfa and Harran, the walls of Edessa earthquakes in Al-Sham, Al-Jazira and other
city were ruined. Samsat, Marash, Antioch and countries, where the strongest were in Al-Sham
Harran were felt. lasting for many nights with many aftershocks,
– Ben-Menahem (1979): 1115 December 25, causing destruction of many towns such as
37.0N, 38.9E, Urfa-Harran, Taurus mountains, Aleppo where people ran out leaving their
Ml = 7.5, Jerusalem (MM = V). It was strong in houses to the desert. The earthquakes extended
Syria. Walls of Edessa destroyed (Amiran; Er- from Safar 4 to 19 in Al-Sham.
gin et al.; Sieberg; Willis). – Abu Al-Fida: Same description of Ibn Al-Athir.
Seismological compilations Parametric catalogues
– Sieberg (1932): In 1114 August 10, a vast de- – Poirier and Taher (1980): 1139 November,
structive earthquake started from southwest of I0=X-XI (MMS), Aleppo was destroyed and the
Asia Minor through Cillicia and Cyprus to inhabitants evacuated.
Egypt. There was large destruction in Antioch Seismological compilations
and minor damage in Aleppo. In 1114 Novem- – Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 1138 October, in
370
Lebanon I = IV, there was an earthquake causing ascus: III-IV; Aleppo: V-VI; Hama: V-VI;
destruction in Aleppo (Al-Suyuti; Berloty; Ibn Afamia: VI. 1156 October 17 (551 Sha’aban
Al-Athir). 29), 2 shocks was felt in Damascus: III. 1156
– Sieberg (1932): 1138 September 8, repeating October 22 (551 Ramadan 5), there were 3
of what happened in the same month of the last shocks in Damascus: IV. 1156 October 23 (551
year, but it was stronger causing a large number Ramadan 6), 5 shocks were in Damascus: IV-V.
of people to die in Aleppo and Ambar. 1156 October 31 (551 Ramadan 15), 2 shocks in
Damascus. 1156 November 1 (551 Ramadan 16),
〈082〉 1152 September 27 Bosra: VII; Hau- 2 shocks in Damascus: III. 1156 November 4
ran: VII; Syria: VII. (551 Ramadan 18), a strong shock was felt in
Sources Damascus: III-IV. 1156 November 8 (551 Ra-
– Abu Shama: It was said that on 546 A.H. Ja- madan 23), there was a strong shock in Damas-
mada II 13 at night [1152 September 27], there cus: III-IV. 1156 November 18 (551 Shawwal 2),
was an earthquake, producing 3 shocks in there was a strong shock in Damascus: IV. 1156
Bosra and Horan regions, causing destruction November 22 (551 Shawwal 6), at noon, a shock
of many house walls in Bosra and others. On was in Damascus: III. 1156 December 2 (551
Shawal 2 morning [1152 November 14] there Shawwal 16), there was a strong shock in Dam-
was an earthquake, shaking the earth for 3 ascus: III. 1156 December 3 (551 Shawwal 17), 4
times and moving houses and walls. shocks in Damascus: IV. 1156 December 8 (551
Parametric catalogues Shawwal 23), many shocks in Damascus: IV-V.
– Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 1152 March 22, Aleppo: V-VI, Shaizar: VII-VIII; Kafar Tab: VI-
I = IV, it was an earthquake that caused a de- VII; Hama: VI-VII. 1157 April 2 to 4 (552 Safar
struction in Afamea (Sieberg). 19, 20 and 21), a shock was felt in Damascus: IV;
– Ben-Menahem (1979): 1151, 32.6N, 36.7E, Ja- Shaizar: VI; Hama: VI; Aleppo: V; Kafar Tab: VI.
bal Al-Arab (Hauran), I0 =IX, Ml =6.2, destruc- 1157 July 5 (552 Jumada I 25), 4 strong shocks in
tive at Bousra and the Hauran. Felt in Palestine Damascus: III-IV. 1157 July 13 (552 Jumada II
(Amiran; Plassard and Kogoj; Sieberg; Willis). 4), a great earthquake followed by anther one less
Seismological compilations stronger was in Damascus: IV-V. In Aleppo, it
– Sieberg (1932): 1151, a destructive earthquake was a frighten earthquake: IV-V. In Homs, it was
in the volcanic area in Al-Nuqra and Horan [Syr- frighten earthquake with destruction: V-VI. In
ia], where only Bosra was widely damaged. It was Hama and Kafar Tab, there was destruction: V-
said that large areas of Syria were affected. In VII. Same was in Afamia: V-VII. In Tayma, there
1152 March 22, a destructive earthquake was in was damage: V. 1157 August 12 (552 Rajab 4), a
Syria, especially in Apamea and Qalaat Al-Madiq. great earthquake was in Damascus, causing par-
tial destruction: V-VI; Hama: VIII-IX; Shaizar:
〈083〉 1156 September-1159 May Western Syr- VIII-IX; Kafar Tab: VIII-IX.; Afamia: VIII-IX;
ia including Damascus. Foreshocks, after- Arqa: VIII-IX; Aleppo: VII-VIII; Homs: VII-VI-
shocks, surface faulting. II; Lattakia: VII-VIII; Tripoli: VII-VIII; Antioch:
New original sources VII-VIII; Shmemis: VII-VIII; Qalaat Al-Hosn:
Depending on quality of the available historical VII-VIII; Maarret Annooman: VI-VII; Tel Har-
sources, we consider that Ibn Al-Qalansi is the ran:? (fig. 9). 1157 August 16, 17 and 18 (552 Ra-
best eye-witness of this seismic crisis in the re- jab 8, 552 Rajab 9, 552 Rajab 10), there were 4
gion during that period, and we summarize his main earthquakes and series of shocks in Damas-
text chronically with intensity evaluation of each cus: III-IV. 1157 September 6 (552 Rajab 29), a
described locality. frightening earthquake was in Damascus: IV-V.
– Ibn Al-Qalansi: 1156 September 28 (551 1157 October 30 (552 Ramadan 24), many
Sha’aban 9), 3-4 strong shocks hit Damascus: shocks were in Damascus: IV-V. In Aleppo, there
III-IV. 1156 October 9 (551 Sha’aban 22), 6 was light damage to the houses: VI. In Hama,
shocks were felt in Damascus: II-III. 1156 Oc- there were a destruction with sound: VII-VIII.
tober 12 (551 Sha’aban 25), 2 shocks hit Dam- 1157 November 14 (552 Shawwal 10), a strong
371
Fig. 9. Map of intensity distribution for August 12, 1157 earthquake.
earthquake caused a panic in Damascus: III-IV. stroyed. Ramparts of the towns and fortresses
1157 December 13 and 14 (552 Dhul Qi’ada 10), collapsed.
there were 2 shocks in Damascus: III-IV. 1157 – Abu Al-Fida: In this year (552 A.H.), Rajab,
December 26 (552 Dhul Qi’ada 23), there was a there were strong earthquakes, causing destruc-
shock in Damascus: IV. 1157 December 28 (552 tion of Hama, Shaizar, Homs, Hosn Al-Akrad,
Dhul Qi’ada 25), there were 6 shocks causing a Tripoli, Antioch and other places, to the extent
panic in Damascus: IV-V. 1158 January 1 (552 that fortresses and walls fell down. Large num-
Dhul Qi’ada 30), there were many shocks in ber of people were killed under debris.
Damascus: III-IV. 1158 April 16 (553 Rabi’a I – Bar Hebraeus: And in this year, which is the
15), Aleppo was shaken: IV. 1158 April 25 (553 year 552 of the Arabs (1157 A.D.), severe earth-
Rabi’a I 25), there was a shock in Damascus: III. quakes took place in Syria destroying many
1158 August 20 (553 Rajab 23), there was a towns. In Hamth [Hama], its fortress and all its
shock in Damascus: III. 1158 August 21 (553 Ra- large houses fell down. Old men, women, chil-
jab 24), there was a shock in Damascus: III. 1159 dren, and tens of thousands of its inhabitants per-
January 23 (554 Muharram 1), there were 3 ished. The fortress of Shaizar fell down, every
shocks in Damascus: III. 1159 April 12 (554 Ra- part of it, and only women and eunuch escaped.
bi’a I 22), there was a shock in Damascus: IV-V. The people of Emessa went forth hastily and
1159 May 30 (554 Jumada I 10), there was a were delivered, but their monasteries and fortress
shock in Damascus: IV. perished. In the same manner, the people of Alep-
– Ibn Al-Athir: In this year [552 A.H.] in Rajab po fled from the city, and stayed outside for a few
[1157 August 9-September 7], there were many days. Their houses in the city were thrown down
strong earthquakes, causing destruction of many with perishing of five hundred souls. Similar was
towns and killing a countless number of people. in Kafar Tab and Afamia where no one escaped.
Hama, Shaizar, Kafar Tab, Maarret, Afamia, Cities of Franks, Hosn Al-Akrad and Arqa fell
Homs, Crac Des Chevaliers, Arqa, Lattakia, Tri- completely. In Laodicea the great church only re-
poli and Antioch were totally destroyed. The remained, and all those who were inside were de-
maing towns in Bilad Al-Sham were partially delivered. The ground inside the church was rent
372
asunder, and a chasm which was full of clay ap- some cities, the earth was opened. In this city, the
peared, and in the middle of the clay a molten im- earth was opened and lying to watch a chasm full
age was standing upright. Similarly, most of An- of mud, and in the center of the mud a statue,
tioch and Tripoli were destroyed. staying upright, was fusing. Similarly, the greater
– Chronicle of 1234: And the year of 1462 ar- part of Antioch and Tripoli was destroyed.
rived. In that year, there was a large earthquake – Saadeh (1984): In 1157, there was a very
and Sayzar [Shaizar] fell down. Forty thousand large earthquake in Northern Syria, causing
persons were killed. The governor and his chil- heavy damages in Lattakia and other cities.
dren were among those who were killed. The Parametric catalogues and previous studies
citadel that was built on a mountain fell down. A – Ambraseys and Barazangi (1989): 15 August
great number of persons were killed in Hama, 1157, 35.1N , 36.3E Ms > 7.0 Hama.
Salamiya and in many nearby villages. – Ben-Menahem (1979): 1157, July 15, Ml = 6.1,
– Michael the Syrian: And in this year, there were destruction of Baalbak (Amiran; Plassard and
severe earthquakes in Syria and many places were Kogoj; Sieberg).
destroyed. In Hamath, the fortress, the town and – Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 1157 June 4, 14
all large houses fell down upon the citizens. Old and August 12, I = VIII, there were earthquakes
men, women, children and a myriad of persons causing destruction in Tripoli, Krak, Homs,
were killed. The fortress of Saizar fell entirely, ex- Hama and Sheizar. Hama and Sheizar citadel
cept a woman and a eunuch. And the people of were the most affected sites. New earthquakes till
Emessa were taken by the fear: they fled the town 1158 (Al-Suyuti; Berloty; Ibn Al-Jawzi).
and were delivered. Their houses and the fortress
were destroyed. And in same manner, the people 〈084〉 1170 June 29 Damascus: VII-VIII;
in Aleppo fled from the city, and sat down outside Homs: VII-VIII; Hama: VII-VIII; Al-Sham:
it for a few days and were delivered, and their VII-VIII; Lattakia: VII-VIII; Baalbak: VII-
houses were thrown down, and only five hundred VIII; Shaizar: VII-VIII; Barin: VII; Aleppo:
persons perished in it. Same was at Kaphar Tab, VII-VIII; Iraq: V; Al-Jazira: V; Al-Mousel:
and Afamia, no one escaped, and many other V (fig. 10). Aftershocks, tsunami.
places as far as Rahabot. Cities of the Franks, Sources
Hosn Al-Akrad and Arqa fell down completely. In – Abu Al-Fida: In this year [565 A.H.] [1169
Laodicea, the great church only remained, and all September 25-1170 September 14], there was a
those who were in the church were delivered. In great earthquake, destroying Al-Sham.
Fig. 10. Map of intensity distribution for June 29, 1170 earthquake.
373
– Ibn Al-Athir: Also in this year [565 A.H.] 12 Antioch, Jableh, Tripoli and Jerusalem were al-
Shawwal [1170 June 29], there were successive so felt. Cyprus, Egypt and Mousel were also
great terrible earthquakes which had never been felt. Aftershocks lasted for three months.
seen before. Al-Sham, Al-Jazira, Al-Mousel, Iraq
and other countries were affected. They were 〈095〉 1287 March 22 Lattakia: VII-VIII;
strongest in Al-Sham, where most of Damascus, Palestine: IV; Armenia: IV.
Baalbak, Homs, Hama, Shaizar, Barin, Aleppo Sources
and others were destroyed, with their ramparts Saadeh (1984): In the year of 1287 March 22, a
and fortresses, houses collapsed over their resi- violent earthquake occurred in Lattakia, caus-
dents, killing countless numbers of people. Sultan ing damage in some districts of Lattakia and its
Nur ed-Din visited these later towns and ordered harbor, especially in the big tower.
to rebuild their ramparts and fortresses, while he Parametric catalogues
found Aleppo had not been destroyed as these – Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 1287-1285, in
towns previously. Bilad Al-Firnj [in that time dur- Lebanon I = VI, it was an earthquake that
ing the Crusader wars the Syrian coastal area was caused destruction in Lattakia (Abu Al-Faraj;
occupied by the Crusaders and called in Arabic Al-Suyuti; Perrey).
Bilad Al-Firanj] was affected. – Ben-Menahem (1979): 1287, Ml =7.3, destruc-
– Saadeh (1984) during the year of 1170, there tive in north Syria and Armenia. Lattakia ruined.
was a very large earthquake that occurred in It was felt in Palestine (Al-Sinawi and Ghaleb;
Northern Syria, causing heavy damage in Lat- Amiran; Plassard and Kogoj; Sieberg; Willis).
takia and other cities. Seismological compilations
Parametric catalogues – Sieberg (1932): 1287, a strong earthquake in
– Ambraseys and Barazangi (1989): 1170 June Northern Syria killed a large number of people.
29, 35.9N-36.4E, Ms > 7.0, tsunami. Lattakia was the most affected city to the extent
– Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 1170 June 29, in that it was completely destroyed. It was felt in
Lebanon I = IX, there was an earthquake, caus- Palestine and Armenia.
ing destruction in Tripoli and Aleppo (Al-Suyu-
ti; Berloty; Guillaume de Tyre; Perrey). 〈098〉 1322 January 20-February 19 Damas-
– Poirier and Taher (1980): 1170 June 30, I0 = IX- cus: V.
X (MMS), Aleppo was totally destroyed with Sources
80000 victims. Damage in Orontes Valley. In – Ibn Kathir: In this year (722 A.H.) of Muhar-
Antioch, St. Peters cathedral collapsed over the ram (1322 January 20-February 19), a great
patriarch. earthquake was felt at Damascus.
– Ben-Menahem (1979): 1170 June 29, 34.6N, Parametric catalogues
36.2E, I0 = XI-XII, Ml = 7.9, damage and casual- – Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 1322 January-
ties in Palestine. It was felt throughout Mesopo- February, I = IV, a strong earthquake occurred
tamia, Cyprus and Upper Egypt. Tripoli ruined. in Damascus (Al-Suyuti).
Destruction at Damascus, Sur, Sidon and Baalbak
(most columns fell down). Damage to the walls 〈100〉 1344 January 2 Al-Rawendan: VIII;
of Sur. Jerusalem (MM = V-VI). The obelisk at Manbej: VII-VIII; Aleppo: VI-VII; Damas-
Caesaria may have been thrown down (Amiran; cus: IV.
Humphrey; Plassard and Kogoj; Sieberg; Willis). Sources
Seismological compilations – Abu Al-Fida: In this year [744 A.H.] of 15
– Ambraseys et al. (1994): 1170 June 29, Shaaban [1344 January 2], a great earthquake
35.0N-36.5E, I ≤ VI. A catastrophic earthquake occurred, causing destruction of Aleppo and its
in northwest Syria, felt in Egypt (Abu Shama; vicinity. In Manbej, destruction was large and
Ibn Al-Athir; Ibn Qadi Shuhba). many people were killed under debris. Same
– Sieberg (1932): 1170 June 29, a destructive was in Al-Rawendan castle.
earthquake in Syria, killing 2000 persons. Lat- – Ibn Kathir: In this year [744 A.H.] 15 Sha’ban,
takia and half of Hosn Al-Akrad were ruined. Saturday [1344 January 2], a slight shock was felt
374
by a few people in Damascus. News came from 〈114〉 1565 July 26 Damascus: V.
Aleppo mentioning that many houses were de- New original sources
stroyed, a few towers of Aleppo citadel, mosques, – Al-Ghazi: A shock occurred on Wednesday ear-
monuments and walls fell down. Many citadels ly morning, 28 Zu-l-Hijja 972 A.H. (26 July 1565)
around Aleppo were destroyed. It was mentioned in Damascus. It was accompanied by a sound
that most of Manbej had collapsed and most of its from the earth (Badr Al-Ghazi).
inhabitants were killed under the debris. Seismological compilations
Parametric catalogues – Sieberg (1932): 1566, a destructive earthquake
– Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 1344, I = IV, there was felt till Cyprus.
was a strong earthquake in Egypt and in Syria
(Abu Al-Fida; Al-Suyuti; Perrey). 〈119〉 1610 March 7 Aleppo: VI.
– Poirier and Taher (1980): 1343 January 1, New original sources
I0 = IX, Manbej was destroyed with 5700 vic- – Al-Nablsi: A great earthquake hit Aleppo at
tims. Aleppo fortress was destroyed. sunset time on 11 Zu-l-Hijja 1018 A.H. (07
Seismological compilations March 1610) (Al-Ghazi).
– Ambraseys et al. (1994): 1344 January, a Seismological compilations
large earthquake in SE Anatolia was said to – Ambraseys and Finkel (1995): A contemporary
have been felt as far as Egypt (Al-’Aini; reports that Aleppo and its environs suffered a
Anonymous; Ibn Al-Shihna; Ibn Habib; Poirier great earthquake on the evening of Sunday, 11
and Taher; Sibt Ibn Al-’Ajami; Taher). There is Zilhicce (Zulhijeh) 1018 A.H. (7 March 1610)
no effects in south of Damascus, where the (Al-Hafiz).
shock was only slight (Ibn Kathir).
– Sieberg (1932): 1344, an earthquake was in 〈124〉 1626 January 21 Aleppo: VIII-IX;
Syria. It was felt in Egypt. Gaziantab: VIII-IX; Hama: VI-VII; Damas-
cus: V (fig. 11).
〈110〉 1537 January 7 Antioch: VII; Damas- Sources
cus: IV; Dimyat: IV-V; Egypt: IV. – Al-Nablsi: A slight shock was felt in Damas-
New original sources cus on Wednesday 22 Rabi’ II 1035 A.H. (21
– Al-Ghazi: A slight shock was felt in Egypt January 1626). In the meantime an earthquake
and Damascus on 25 Rajab 943 A.H. (07 Janu- hit Hama, causing the Souk Al-Dahsheh to col-
ary 1537) (Badr Al-Ghazi). lapse and killing many people under the debris
Seismological compilations (Al-Ghazi).
– Ambraseys et al. (1994): 1537 January 8, Dami- Seismological compilations
etta was shaken by earthquakes that continued for – Ambraseys and Finkel (1995): there was a
four days, five times a day. These shocks may be great earthquake in the Middle East as result of
associated with an earthquake reported to have which many places in the region of Aleppo and
shaken down many walls in Antioch the same Gaziantep were ruined with great loss of life
year (Al-‘Umari). Alternatively, there may be (LBS, BDP). This is most probably the earth-
some connection with the shocks reported in quake of Wednesday, 22 Rebi-II 1035 A.H. (21
Cairo and Damascus, noted above under 943- January 1626).
1537. Such associations imply a large earthquake
in or offshore from Northern Syria, for which one 〈134〉 1705 November 24 Yabroud: VIII; Al-
would expect further details to be preserved, and Qastal VIII; Damascus: VII; Tripoli: VII.
it is more likely that the Antioch earthquake, at Aftershocks.
least, is a separate event. Sources
– Al-Ghouneim (no date): In 944 A.H. (started – Al-Nablsi: He mentioned, as an eyewitness,
from 1537 June 10), there was a great earthquake that three main different sized shocks happened
in Antioch where many walls fell down. Later on, on Tuesday night, 7 Sha’ban 1117 A.H. (24 No-
Dimyat was shaken for 4 days, 5 times daily (Al- vember 1705) in Damascus. The first one caused
Jalabi). general panic while the second was the strong-
375
Fig. 11. Map of intensity distribution for January 21, 1626 earthquake.
est, causing houses to fall, walls to be destroyed stroyed. A monastery in Yabrud and many houses
in and around Damascus and top of the eastern in the villages were also destroyed (Al-Nablsi). In
minaret of the Umayyad Mosque to split, upper Tripoli, roofs and walls of the city, some of the
portion of the Murshidiyah minaret and Al-Afram walls of the towers of the coastal fort and some of
minaret to fall, to the extent that large number of the quarters of the gar were destroyed.
people in the villages were killed under the de-
bris. In Al-Qastal village, its fortress collapsed as 〈157〉 1822 August 13, 09:50 p.m. (local time)
well as a monastery in Yabrud village. Light Jisr Ash’Shoughour: IX; Quseir: IX; Aleppo:
shocks continued to be felt till Ramadan [after- VIII-IX; Darkoush: VIII-IX; Antioch: VIII;
shocks were felt for one month]. Iskenderun: VIII; Idleb: VIII; Sarmeen: VIII;
Seismological compilations Kelless: VIII; Armanaz: VII-VIII; Sarmada:
– Ambraseys and Finkel (1993): A destructive VII-VIII; Lattakia: VII; Homs: VII; Hama:
earthquake occurred on Tuesday night, 7 Sha’ban VII; Maraash: VII; Ram Hamadan: VII; Ben-
1117 A.H. (24 November 1705) in the northern nesh: VII; Maarret Missrin: VII; Damascus:
part of the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon. It was pre- III; Gaza: III; Al-Quds: III; Black Sea: III;
ceded by a strong foreshock that caused panic in Cyprus: III (figs. 12, 13 and 14). Faulting,
the area of Damascus. In Damascus, many strong tsunami.
aftershocks occurred, causing some houses to Parametric catalogues and previous studies
fall, walls to be destroyed, people to be killed in – Ambraseys (1989): 1822 August 13, 20:40
the debris, top of the eastern minaret of the (LT), 36.7N-36.9E, Ms = 7.4, I0 (MSK) = X.
Umayyad Mosque to split, upper portion of the – Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 1822 August 13,
Murshidiyah minaret and Al-Afram to fall. in Lebanon I=V, an earthquake, causing de-
Fortress of Al-Qastal and its villages were destruction in Antioch, Aleppo and Lattakia with
376
tsunami. It was felt in Damascus and Cyprus aftershock sequence that lasted almost 2.5 years.
(Blanckenhorn; Sieberg; Willis). The shock almost destroyed the region between
– Poirier and Taher (1980): 1822 August 13, Gaziantep and Antakia in Turkey and Aleppo
I0 = X-XI (MMS), Aleppo destroyed at 60%, sea and Khan Sheikhun in NW Syria, killing a very
wave at Iskenderun. large number of people. Slight shocks began on
– Ben-Menahem (1979): 1822 August 14, 36.4N- August 5 and continued until August 12, report-
36.2E, I0 = X-XI, Ml = 7.1, destruction of Anti- ed from Aleppo and Antioch. At 8 h 10 min p.m.
och and Aleppo. Felt in Jerusalem and Cyprus. on August 13 a strong shock was felt in the re-
Tsunami at Beirut (Amiran; Kárník; Ergin et al.; gion between Lattakia, Aleppo and Antioch,
Plassard and Kogoj; Sieberg). causing considerable concern. The main shock
– Ambraseys and Barazangi (1989): 36.7N- happened 30 min later. Gaziantep and its sur-
36.9E, Ms = 7.4. rounding villages were almost completely de-
Seismological compilations stroyed with great loss of life. Damage was
– Ambraseys (1989): 1822 August 13, this earth- equally heavy in the districts of Shikaghi and
quake was the largest in the Border Zone in the particularly of Jum and in the settlements along
last five centuries. It was felt from the coast of the Aafrine River. The ground opened up for
the Black Sea to Gaza, and it was followed by an some distance. The Orontes River overflowed its
Fig. 12. Map of intensity distribution for August 13, 1822 earthquake (Ambraseys, 1989).
377
Fig. 13. Map of intensity distribution for August 13, 1822 earthquake.
Fig. 14. Detailed map of intensity distribution for August 13, 1822 earthquake, between Antakia and Aleppo.
378
banks destroying bridges and embankments. Kil- – Sieberg (1932): 1822 August 13, a vast de-
lis was destroyed with loss of life. Harem and structive earthquake in Northern Syria. It was
Armanaz were totally destroyed. Darkush was said that 20000 people were killed. Antioch
ruined partly and a landslide blocked the Orontes was a victim completely to that earthquake. In
River. Jisr As-Shugr was entirely destroyed with Aleppo, 2/3 of houses became not suitable for
loss of life. Khan Sheikhun, Ariha, Idleb and par- living and it was said that 1/3 inhabitants were
ticularly Maarat were almost completely ruined killed. In Iskanderun and Lattakia, there was
but the loss of life was not great. Houses col- heavy damage to the houses. It was felt in
lapsed in these places but large buildings, al- Adana, Dayr Bakir, Damascus, Jerusalem and
though shattered, were left standing, except in Cyprus. Aftershocks continued to the end of
Maarat where they were brought down by after- June 1823 in Aleppo and Lattakia.
shocks which also crevassed the banks of the – Al-Tabakh Al-Halabi (1925): Al-Sheikh Bakri
Orontes. It is said that damage extended to Hama Kateb [a religious leader in Aleppo] says that: «In
and that it suffered as much as Aleppo. Aleppo August, many great earthquakes occurred caus-
was ruined with 7000 deaths within the walls of ing the collapsing of the Jewish quarter, the Souk
the city. The walls of the citadel were ruined. of Perfumery and Al-Aqaba [in Aleppo]. These
Many houses, gates and Souks were ruined. It is earthquakes lasted 40 days for every day, col-
said that before the earthquake the temperature lapsing schools and houses in the city [of Aleppo]
of well water had increased. Antioch and its sur- to the extent people went out of the town. Miner-
rounding villages were ruined. Many small set- at of the great Mosque was cracked». Jawdat
tlements in the upper and lower Quseir area were Basha says that: «On the 3rd hour of the night of
razed to the ground and there was a liquefaction 6 Zu-L-Hijja 1237 A.H. [1822 August 23], a
of the ground near the town. Beilan was heavily strong earthquake occurred in Aleppo, Kelless,
damaged without casualties. In Iskenderun, Antioch and their vicinity, causing many build-
number of houses were destroyed with liquefac- ings to collapse and large number of people to die
tion. At Payas, some houses sunk into the ground under the debris». I [means Al-Tabakh Al-Halabi]
but without loss of life. One-third of Lattakia catch a poem arranged by Mohammad Taqi ed-
was destroyed and one-third damaged. In Mari- Din who lived in Aleppo during this year [1237
na, the fort, the mosque and the large khan col- A.H.], describing these earthquakes and their ef-
lapsed, and houses and stores were considerably fects in the localities. He says: «An awful earth-
damaged. Jableh was more heavily damaged and quake occurred in Aleppo on the night of
people were killed. Damage was also reported Wednesday [Tuesday], buildings fell, people
from Markab and the castle of the Crusaders were killed, khans collapsed, mosques ruined
partly collapsed. Villages in the regions of Adana and the citadel of Aleppo collapsed with falling
and Misis were ruined. Marash and Nizip also its stones in the surrounding trench. In Homs,
seem to have been affected. Tarsus was strongly Hama, Marash and Al-Maarat, people were
affected by this event. At Homs it caused un- killed. In Ariha and Salqein, the earth faulted.
specified damage. At Tripoli and its dependen- The earth in Gaziaintab and Atareb was shaking.
cies, it was violent and caused damage. It was Both Al-Quseir and Jisr Ash’Shougour cities
strongly felt at Beirut, Sidon, Jerusalem, Gaza, were ruined and people were killed. Houses ru-
Trabzon, Tokat and Merzifon. It caused panic at ined and people killed in the villages of Aleppo.
Damascus. It was felt in Cyprus and Meso- The ground in Al-Atareb and Ipin sunk. Ram
potamia. It was felt at Urfa, Dyar Bakr and along Hamadan suffered. Idlib and Sarmeen became
the Euphrates and caused some damage. De- ruined completely. Bennesh and Maarret Missrin
structive aftershocks occurred in 1822 August 15 were ruined partially. In Darkoush, all houses
and 23, September 5 and 29, October 18 and fell, people were killed and sunk. In Armanaz,
1823 June 30, the sequence terminating in 1824 houses fell, some inhabitants ran away, others
March. The total number of killed people varies lost and others were injured. Kelless suffered as
between 30000 and 60000 (Consular Archives; Aleppo. Sarmada and its vicinity collapsed and
Güzelbey and Yetkin; Press Reports). people ran away. In Antioch the tower, the city
379
wall, khans and houses collapsed». Al-Sheikh banks, destroying villages, bridges and dams.
Mohammad Al-Termanini from Aleppo (died in Iskenderun was destroyed. New springs ap-
1250 A.H.) says that: «On the 3rd hour of the peared. The deeply affected area in north west
night of 27 Zu-L-Qada 1237 A.H. [1822 August Syria has a radius of 160 km. Villages of Aleppo
14] there was an earthquake in and around Alep- district were demolished and others swallowed
po. While we were talking on the 3rd hour of that up. The seismic waves had vertical and horizon-
night, a terrible earthquake occurred causing tal components with East West direction. (In fact,
great panic. At the beginning, we thought it was this earthquake was followed by many big after-
The Day of Judgment. This earthquake caused shocks from the date of the main shock up to
the collapse of houses, palaces, and the loss of writing this letter).
about 10000 lives. We ran away to the desert.
This earthquake caused also the collapse of
houses, schools, mosques and soaks that were in 6.3. Re-evaluated seismic events
front of the gate of the citadel [of Aleppo], start-
ing from Khan Al-Farayin (in the west) to the In this section we studied each historical
Salt Square, Al-Mzaweq and Bab Al-Ahmar (in earthquake by means of a careful examination
the east), and to the boundaries of Al-Qasileh and of all available references. In addition we resti-
Al-Saphahiyya (in the north); only the school of mated all earthquake parameters (intensity,
Khessrow Basha, Mosque of Al-Atroush, the earthquake location, estimated magnitude; see
school of Al-Sultaniyya and the bath of Al-Nas- table I) by a unified standard with the aim of
siryya survived». providing a homogenous standard list of seismic
– ANF: A terrible earthquake occurred in 1822 events with the same characteristics.
August 13 at 09:50 p.m. (local time) lasted for
one minute, causing great damage at Aleppo, de- 〈002〉 590 B.C. Tyre: VII? Tsunami at the
stroying monuments, minarets, high buildings Lebanese coast.
and walls of Aleppo, and killing many people. At Parametric catalogues
Lattakia, half the city was destroyed and it was – Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 590 B.C., in Le-
more terrible than the 1794 earthquake. Antioch banon I = IX, destruction in Tyre with tsunami.
was completely reduced to ruins and many open – Ben-Menahem (1979): 590 B.C., I0 = IX-X,
fractures appeared, producing smoke and lava Ml = 6.8, off Coast epicenter, flooding at Sur,
(?). The Orontes River fled on the neighboring tsunami at Lebanese coasts (Amos, Psal.).
Table I. Parametric catalogue of large historical earthquakes in Syria and its surroundings. The magnitude is
calculated following Shebalin (1970), Ambraseys and Barazangi (1989) and Ambraseys (1997).
No. Date Lat. Long. Major affected localities I0 H Ms

(day.month.year) (°N) (°E) (EMS-92) (km)
01 37 A.D. 36.00 36.30 Antioch, Dafneh VII-VIII 15 6.2

02 53 36.20 36.50 Antioch, Afamia, VIII 30 6.6
Manbej, Lattakia
03 303-304 33.80 34.30 Saida, Sur, Syria VIII-IX 20 7.1
04 494 35.80 36.30 Antioch, Tripoli, Lattakia VII-VIII 25 6.5
05 22.08.502 33.00 34.80 Akka, Sur, Saida, Beirut, Safad VIII-IX 30 7.2
06 531-534 35.50 37.20 Area between Aleppo and Homs VIII 15 6.5
07 09.07.551 34.00 35.50 Cities of Lebanese coast, Arwad IX-X 28 7.2
08 565-571 36.00 36.20 Antioch, Seleucea, VII-VIII 30 6.0
Kilikia, Anazrabo
380
Table I (continued).

09 18.01.747 32.50 35.60 Mt. Tabor, Baalbak, Bosra, Nawa, IX 25 7.2

Balqa, Al-Quds, Beit Qubayeh,
Tabaryya, Damascus, Daraa
10 24.11.847 34.40 36.30 In and around Damascus, IX 35 7.5
Antioch, Al-Mosel
11 30.12.859-29.01.860 35.70 36.40 Antioch, Lattakia, Jableh, VIII-IX 33 7.4
Homs, Palmyra, Tarsus, Balis,
Damascus, Adana, Ar-Raqqa
12 05.04.991 33.70 36.40 Baalbak, Damascus IX 22 7.1
13 30.07-27.08.1063 34.40 36.20 Tripoli, Lattakia, Akka, Sur VIII 32 6.9
14 11.1114 37.30 38.50 Maskaneh, Maraash, VIII-IX 40 7.4
15 11.1114 37.30 36.50 Samsat, Orfa, Harran IX 40 7.7
16 27.09.1152 32.60 36.70 Bosra, Hauran, Syria VIII 12 5.8
17 02-04.04.1157 35.50 36.50 Shaizar, Hama, VII 22 6.0
Kafer Tab, Aleppo
18 13.07.1157 35.20 36.60 Hama, Afamia, Kafer Tab, VIII 25 6.6
Homs, Tayma
19 12.08.1157 35.40 36.60 Shaizar, Kafar Tab, Afamia, IX-X 15 7.4
Hama, Arqa, Aleppo, Homs, Lattakia,
Tripoli, Antioch, Qalaat Al-Hosn,
Maarret Annooman
20 29.06.1170 34.80 36.40 Damascus, Homs, Hama, Lattakia, IX 35 7.7
Baalbak, Shaizar, Barin, Aleppo
21 20.05.1202 34.10 36.10 Mount Lebanon, Baalbak, Sur, IX 30 7.6
Beit Jin, Banyas, Nablus, Al-Samyra,
Damascus, Safita, Akka, Tripoli,
Hauran, Beirut, Homs, Tartus
22 02.01.1344 36.70 37.40 Al-Rawendan, Manbej, Aleppo VIII 30 6.8
23 20.02.1404 35.70 36.20 Blatnes, Bkas, West of Aleppo, VIII-IX 30 7.4
Qalaat Al-Marqeb, Tripoli,
Lattakia, Jableh
24 29.12.1408 35.80 36.10 Shugr, Bkas, Blatnes, Lattakia, IX 25 7.4
Jableh, Antioch, Syrian coast
25 10.10.1568 35.50 35.50 Lattakia, Famagusta VIII 12 6.0
26 21.01.1626 36.50 37.10 Aleppo, Gaziantab, Hama IX 20 7.3
27 22.09.1666 37.00 43.00 Al-Mousel, Sinjar, Sharqat IX 35 6.9
28 24.11.1705 33.70 36.60 Yabroud, Al-Qastal, VIII 35 6.9
Damascus, Tripoli
29 15.04.1726 36.30 36.60 Jum, Aleppo VIII 15 6.1
30 25.09.1738 36.70 36.50 Iskenderun, Bellen Bass, Antioch, VIII 10 6.2
Jabal Al-Amanus, Aleppo
31 30.10.1759 33.10 35.60 Al-Qunaytra, Safad, Akka, VIII-IX 20 6.6
An-Nasra, Sidon, Saasaa
32 25.11.1759 33.70 35.90 Baalbak, Zabadani, Ras Baalbak, IX 30 7.4
381
Table I (continued).

Al-Qunaytra, Damascus, Beirut,

Saida, Safad, Sur, Tripoli, Homs,
Hama, An-Nasra, Lattakia, Al-Quds,
Gaza, Antioch
33 26.04.1796 35.30 36.20 Qalaat Al-Marqeb, Al-Qadmous, VIII-IX 20 6.8
Nahr Al-Kabir, Jableh,
Bkas, Lattakia
34 13.08.1822 36.10 36.75 Jisr Ash’Shoughour, Quseir, Aleppo, IX 18 7.0
Darkoush, Antioch, Iskenderun,
Idleb, Kelless, Armanaz, Sarmada,
Lattakia, Homs, Hama, Maraash, Ram
Hamadan, Bennesh, Maarret Missrin
35 01.01.1837 - - Safad VIII >7.0
36 03.04.1872 36.20 36.50 Harem, Armanaz, Lake of Al-Amq, VIII-IX 10 5.9
Antioch, Aleppo, Suaidiya, Izaz,
Idleb, Iskenderun
Seismological compilations was swallowed up. It was less strongly in Syria

– Sieberg (1932): 590 B.C., a great shock oc- with moderate intensity. There was a limited
curred, causing a destructive sea wave in Tyre. number of victims (Posidonois).
〈003〉 525 B.C. Tyre: VIII-IX; Sidon: VIII- 〈007〉 92 B.C. Syria: III-IV; Egypt: III-IV.
IX; Kiklades island: III-IV; Eubea island: III- Tsunami at the Syrian-Lebanese coasts.
IV. Tsunami at the Lebanese coast. Parametric catalogues
Parametric catalogues – Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 92 B.C., I = VI,
– Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 525 B.C., in strong earthquake felt till Egypt.
Lebanon I = X, destruction in Tyre and Sidon – Ben-Menahem (1979): 92 B.C., February 28,
with tsunami, destruction in Bisri (Strabon). SE Cyprus, Ml =7.1, big tsunami hit Levantine
– Ben-Menahem (1979): 525 B.C., off Coast coastal cities. It was felt in Syria, Egypt and
Sur, I0 = XI, Ml = 7.5, Sur destroyed. Sidon Palestine (NSH; Plassard and Kogoj; Talmud;
greatly damaged. Tsunami at Lebanese coast. Willis).
Seismological compilations Seismological compilations:
– Sieberg (1932): 525 B.C., Sure was com- – Sieberg (1932): 92 B.C., an earthquake
pletely destroyed. Two thirds of tall buildings in occurred in Syria. It was felt in Egypt.
Sidon were ruined. Tsunami in the Lebanese
coast. It was felt in Kiklades and Eubea Islands. 〈008〉 65 B.C. Syria: VII-VIII; Antioch: VII-
VIII; Al-Quds: VI; Cyprus: III-IV; Salamis:
〈005〉 199-198 B.C. Sidon: VIII; Syria: ≤ VII. III-IV; Famagusta: III-IV.
Landslide at Sidon. Parametric catalogues
Seismological compilations – Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 69 B.C., I = IV,
– Guidoboni et al. (1994): 199-198, Sidon destruction in Antioch.
I = X, a series of shocks felt in Sidon and almost – Ben-Menahem (1979): 64 B.C., Ml = 7.7,
two thirds of it collapsed. A city above Sidon 36.2N, 36.1E, destruction of Antioch. It was
382
felt in Cyprus. damage to the temple walls in 〈012〉 47 Antioch: VII.

Jerusalem (Amiran; Plassard and Kogoj; Sie- Seismological compilations
berg; Willis; Yebamoth). − Guidoboni et al. (1994): 47 A.D., Antioch
Seismological compilations VIII ≤ I≤Χ, a violent earthquake in Antioch
– Sieberg (1932): 69 B.C., a heavy earthquake (Philostratus). Antioch was shaken by an earth-
destroyed many cities in Syria. Antioch was quake where the famous palaces collapsed and
included in this destruction. It was said that cracks appeared in many temples (Malalas).
17 000 people were killed in Syria. Shocks reach-
ed Palestine and Cyprus (Salamis and Fama- 〈013〉 53 Antioch: VII-VIII; Afamia: VI-VII;
gusta). Manbej: VI-VII; Lattakia:VI-VII (fig. 15).
– Guidoboni et al. (1994): 65 B.C., Antioch, Parametric catalogues
Syria IΧ≤ I≤ ΧI, a destructive earthquake hit − Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 53 A.D., I = IV (in
Antioch causing one hundred and seventy Lebanon), destructive earthquake at Antioch,
thousands deaths and destroyed many cities Apamea and Lattakia (Sieberg).
(Pompeos Trogus and Malalas). − Poirier and Taher (1980): 52 A.D., I0 =VIII-
IX (MMS), destruction in Antioch.
〈009〉 37 B.C. March 23, morning Dafneh: Seismological compilations
VI-VII; Antioch: V. − Sieberg (1932): 53 A.D., there was an earth-
Seismological compilations quake in Syria. In Antioch, temples of Diana
– Guidoboni et al. (1994): 37 B.C. March 23, and Hercules were destroyed. There was heavy
Antioch suffered and Dafneh was damaged damage in Menbej, Lattakia, Apamia.
(Malalas).
〈014〉 82-94 Antioch: VI-VII, Syria. After-
〈010〉 19 A.D. Sidon; Palestine; Syria; Asia shocks.
Minor. Seismological compilations
Parametric catalogues − Sieberg (1932): between 82-94 A.D., a strong
– Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 19 A.D., in widespread earthquake struck Syria causing
Lebanon I = VI, a strong earthquake at Sidon destruction of many houses at Antioch. Shocks
(Sieberg). lasted for 40 days.
– Ben-Menahem (1979): 19 A.D., off coast
Sidon, I0 = IX-X, Ml = 6.8, destruction at Sidon. 〈015〉 115 December 13 Antioch: VII; Eleyah:
It was felt in Palestine, Syria and Asia Minor VI-VII; Mirana: VI-VII; Rhodos: IV; Pitana.
(Amiran; Plassard and Kogoj; Willis). Tsunami at Caesaria, the Lebanese coast and
Seismological compilations Yavne.
– Sieberg (1932): 19 B.C., an earthquake was in Parametric catalogues
Sidon. − Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 115 December 3,
I = VII (in Lebanon). It has an intensity VII at
〈011〉 37 A.D. Antioch: VII-VIII; Dafneh: Beirut and all the Lebanese Coast. It was
VII; Al-Quds: IV. destructive at Antioch (Shalem).
Parametric catalogues − Poirier and Taher (1980): 115 A.D., I0 =X-XI
– Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 37 A.D., I = IV, a (MMS), heavy destruction in Antioch.
destructive earthquake at Antioch. It was felt at − Ben-Menahem (1979): 115 December 13, at
Jerusalem (Sieberg). night, near Samandag, Ml =7.4, it was felt all
Seismological compilations over the near east and the Eastern Mediter-
– Guidoboni et al. (1994): Antioch, Daphne ranean up to Rhodos. Destruction of Antioch.
VIII ≤ I ≤ Χ, Antioch suffered from an earth- Tsunami hit Yavne and Caesaria in Palestine
quake in the morning of 23 March 37. Dafneh (Ergin et al.; Plassard and Kogoj; Shebalin et al.;
area was also damaged (Malalas). Sieberg; Willis).
– Sieberg (1932): 37 B.C., a destructive earth- Seismological compilations
quake in Antioch. It was felt in Jerusalem. − Guidoboni et al. (1994): 115 December 13,
383
Fig. 15. Map of intensity distribution for the 53 A.D. earthquake.
Antioch IΧ≤ I≤ ΧI, Antioch was struck by a Damascus and many aftershocks lasted for the
violent earthquake, many cities were badly dam- next year.
aged, buildings were thrown into the air, large − Lemmens (1898): in 131 A.D., there was an
number of casualties and injured (Dio Cassius). earthquake in the Eastern Mediterranean region
Antioch, near Daphne, suffered from this earth- and Syria.
quake (Malalas). An earthquake in Antioch (In-
complete Fragment XXXV in the Fasti Ostiensis). 〈017〉 160 October Dura Europos: ≥ VI.
− Sieberg (1932): 115 December 13, at night, an Seismological compilations
earthquake destroyed two thirds of Antioch. 1600 − Guidoboni et al. (1994): a morning in October
victims. Destruction of Eleyah, Mirina and Pitana 160, an earthquake struck Dura Europos (Baur
(near Antioch). It was felt in Rhodos. and Rostovtzeff, 1931).
〈016〉 130 Damascus: V-VI; Baalbak: V; East- 〈018〉 220 Antioch: VI. Aftershocks.
ern Mediterranean region. Aftershocks. Seismological compilations
Parametric catalogues − Sieberg (1932): 220 A.D., a destructive
− Plassard and Kogoj (1981): in 130, there was earthquake in Antioch. It was followed by a
an earthquake in Syria and Palestine. It was large number of shocks.
strongly felt in Baalbak.
− Ben-Menahem (1979): Ml = 6.1, strong in Da- 〈019〉 233 Damascus: VII.
mascus (Plassard and Kogoj; Sieberg; Willis). Parametric catalogues
Seismological compilations − Ben-Menahem (1979): 233 A.D., Ml = 6.3,
− Sieberg (1932): 130, a strong earthquake in damage in Damascus.
384
Seismological compilations − Sieberg (1932): 306, a strong earthquake in

− Sieberg (1932): 233 A.D., there was an earth- Syria. Tyre and Sidon were destroyed. The
quake in Syria causing destruction of many earthquake was felt in Jerusalem.
houses at Damascus.
〈023〉 341 Antioch: VI-VII; Beirut: VII. Af-
〈020〉 242-245 Antioch: VI-VII; Syria: VI- tershocks.
VII; Egypt: III; Iran: III. Parametric catalogues
Parametric catalogues − Ben-Menahem (1979): 334, Ml = 7.0, destruc-
− Ben-Menahem (1979): 245, Ml = 7.5, near tion of Antioch. Felt all over the near east (Ergin
Antioch (Willis). et al.; Sieberg; Willis).
Seismological compilations − Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 344, destruction in
− Sieberg (1932): 242 or 245, a strong earth- Cyprus, in Lebanon I = IV (Theophanes; Perrey).
quake in Antioch and all over Syria. It was felt − Poirier and Taher (1980): 340, I0 = IX (MMS),
in Egypt and Iran. heavy destruction in Antioch.
− Ergin et al. (1967): an earthquake was in
〈021〉 272 Antioch: VI; Syria: VI. Antioch.
Seismological compilations Seismological compilations
− Sieberg (1932): 272 A.D., a strong earthquake − Guidoboni et al. (1994): 341 A.D., a series of
in Antioch and all over Syria. earthquakes occurred in the Eastern Mediter-
ranean and in particular at Antioch for the whole
〈022〉 303-304 Sidon: VIII; Tyre: VIII; Syr- year (Socrates). The church of Arian collapsed
ia: VII; Al-Quds: III-IV. Tsunami at Cae- (Michael the Syrian). In the year 341, Antioch
saria. was shaken by a violent earthquake for three days
Parametric catalogues (Theophanes). An earthquake at Antioch lasted
− Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 306 A.D., in for three days in the year 341-342 (Cedrenus).
Lebanon I0 =IX, it was a destructive earthquake − Sieberg (1932): In 334, a strong earthquake in
at Tyre and Sidon. There was a tsunami in Syria and the near East. It was said there were
Caesaria (Cesare) in Palestine (Eusèbe; Per- 40000 victims. Antioch was destroyed. In 340,
rey). an earthquake destroyed Beirut, killing a large
− Ben-Menahem (1979): 306-308, off coast Sur, number of people. In 341, a destructive earth-
I0 = X, Ml = 7.1, destruction at Sur and Sidon. quake in Antioch, followed by many shocks.
Felt in Jerusalem. Tsunami at Caesaria (Ami-
ran; Plassard and Kogoj; Sieberg; Willis). 〈024〉 348-349 Beirut: VII; Arwad: VI. Tsu-
Seismological compilations nami?
− Guidoboni et al. (1994): 303-304, Sidon IX≤ Parametric catalogues
≤I≤XI, a terrible earthquake caused many − Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 349, I = X, a
buildings to collapse at Tyre and Sidon, and a destructive earthquake at Beirut, I = X or IX,
large number of people were killed (Chronicon where most of the city was destroyed (Anstase).
of Eusebius). An earthquake followed in Syria, − Ben-Menahem (1979): 349-348, off coast
as a result of which buildings collapsed every- Beirut, I0 = X, Ml =7.0, Syrian coast. Destruc-
where, and thousands of people were crushed tion at Beirut (Plassard and Kogoj; Sieberg;
in Tyre and Sidon (Orosius). A date 303 for this Willis).
event was mentioned by Hermann (1962). Seismological compilations
− Russell (1985): 306, a terrible earthquake at − Guidoboni et al. (1994): 348-349, Beirut
Tyre and Sidon threw down many buildings, and VIII ≤ I ≤ IX, a powerful earthquake destroyed
in-numerable people were crushed (Chronicon most of Berytus (Theophanes; Cedrenus).
of Eusebius). A date ca. 303 may be more nearly Grumel in 1958 dates it to 348.
cor-rect (Ambraseys). Russell believes that sites − Sieberg (1932): 348, a destructive earthquake
in the Galilee would have been affected by this in the Syrian coast, causing damage in Beirut
event. and Arwad with tsunami.
385
〈025〉 363 May 18-19, night This earthquake − Russell (1985): 363 May 19, such as Cyril of
destroyed Palestine and parts of Jordan, Pa- Jerusalem’ description as above.
nyas: VII. − Sieberg (1932): 362, before June, a strong
Seismological compilations earthquake occurred at the eastern bank of the
− Guidoboni et al. (1994): 363 May 18-19 night, Dead Sea, causing a flood. Cities of Areopolis
Jerusalem, Sebastia and Nicopolis I=X. A furious and Kerak were destroyed. At Jerusalem, the
storm and earthquake occurred in Jerusalem, and Temple suffered.
the fire broke out in the temple and there was a
light in the sky in the form of a cross (Gregory of 〈026〉 394-396 Antioch: V-VI.
Nazianzus). On the night, a mighty earthquake Parametric catalogues
tore up the stones of the old foundations of the − Poirier and Taher (1980): 394 and 396, I0 = IX
temple, and dispersed them all together with the (MMS), heavy destruction in Antioch.
adjacent edifices. Fire came down from heaven Seismological compilations
and consumed all the builders’ tools (Socrates; − Sieberg (1932): 396, a strong earthquake in
Sozomen; Philostor-gius; Theodoret). The land Antioch.
shook considerably, and there were great tremors
in the towns round about. Many Christians and 〈027〉 450-457 September Tripoli: VI-VII.
the majority of the Jews perished in that scourge Parametric catalogues
not only by the earthquake but also as a result of − Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 457, I = IV, a
fire and in the heavy rain they had. More than destructive earthquake at Antioch (Cedrenus;
half of Beit Gubrin, part of Baishan, Sebastia and Perrey).
its territory, Nicopolis and its territory, more than Seismological compilations
half of Lydda and its territory, about half of − Guidoboni et al. (1994): 450-457 September,
Ascalan, Antipatris and its territory, part of Tripoli VIII≤I≤X, Tripoli in Syria suffered
Caesarea, more than half of Samaria, a third of from the wrath of God, at night (Malalas).
Paneas, half of Azotus, part of Gophna, more − Sieberg (1932): In 445, a strong earthquake
than half of Petra, more than half of Hada, a was in Tripoli.
suburb of Jerusalem, more than half of Jerusalem.
Fire came forth and consumed the teachers of the 〈028〉 458 September Antioch: VII-IX.
Jews. Part of Tiberias and its territory, more than Parametric catalogues
half of Areopolis, Sepphoris and its territory, Aina – Poirier and Taher (1980): 458, I0 = IX (MMS),
d-gader, Haifa flowed with blood for 3 days, 80000 victims in Antioch.
Japho perished. This event took place on Monday Seismological compilations
at the third hour, and partly at the ninth hour of – Guidoboni et al. (1994): 458 September 13-
the night. There was great loss of life here. It was 14, Antioch VIII≤I≤IX, a destructive earth-
on 19 Iyyar of the year 674 [May 363] of the quake struck Antioch with a large number of
kingdom of Alexander the Greek (Cyril of victims and homeless and habitant ran towards
Jerusalem?). In 365 July 21, a great earthquake the mountain tops (Severus of Antioch). A
occurred in Areopolis, and the sea swept in over dreadful trembling and shaking of the earth
the shores of the whole wold, and the city walls occurred in Antioch, destroying nearly all the
collapsed that same night (Jerome in his buildings in the new city, towers and baths
Commentary on Isaiah). Many cities in Palestine (John of Rhetorician). Antioch suffered its
were destroyed (Libanius). 21 cities were fourth calamity on Sunday 13th September
destroyed (Chronicle of 724; Chronicon Maroni- (Malalas). Two parts of Antioch were destroyed
ticum). 22 cities were destroyed (Agapius of and caused many deaths (Chronicle of 724). It
Menbij). It was a sudden fire rather than an was between 456 to 459 A.D. (Pseudo-Dionys-
earthquake (Ammianus; Ambrose; John Chry- ius of Tellmahre). It was a terrible earthquake
sostom). The Temple was destroyed (Coptic in 457-458 causing nearly all the city to reduce
source). It was wrongly taken to be the 365 to ruins (Theophanes). It was in 457 (Cedre-
earthquake (Amiran). nus).
386
– Sieberg (1932): 457-458, a strong earthquake in were completely destroyed. In Sidon and Anti-
Northern Syria destroyed a large part of Antioch. och, there was heavy damage to the buildings.
Aftershocks continued till October.
〈029〉 475 September Jableh: VII-VIII.
Seismological compilations 〈038〉 553 Antioch: V.
– Guidoboni et al. (1994): 475 September, Seismological compilations
Jableh VIII ≤ I ≤ X, Jableh suffered (Malalas). It – Sieberg (1932): in 553, a strong earthquake
was dated on 478-479 (Pseudo-Dionysius of was in Antioch.
Tellmahre).
– Sieberg (1932): In 477, a strong earthquake in 〈039〉 557 Antioch: V.
Jableh. In 479, a strong earthquake destroyed a Seismological compilations
large number of houses in Syria. – Sieberg (1932): in 557, a strong earthquake
was in Antioch.
〈030〉 494 Antioch: VII; Tripoli: VI-VII; Lat-
takia: VI-VII; Beirut: V. 〈045〉 639 Antioch: IV-V
Parametric catalogues Seismological compilations
– Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 494 or 492, I=VIII, – Sieberg (1932): 639, a strong earthquake with
a destructive earthquake at Tripoli, causing panic a horrible noise occurred in Antioch.
at Beirut (Zacharie le Scolastique).
Seismological compilations 〈051〉 775 Antioch: IV.
– Sieberg (1932): 494 A.D., 90 villages and Seismological compilations
cities in Syria were destroyed. Laodicea and – Sieberg (1932): 775, an earthquake was at
Tripoli were among these cities. The walls of Antioch.
Antioch fell down.
〈052〉 791 Aleppo: V; Northern Syria; Pales-
〈031〉 500 Antioch; Seleucea; Orfa; Safad. tine.
Parametric catalogues Seismological compilations
– Ben-Menahem (1979): 500, 36.2N, 36.1E, – Sieberg (1932): 791, a strong earthquake in
I0 = XI, Ml = 7.5, destruction of Antioch. Dam- Aleppo and Northern Syria. It reached Pales-
age to Safad. It was felt in Turkey and Greece tine.
(Amiran; Plassard and Kogoj; Sieberg; Willis).
– Ergin et al. (1967): an earthquake was in 〈053〉 8th century Ar-Rassafeh: VII-VIII.
Samandag and Urfa. Other works
Seismological compilations – Klengel (1985): During the 8th century, Ar-
– Sieberg (1932): 500, a heavy earthquake in Rassafeh hit by a strong earthquake, transfer-
Syria. It reached Palestine. Large destruction in ring its buildings into ruins.
Antioch and Seleucea. There was damage in
Edessa and Safad. 〈059〉 881 May 16 Syria; Egypt; Mesopota-
mia; North Africa and Al-Andalus.
〈033〉 525 May Beirut: VII-VIII; Byblus: Seismological compilations
VII-VIII; Sidon: VI-VII; Antioch: VI-VII. – Guidoboni et al. (1994): In that year [267
Aftershocks. A.H., 12 August 880-31 July 881], there was a
Parametric catalogues strong earthquake in Syria, Egypt, some parts
– Ben-Menahem (1979): 525 May 29, off coast of Mesopotamia, North Africa and Andalusia
Sidon, I0=IX-X, Ml = 6.7 (Ergin et al.; Plassard (Ibn Al-Athir).
and Kogoj; Sieberg; Willis).
Seismological compilations 〈060〉 889 Aleppo: III-IV.
– Sieberg (1932): 525 May, a strong earthquake Seismological compilations:
occurred in the coastal area of Syria with a – Sieberg (1932): 889, several size-varied
large number of deaths. Berytos and Byblos shocks (~ 6) occurred in Aleppo.
387
〈061〉 894 Northern Syria. Parametric catalogues

Seismological compilations – Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 991 April 5, I=VII,
– Sieberg (1932): 894, an earthquake occurred this earthquake caused destruction of 1000 hous-
in Northern Syria. It was felt in Armenia and es at Damascus and a village near Baalbak (Er-
Palestine. penius).
Seismological compilations
〈062〉 951 June 9-952 May 28 Aleppo: V-VI; – Guidoboni et al. (1994): Baalbak and Damas-
Raaban?; Duluk ?; Tal Hamed ? Aftershocks. cus I = IX. On the night of 5 April 991, there was
Parametric catalogues an earthquake at Damascus collapsing more than
– Poirier and Taher (1980): 951 September, 1000 houses and a large number of people died, a
I0 = VIII-IX, heavy destruction in Aleppo. Raa- village near Baalbak was swallowed up by the
ban and Duluk were destroyed. earth, other tremors occurred in Damascus and
Seismological compilations the surrounding area of Baalbak (Al-Antaki).
– Guidoboni et al. (1994): 951 June 9-952 May – Seiberg (1932): 991 April 5, an earthquake
28, Aleppo VIII ≤ I ≤ X, Duluk, Raaban, and occurred in Syria. It was accompanied by a
Tall Hamid. In that year (9 June 951-28 May tsunami. In Damascus, more than 1000 houses
952) there were many earthquakes in Aleppo collapsed with many victims. A village near
and other cities, they lasted for 40 days, causing Baalbak vanished. Aftershocks lasted for six
many victims and destroying the strongholds of weeks. The earthquake was felt in Egypt.
Tall Hamid and those of the towns of Raaban – Ben-Menahem (1979): 991 April 5, I0 = IX-X,
and Duluk, three towers of the latter collapsed Ml = 6.5, great destruction and many casualties
(Ibn Tagri Birdi). in Damascus and Baalbak. Felt as far as Egypt
(Plassard and Kogoj; Seiberg; Willis).
〈063〉 963 July Izaz: VII; Northern Syria:
VI. Rock-falls. 〈071〉 1089 Palmyra: ≥ VIII.
Seismological compilations Seismological compilations
– Seiberg (1932): 963 July, Izaz was destroyed – Sieberg (1932): 1089, a strong earthquake
by an earthquake. Many other places in North- was in Syria. It ruined Palmyra.
ern Syria were damaged. It was accompanied
by rock-falls. 〈074〉 1098 January Antioch: III; Aleppo: III.
〈064〉 972 Antioch: VI-VII; Damascus: V. – Sieberg (1932): 1098 January, a slight earth-
Parametric catalogues quake was in Antioch, Aleppo and other places
– Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 972-3, I = III, a in Northern Syria.
strong earthquake occurred in Al-Sham (=
Southern Syria) (Al-Suyuti). 〈076〉 1128 Tyre. Surface faulting?
– Poirier and Taher (1980): 972, I0 = IX (MMS), Seismological compilations
Antioch, Emperor Johannes Shamshik sent – Sieberg (1932): 1128, a destructive earth-
12000 workers to rebuild the city. quake killed a large number of people in Sure.
Seismological compilations Cracks appeared in the ground.
– Guidoboni et al. (1994): 972, Antioch VII ≤
≤ I ≤ VIII and Damascus. There was an earth- 〈077〉 1135 Syria.
quake in Antioch, and a large part of its walls Seismological compilations
collapsed (Al-Antaki). An earthquake affected – Sieberg (1932): 1135, an earthquake was in
Damascus and surrounding area, many towers Syria.
in Antioch collapsed (Al-Maqrizi).
〈080〉 1139 Aleppo.
〈065〉 991 April 5, night Baalbak: VIII-IX; Seismological compilations
Damascus: VII-VIII; Egypt: III-IV. Land- – Sieberg (1932): 1139, many strong shocks oc-
slide, tsunami, aftershocks. curred in Aleppo for two weeks.
388
〈085〉 1182 Bosra: VII; Judea: VI; Nablus: VI.

Parametric catalogues
– Ben-Menahem (1979): 1182, 32.6N, 36.7E,
Jabal Al-Arab, I0 = IX-X, Ml = 6.7, destructive at
Bosra and Southern Syria. Destructive in Judea
and Nablus (Amiran; Plassard and Kogoj;
Seiberg; Willis).
– Sieberg (1932): 1182, a destructive earth-
quake hit Southern Syria. It was felt in Judea.
〈086〉 1202 May 20, early morning Mount

Lebanon: IX; Baalbak: IX; Tyre: IX; Nablus:
VIII; Beit Jin: IX; Banyas: VIII+; Al-Samyra:
VIII+; Damascus: VIII; Safita: VII; Akka:
VII; Hauran:VIII; Hama: VIII; Tripoli: VIII;
Safad: VII; Al-Quds: VI; Bosra: VII-VIII; Al-
Batron: VII; Jbeil: VII; Beirut: VII; Marqab
and Hosn Al-Akrad: VII; Barin: VII; Homs:
VII; Tartus: VI; Aleppo: V; Antioch: V; Al-
Mousel: IV-V; Mesopotamia: IV; Cairo: IV;
Alexandria: IV; Dimyat: IV; Qus: IV; Iraq:
IV; Cyprus: VII?; Lesser Armenia: IV; Sicily:
IV; Khlat: IV; Ceuta: III?; Constantinople: IV
(fig. 16). Tsunami, landslide, aftershocks.
– Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 1201 June and Ju-
ly, I=X, there was an earthquake that caused a
destruction in Tyr, Beirut, Damascus, Baalbak,
Palestine (Nablus, Acre and Safad), and Homs
in Syria, with tsunami in Cyprus (Al-Suyuti;
Fig. 16. Map of intensity distribution for May 20,
Ernoul; Perrey). 1202 earthquake (Ambraseys and Melville, 1985).
– Ben-Menahem (1979): 1201 July-August, Shaded zone is the most affected region.
34.5N, 36.8E, I0 = XI, Ml = 7.3, felt in Mesopo-
tamia, Anatolia, Upper Egypt, Cyprus. Destruc-
tive in Tripoli, Sur, Acre, Nablus. Many monu-
ments and temples at Baalbak collapse. Many 33.5N-36.0E, VI ≤ I ≤ VII, tsunami and fault-
victims (Al-Sinawi et al.; Amiran; Ergin et al.; ing. A major earthquake in the upper Jordan
Plassard and Kogoj; Seiberg; Willis). and Litani Valleys was responsible for tens of
– Ben-Menahem (1979): 1202, May 20, at thousands of casualties in the Eastern Mediter-
down, 32.5N, 35.5E, near Bissan, I0 = X-XI, ranean region, it was felt throughout Egypt,
Ml = 6.8, destruction in Central Palestine. causing great concern but little damage (Abd
Nablus destroyed. Safad, Bissan and Banyas Al-Latif). The main shock was felt from Sicily
experienced MM = IX. It was felt in Syria, to Azarbaijan in NW Iran, and from Constan-
Cyprus, Egypt and Mesopotamia. Jerusalem tinople to Aswan (Ambraseys and Melville).
MM = V. Acre MM = VIII. Tiberias MM = IX, dam- – Sieberg (1932): 1202 May 20, a strong earth-
age to the city walls (Al-Sinawi and Ghalib; quake at Samaria and Galilia, causing a large
Amiran; Plassard and Kogoj; Sieberg). number of victims and destroying Nablus. Ak-
Seismological compilations ka and Safad were suffered. There was a large
– Ambraseys et al. (1994): 1202 May 20, sea wave along the Syrian coast destroying
389
many ships and settlements. In 1202, a destruc- ma). The shock in Damascus was of long dura-
tive earthquake destroyed Baalbak. There was tion. Another slight shock was felt early on the
destruction in Homs and Crac des Chevaliers. It following morning (Abu Shama), and after-
was felt in Mesopotamia and Cyprus. shocks continued for at least four days (‘Abd
Monographs Al-Latif). In Jubail, houses are said to have col-
– Ambraseys and Melville (1988): A shallow, lapsed (VII). The walls of Beirut are said to
large magnitude multiple earthquake was have been repaired around this time following
widely felt in the Middle East around daybreak earthquake damage (VII). Rockfalls in Mount
on the morning of 20 May 1202. The main Lebanon overwhelmed about 200 people from
shock was felt from Lesser Armenia, parts of Baalbak. Baalbak itself was destroyed (‘Abd Al-
Anatolia and northwest Iran to Qus in upper Latif) (IX). In Tripoli, there was heavy loss of
Egypt, and from Sicily in the west to Iraq and life (Mayer) and heavy damage (Ibn Al-Athir)
Mesopotamia in the east (radius of 1200 km). (VIII). Tartus and the Templar citadel seem
It was associated with tsunamis. This event largely to have been spared (Berchem and Fatio;
caused serious damage in Syria and to a lesser Enlart) (VI). The strongholds at Marqab and
extent in Cyprus, with great loss of life. The Krak (Hosn Al-Akrad) were badly damaged
epicenter was evaluated to be 34.1N and (Geoffrey of Donjon; Sibt Al-Jawzi) (VII). Cas-
36.1E, with estimated magnitude Ms = 7.5. tle of Barin was also damaged (Abd Al-Latif)
Both Acre and Tyre were severely damaged (VII). In Homs, the shock was experienced at
with heavy loss of life. Contemporary letters similar intensities (VII), where a watchtower of
(Mayer, 1972) speak of damage to walls and the castle was thrown down (Sibt Ibn Al-Jwazi).
towers in both cities, including the palace at The earthquake in Hama was experienced as
Acre. The house of the Temperas in Acre was two shocks, destroying its castle, along with
spared. All but 3 towers and some outlying for- many houses (Ibn Al-Athir) (VIII). In and
tifications were destroyed in Tyre, along with around Aleppo, the earthquake is said to have
churches and many houses. Intensities in Tyre been felt (Sibt Ibn Al-Jawzi) (V), and also in
may be assessed higher than those in Acre, re- Antioch (V). This event was reported also in Al-
spectively around IX and VIII. In Shamrin Mousel (IV-V) and throughout the districts of
(Samaria) and Houran, damage was equally se- Mesopotamia (IV), as far as Iraq, though with-
vere (VIII). Safad was partially destroyed, with out destruction of houses. Azarbaijan, Armenia,
the loss of all (VIII). At Bait Jann, not even the parts of Anatolia are said to have experienced
foundations of walls remained standing, every- the earthquake (Ibn Al-Athir; Sibt Ibn Al-
thing having been swallowed up (IX). In Jawzi). The shock was felt throughout Egypt
Nablus, there was total destruction (IX). In Hou- from Qus to Alexandria: in Cairo, the shock
ran province, most of the towns were so badly caused arousing sleepers who jumped from their
damage (Abd Al-Latif; Sibt Al-Jwazi). One of beds in fear (V). Three violent shocks were re-
the villages around Busra is said to have been ported, shaking buildings, doors and roofs (Abd
completely destroyed, perhaps by landslides Al-Latif). In Cyprus, the earthquake damaged
(Ibn Al-Athir). Jerusalem suffered relatively churches and other buildings and was strongly
lightly (Abd Al-Latif) at intensities not exceed- felt (Abd Al-Latif; Annales 5689; Ibn Al-Athir)
ing VI. Damascus was strongly shaken (VIII): a (VII?). The sea between Cyprus and the coast
large number of houses collapsed, major build- parted and mountainous waves were piled up,
ings near the citadel were damaged, the Um- throwing ships up onto the land (Arabic au-
ayyad mosque lost its eastern minaret and 16 or- thors). Eastern parts of the island were flooded
namental battlements along its north wall, one and numbers of fish were left stranded (Abd Al-
man was killed in the collapse of the Jirun gate Latif; Ibn Mankali in Taher). The earthquake is
of the mosque, the lead dome of the mosque was said to have been felt as far as Sicily (Ibn Al-
split in two and one other minaret fissured (Le Athir) (IV) and Ceuta (Ibn Wasil) (III?). It is
Strange), the Kallasa mosque was ruined, killing very likely that the shaking reported on or after
a North African and a Mamluk slave (Abu Sha- 1 March 1202 felt in and around Constantinople
390
was from the earthquake of 20 May (Nicetas) 〈097〉 1303 August 8 (It seems to be two dif-
(IV). The loss of life caused by this earthquake ferent events). Cairo: VII; Alexandria: VII;
and its aftershocks is high. A figure frequently Damanhur: VII; Safad: VII; Damascus: VI;
quoted in Arab sources is 11000 00 dead (Al- Hama: VI; Antioch: IV; Tunis: IV; Barqa:
Dhahabi; Al-Suyuti) for the year 597-598 A.H. IV; Morocco: IV; Cyprus: IV; Istanbul: IV;
(1201-1202). This includes those dying of Sicily: IV. Tsunami, flood.
famine and the epidemic consequent on the fail- Parametric catalogues
ure of the Nile floods, graphically described by – Plassard and Kogoj (1981): In 1303 August 8,
Abd Al-Latif, who noted 111000 deaths in I = V, there was an earthquake causing destruc-
Cairo along between 596 and 598 A.H. After- tion in Alexandaria with tsunami and Cairo. It
shocks were reported from Hama, Damascus was felt in Damascus (Abu Al-Fida; Al-Suyuti;
and Cairo, for at least four days (Abd Al-Latif). Perrey).
〈087〉 1212 Antioch. – Al-Ghouneim (no date): In [702 A.H.] Zu-l-
Seismological compilations Hijja 23 Thursday (1303 August 9) early morn-
– Sieberg (1932): 1212, an earthquake in Antioch. ing, it was mentioned that a strong earthquake
was in many towns and cities in Egypt. Many
〈088〉 1222 Kelless. places in Cairo, Eskandariyeh, Damenhur were
Seismological compilations destroyed or fell down. It was felt in Barqa, Tu-
– Sieberg (1932): 1222, there was a lava in Killis. nis, Sicily and Morocco. Cyprus was destroyed
to the ground. It was felt in Antioch, Constan-
〈089〉 1236 Northern Syria: VI-VII. tinople the great (Al-Dawadari). In this year
Seismological compilations [702 A.H.] of Zu-l-Hijja 23, a great earthquake
– Sieberg (1932): 1236, an earthquake in North- in Egypt. In Cairo, many mosques, minarets
ern Syria, causing minor damage. and schools were destroyed. There was flood-
ing of the Nile River with great sound. There
〈090〉 1242 Syria. was a sea wave in Eskandariyeh. A part of
Seismological compilations Safad citadel was collapsed and the sea in Ak-
– Sieberg (1932): 1242, an earthquake was in ka was retread. Cracks appeared in the walls of
Syria. Omyyad mosque at Damascus (Al-Maqrizi).
– Sieberg (1932): 1303, an earthquake in Syria.
〈091〉 1254 Northern Syria. Part of walls of Hama was collapsed.
– Sieberg (1932): 1254, an earthquake caused 〈099〉 1339 January 13-February 11 Tripoli:
minor damage in Northern Syria. VII; Palestine: IV.
〈093〉 1274 Syria. – Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 1339 January-
Seismological compilations February, I = IX, an earthquake occurred caus-
– Sieberg (1932): 1274, an earthquake was in ing destruction in Tripoli (Al-Suyuti).
Syria. Seismological compilations
– Al-Ghouneim (no date): In 739 A.H. Rajab
〈094〉 1281 Syria. (1339 January 13), an earthquake occurred at
Seismological compilations Tripoli, killing 60 persons.
– Sieberg (1932): 1281, a slight earthquake hit – Sieberg (1932): 1338 July 20, an earthquake
Syria, but without damage. was in Syria. It was strong in Tripoli. It was felt
in Palestine.
〈096〉 1290 Syria.
Seismological compilations 〈102〉 1399 September 20 Damascus: III-IV.
– Sieberg (1932): 1290, an earthquake was in Seismological compilations
Syria. – Al-Ghouneim (no date): In 802 A.H. Muhar-
391
ram 17 (1399 September 20), a shock was felt of Friday 3rd Jamada II. Many shocks were felt
at Damascus (Al-Asqalani). during this year (Al-Asqalani). In the latest third
of Sha’ban, news brought from Tripoli region,
〈103〉 1403 December 18 Aleppo: IV-V. that there was a great earthquake destroying
Seismological compilations many buildings and most parts of Qalaat Al-Mar-
– Ambraseys and Melville (1995): 1403 Decem- qab fell down (Al-Sayrafi).
ber 18 Tuesday, 806 A.H. Jamada II 3 Friday, a – Sieberg (1932): 1402, an earthquake was in
shock was felt in Aleppo and its dependencies, Syria, causing landslides with damage in a few
but without damage (Atsiz; Ibn Hajar). cities. There were sea waves in the coastal area.
〈104〉 1404 February 20 Qalaat Blatnes: VI- 〈105〉 1404 November 5-December 4 Alep-
II; Bkas: VIII; West of Aleppo: VII-VIII; po: V.
Qalaat Al-Marqeb: VII-VIII; Tripoli dis- Parametric catalogues
trict: VII; Lattakia: VII; Jableh: VII. Tsuna- – Poirier and Taher (1980): 807 A.H. Jamada I
mi, landslide. (1404 December 5), I0 = VII (MMS), there were
Parametric catalogues three shocks in Aleppo.
– Ambraseys and Barazangi (1989): 1404 Feb- Seismological compilations
ruary 22, 35.9N-36.3E, large. – Ambraseys and Melville (1995): 1404 Novem-
– Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 1403-1404 Decem- ber 7, 807 A.H. Jamada I 3 at midday, The shock
ber-January, in Lebanon I=V, there was an earth- was of long duration and was widely felt in other
quake which caused destruction in Aleppo with towns of the region. It caused great alarm, and
tsunami in the Syrian coast (Al-Suyuti; Perrey). was followed by a few aftershocks, but no dam-
– Poirier and Taher, 1980: 1404 February 11, age was reported (Al-Suyuti; Ibn Hajar).
I0 = IX (MMS), heavy destruction in Aleppo, – Al-Ghouneim (no date): 807 A.H. Jamada I
while Lattakia fortress was destroyed. (from 5 November 1404), a great earthquake in
Seismological compilations Aleppo, causing a large panic without damage
– Ambraseys and Melville (1995): 1404 February (Al-Asqalani).
20, 806 Sha’ban 8, a damaging earthquake took – Sieberg (1932): 1404, an earthquake in Syria.
place affecting the region west of Aleppo, where
many places were destroyed. There was a long 〈106〉 1407 April 9-May 8 Antioch: VII;
sequence of aftershocks which caused consider- Cyprus: V. Surface faulting.
able concern, particularly to the west of Aleppo Parametric catalogues
(Ibn Hajar; Ibn Al-Shihna). Other accounts men- – Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 1407 April-May,
tioned that the most effects were experienced in I = IV, there was an earthquake that caused de-
the district of Tripoli, where many buildings were struction in Antoich (Al-Suyuti).
destroyed (Al-Jauhari). Either as a result of this – Ambraseys and Barazangi (1989): 1407 April
shock, or of further strong aftershocks, part of the 29, 35.7N-36.3E, Ms =7.0, faulting.
castle of Marqab collapsed at the beginning of Seismological compilations
Ramadan (mid March), together with other struc- – Ambraseys and Melville (1995): 1407 April,
tures elsewhere (Al-Jauhari; Al-Maqrizi). 809 A.H. Zu-L-Qa’da, a shock was in Antioch,
– Al-Ghouneim (no date): In 806 A.H. Sha’ban killing 100 people or more (Al-Suyuti; Ibn Ha-
(from 1404 February 13), news received that a jar). An earthquake felt strongly throughout
great earthquake was at Tripoli region, destroying Cyprus on 29 April 1407 may be the same event.
many buildings including a part of Qalaat Al- – Al-Ghouneim (no date): In 809 A.H. Zu-l-Qa’-
Marqab, Lattakia, Jableh, Blatnes citadel, Bkas da (from 1407 April 09), a great earthquake was
and other towns in the mountain and the coastal at Antioch, killing a large number of people, 100
areas, killing many people under the debris (Al- or more, under the debris (Al-Asqalani).
Maqrzi). In this year [806 A.H.] Shaaban 8, a
strong earthquake was in and around Aleppo, de- 〈107〉 1408 December 29 Shugr: VIII-IX;
stroying many places. It was shacked on mid-day Bkas: VIII-IX; Blatnes: VIII; Lattakia: VII;
392
Jableh: VII; Antioch: VII; Syrian coast: VI ber 29, 811 A.H. Sha’ban 10, there was a great
(fig. 17). Faulting between Sfuhen and Al- earthquake in Shugr and Antioch, where Shugr
Quseir. Landslide in Sfuhen. Tsunami in Lat- and its region were destroyed (Atsiz). A great
takia. earthquake affected the districts belonging to
Parametric catalogues Aleppo and Tripoli, and destroyed a number of
– Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 1408-1409 De- places in Lattakia, Jableh and Balatunus. The cas-
cember-January, in Lebanon I = IX. They are tle of Balatunus collapsed and 15 people were
earthquakes which caused destruction in Tripoli killed. 15 people were killed in Jableh. Shugr
and Aleppo (Al-Suyuti). Bakas was totally destroyed with its castle, and
– Poirier and Taher (1980): 1408 December 30, all but 50 of its inhabitants were killed. The
I0 = X-XI (MMS), heavy destruction was in Anti- ground fissured and was thrown down over the
och and Aleppo, the ice fell off the top of Jabal distance of a stage, from the town of Qusair to
Al-Akraa. Between Al-Qucir and Saltuhum, a Salt(f)uham (?) – a town on the top of a mountain
fissure 1 mile long appeared. A sea wave in Lat- – about a mile of which moved during the night,
takia. carrying with it trees, buildings and their inhabi-
Seismological compilations tants, who were unaware of what was happening.
– Ambraseys and Melville (1995): 1408 Decem- The shock also affected Cyprus, where many
Fig. 17. Map of intensity distribution for December 29, 1408 earthquake.
393
places were destroyed in the mountains and the 16 Jumada II-evening of 25 April; the second was
plains. Snow was seen on the top of Jabal Al- before sunrise on 22 Jumada II-1 May (Ibn Tu-
Akraa, and the sea receded for 10 farsakhs (ca. 60 lun). In Egypt, the earthquake was alarming,
km) and then returned. Ships at sea touched the shaking buildings and lasting a daraja or more
bottom before the water returned to normal, with- (‘Abd Al-Basit; Al-Sakhawi). The second shock
out hurting anyone (Ibn Hajar). According to was slight (Al-Suyuti; Ibn Iyas).
Ambraesys’ point of view, the available evidence
suggests that surface faulting extended for a dis- 〈112〉 1546 September 29 Nablus: VI-VII;
tance of at least 20 km from Qusair, either south- Damascus: V; Al-Quds: VI; Yafa: VI; Tripoli:
west in the direction of the coast, or south along VI; Famagusta: V. Tsunami at Cyprus.
one or more strands of the Dead Sea Fault. Parametric catalogues
– Al-Ghouneim (no date): In 811 A.H. Sha’ban – Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 1546 September 29,
10 (1408 December 30), a great earthquake in I=VI, there was an earthquake which caused de-
Aleppo, Tripoli and their vicinity. Many places struction in Nablus, it was strong in Damascus
in Lattakia, Jableh and Blatnes were destroyed. and Famagusta in Cyprus (Perrey; Sieberg). There
Fortress of Platnes fell down, killing 15 persons was a tsunami in Cyprus (Shalem Nathan).
under the debris. In Jableh, 15 persons were Seismological compilations
killed. Both citadels of Bkas totally collapsed – Sieberg (1932): 1546 September 29, a strong
and all their residents were killed and only 50 earthquake was in Samaria, causing heavy
persons survived. The earth was opened be- damages in Nablus. Damages were recorded in
tween Salfouhum and Al-Qusair. Salfouhum Jerusalem, Yafa, Tripoli, Damascus and Fama-
moved from the top of the hill down along one gusta. It was accompanied with a sea wave.
mile with its inhabitants, trees, springs and ani-
mals, but without damage. In Cyprus, many 〈115〉 1568 October 10 Lattakia: VII; Fama-
places were destroyed. It was felt in the coastal gusta: V; Limassol: IV; Nicosia: IV.
area of Syria. The ice masses on the Jabal Al- Seismological compilation
Aqra were seen moving down. In the sea, – Ambraseys and Finkel (1995): An order from
sailors mentioned that the sea retreated then re- the Kadi of Lazkiya (Lattakia), dated 18 Rebi-II
turned back without any damage (Al-Maqrizi). A.H. (10 October 1568), says that ‘The great
earthquake ruined the walls and roofs of many
〈108〉 1484 March 29-April 27 Aleppo: V-VI. mescids (mosques), mihrabs and imarats in the
Seismological compilations town and villages; in particular, some walls of the
– Al-Ghouneim (no date): In 889 A.H. Rabi I great old mosque built by Sultan Alaeddin are de-
(started from 1484 29 March), Aleppo was molished and some walls are cracked (BBA). Li-
shaken by 6 strong shocks (Al-Suyuti). massol and Nicosia were affected by some shocks
of varying intensity, Famagusta was also shaken
〈109〉 1491 April 24 Nicosia: VII; Limassol: for eight days and many people moved out and
VII; Famagusta: VII; Paphos: VII; Damas- camped in the countryside (Lusignano). This
cus: IV; Cairo: IV; Crete: IV. earthquake seems probable in Lattakia associated
Seismological compilations with the fore- and aftershock activity of the same
– Ambraseys et al. (1994): 1491 April 24, two event, a possible location of which would be be-
slight shocks a week apart were reported from tween the Syrian coast and Cyprus.
Damascus, Cairo and Crete, both earthquakes
caused heavy damage in Cyprus, where the forts 〈116〉 1577 Northern Syria: VI-VII; Palestine:
at Limassol, Paphos and Famagusta and build- IV; Cyprus: IV; Armenia: IV. Aftershocks.
ings in Nicosia were destroyed (Anonymous Pil- Parametric catalogues
grim; Archivo Ducale Sforzesco-Milan; Ben- – Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 1577, I = IV, there
Menahem; Darrouzes; Dietrich von Schachtem). was an earthquake that caused a destruction in
In Damascus, the first shock, which was not Northern Syria and Cyprus. It was felt in Pales-
widely felt, occurred after the sunset prayers on tine (Perrey; Sieberg).
394
Seismological compilations – Ambraseys (1989): 1666 September 22, 37.0

– Sieberg (1932): 1577, a destructive earthquake N-43.0 E, Ms = 6.6, Im a x (MSK) = IX.
was in Northern Syria. It was felt in Palestine Seismological compilations
and Armenia. Aftershocks lasted four months. – Ambraseys (1989): 1666 September 22, news
of the disaster was reported from Aleppo where
〈120〉 1616 July 22 Aleppo: VI. the shock was apparently felt. In Al-Mousel and
Seismological compilations its surroundings the shock was particularly
– Ambraseys and Finkel (1995): 1616 July 22, a strong. Many houses were destroyed in Al-
strong earthquake was experienced on the feast of Mousel and also the cathedral that housed the
S. Maria della Neve by Pietro della Valle while he tomb of Nebi Yunus. Monasteries to the north of
was in Aleppo. The shock did not last long and the town were ruined. In addition, 5 towns and 45
caused no damage in the town (Valle). villages were totally destroyed, and damages ex-
– Sieberg (1932): 1616 August 27, a destructive tended to Sinjar and Sharqat. It is said that as a
earthquake in Aleppo collapsed its walls. result of the earthquake «four great mountains
were raised up from the ground and thrust against
〈126〉 1640 Damascus: VI; Syria; Tabriz. each other reducing themselves into dust», an al-
Parametric catalogues lusion, perhaps, to landslides. Destructive shocks
– Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 1640, I = VI, it continued for several days. It appears that the
was an earthquake that caused destruction in earthquake was felt strongly in Van and Tabriz
Damascus (Perrey ?). (Fiey; Hammer; Theatrum Europeum).
Seismological compilations – Sieberg (1932): 1666, Aleppo and 44 places
– Sieberg (1932): 1640, an earthquake was in affected deeply by an earthquake.
Syria. Some buildings in Damascus fell down.
It was felt in Tabriz. 〈130〉 1680 March 22-23 Aleppo: IV.
〈127〉 1656 February Tripoli: VII; Palestine: IV. – Ambraseys and Finkel (1995): Slight shocks
Parametric catalogues on 22 and 23 March 1680 were felt by a Euro-
– Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 1656 February, in pean traveler in Aleppo (d’Arvieux).
Lebanon I = VII, an earthquake occurred in
Tripoli, causing some damages (Perrey; Willis). 〈132〉 1693-94 Northwestern Iraq. Landslides.
– Ben-Menahem (1979): 1656 February, 34.9N, Seismological compilations
36.2E, I0 = X, Ml = 7.0, destruction of Tripoli. It – Ambraseys and Finkel (1995): In 1105 A.H. (2
was felt in Palestine (Al-Sinawi and Ghaleb; September 1693-21 August 1694) in the region
Amiran; Plassard and Kogoj; Sieberg; Willis). of Jabal Sinjar in NW Iraq, there was a mighty
Seismological compilations noise which heard and an area 50 cubits long by
– Sieberg (1932): 1656 February, an earthquake 30 wide sank down beneath the mountain (Al-
in Syria ruined half of Tripoli. It was felt in ’Umari). It is note necessary to be assumed that
Palestine. Shocks repeated in November. an earthquake was responsible for triggering
what appears to be landslide or rock-fall.
〈128〉 1657 Aleppo: IV.
Seismological compilations 〈133〉 1701 Aleppo: IV.
– Ambraseys and Finkel (1995): 1657, during Seismological compilations
this year four earthquakes were felt in Aleppo – Ambraseys and Finkel (1995): 1701, it seems
within a period of two months (Besson). that an earthquake was felt in Aleppo during
this year (Panzac).
〈129〉 1666 September 22 Al-Mousel: VII-
VIII; Sinjar: VI-VII; Sharqat: VI-VII; Alep- 〈136〉 1719 March Aleppo: VII.
po: V; Tabriz: V; Van: V. Landslides, after- Parametric catalogues
shocks. – Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 1719 March,
Parametric catalogues I = IV, it was an earthquake that caused destruc-
395
tion in Aleppo, 200 houses of Aleppo affected has been demolished (BBA). Probably, it was de-
(Sieberg). molished by this earthquake. The shock, accord-
Seismological compilations ing to an eyewitness, was strongly felt in Aleppo
– Ambraseys and Finkel (1995): An earthquake without damage (Kort). This is certainly the same
shook Aleppo during this month, damaging event that was also felt in Kilis (Kilisli Kadri) and
three mosques and ruining more than 200 hous- in other parts of the region of Bereket (Riggs).
es (Berryat). – Sieberg (1932): 1737, a destructive earthquake
– Sieberg (1932): 1719 March, a destructive in Antioch destroyed completely many old ruins.
earthquake in Syria caused destruction of three
mosques and 200 houses in Aleppo. 〈140〉 1752 July 21 Lattakia: VII; Tripoli: V.
Tsunami at the Syrian coast.
〈137〉 1722-1723 Aleppo: VII. Parametric catalogues
Seismological compilations – Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 1752 July 21, in
– Ambraseys and Finkel (1995): A near- Lebanon I = VII, a strong earthquake occurred
contemporary source says that: in 1135 A.H. in Tripoli, Lattakia and along the entire Syrian
(1722-1723) Aleppo was afflicted by a terrible coast, generating a tsunami (Sieberg; Willis).
earthquake, which destroyed most of its houses – Ben-Menahem (1979): 1752 July 21, off coast
and killed many people (Al-Ghazi). Modern Lattakia, I0 = X, Ml = 7.0, destruction at Tripoli
author (Panzac) repeated this information. and Lattakia. Tsunami at Syrian coasts (Ami-
ran; Plassard and Kogoj; Sieberg; Willis ).
〈138〉 1726 April 15 Jum: > VII; Aleppo: VII; Seismological compilations
Iskenderun: IV; Famagusta: III. – Sieberg (1932): 1752 July 21, an earthquake
Seismological compilations occurred in the Syrian coast, generating a de-
– Ambraseys and Finkel (1995): 1726 April 15, structive sea wave. Great damage was in Lat-
this earthquake occurred at quarter past noon and takia. It was felt in Tripoli. It was said that there
caused considerable damage in the region of were 20000 deaths.
Jum, particularly at Harim, but details are lacking
(ANF; Panzac). It was violent in Aleppo, where 〈141〉 1759 February 17 Aleppo: V.
some walls were thrown down, and caused panic Seismological compilations
in Iskenderun (PMdF). It was perceptible in – Sieberg (1932): 1759 February 17, a strong
Famagusta at the same hour, but there is no earthquake occurred in Aleppo.
evidence in French consular correspondence that
it was felt in Antioch (ANF). 〈142〉 1759 June 10 Aleppo: IV.
– Sieberg (1932): 1726 April 15, three shocks Seismological compilations
caused collapsing the old walls of Aleppo. – Ambraseys and Finkel (1995): 1759 June 10,
News brought that an earthquake occurred in an eyewitness reports that a slight earthquake
Iskandaroun. was felt in and around Aleppo in the morning
(Russell).
〈139〉 1738 September 25 Iskenderun: VIII; – Sieberg (1932): 1759 June 10, a weak shock
Bellen Bass: VII-VIII; Antioch: VII; Jabal was felt in Aleppo.
Al-Amanus: VII; Aleppo: V-VI; Kelless: V;
Bereket: V. 〈143〉 1759 October 30, 03:45 (local time) Al-
Seismological compilations Qunaytra: VIII; Safad: VII; Acre: VI; An-
– Ambraseys and Finkel (1995): 1738 September Nasra: VI; Sidon: VI; Saasaa: VI; Damas-
25, this earthquake caused considerable damage cus: V; Aleppo: IV; Al-Quds: IV; Beirut: IV;
in the region of Amanus, ruining a number of vil- Antioch: IV; Gaza: IV; Cyprus: IV. Land-
lages on the east side of the Belen Bass (Riggs). slides at the west of Damascus and Tabariya.
Part of Antioch’s walls and some houses col- Tsunami at Acre and Tripoli. Aftershocks.
lapsed according to European traveler (Pococke). Parametric catalogues
A part of castle between Bayas and Iskenderun – Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 1759 October 30,
396
I = VIII (in Lebanon), it was an earthquake that in Qadicha (Deir-Marjerjius and Qanobin), it was
caused destruction in Safad and large damage stronger in Aleppo (Perrey; Sieberg).
in Al-Chouf (Jalfaq). Seismological compilations
– Ben-Menahem (1979): 1759, October 30, 02 h, – Sieberg (1932): 1760 January, aftershocks
33.0N, 35.5E, I0 = IX, Ml = 6.5, heavy destruc- continued to occur, destroying Deir-Marjerjius.
tion and many casualties in Safad. Tiberias city It was felt in the mountain of Lebanon.
wall overthrown. Area of damage extend to Da-
mascus. Tsunami in the sea of Galilee. Damage 〈146〉 1765 Tripoli: V; Aleppo: IV.
in Sidon MM=VII (Amiran; Barslawy; Plassard Parametric catalogues
and Kogoj; Sieberg; Willis). – Plassard and Kogoj (1932): 1764 February
Seismological compilations 14, 19 h, I = VI (in Lebanon), a strong earth-
– Sieberg (1932): 1759 October, a set of shocks quake hit Tripoli. It lasted 6 seconds (Perrey).
started for three months in ... and Bekaa Valley. Seismological compilations
It was said that 30 000 persons were killed due – Ambraseys and Finkel (1995): 1765, during
to these events, from which 20 000 deaths in the year there were earthquakes in the region
Bekaa. between Aleppo and Tripoli (Lemmens).
Monographs – Sieberg (1932): 1764 January/February, a
– Ambraseys and Barazangi (1989): 1759 Octo- shock was in Aleppo. In 1764 February 14, a
ber 30, 33.1N-35.6E, Ms =6.6. This earthquake is strong shock was in Syria. It was felt in Tripoli.
considered as a foreshock of the main event of
November 25. It was affected the region of Safad 〈147〉 1778 May 5 Aleppo: IV.
and a mountain area to the NE where many vil- Seismological compilations
lages were destroyed with the loss of about 2000 – Ambraseys and Finkel (1995): 1778 May, at 5
lives. Safad and Qunaitra were almost totally ru- h 10 min there was an earthquake in Aleppo
ined, and many of the inhabitants were killed. In without damage (PGF).
Sidon, Saasaa, Nazareth and Acre, few houses – Sieberg (1932): 1778 May 5, a shock was felt
collapsed without casualties. In and around Dam- in Aleppo.
ascus, this earthquake caused considerable con-
cern and widespread minor damage, one or two 〈148〉 1779 June 8 Aleppo: V-VI.
houses collapsed, a few were damaged, many Seismological compilations
were cracked, many public buildings such as mi- – Ambraseys and Finkel (1995): 1779 June 8,
narets and tall buildings were damaged, the water preceded by an earthquake at the beginning of
supply of Damascus was affected by rock falls. In the month, a strong earthquake occurred in
Tiberias, a landslide took place but without loss of Aleppo on June, causing considerable concern
life. Antioch, Aleppo, Jerusalem and Gaza were (BRG). Another eyewitness reports the same
felt, and it was reported by sailing boats between event on Tuesday, 10 June, between 23 h and
Cyprus and Beirut. In Acre and Tripoli, there was midnight, stating that it caused no damage save
a seismic sea wave that flooded them without the collapse of inhabited houses (Evens). 8 June
damage. This earthquake was followed by a series fell on Tuesday.
of strong aftershocks, some of which were felt as
far as Aleppo, that added to the damage (Al-Bu- 〈149〉 1783 December 14 Aleppo: VI; Tripo-
dayri; ANF; Archives British Legations; Archives li: IV.
Historiques Ch. Comm. Marseille; Ben Zvi; Dah- Parametric catalogues
man; Findikli; Vitaliano; Yaari). – Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 1783 July 20, I = IV
(in Lebanon), an earthquake felt in Tripoli and
〈145〉 1760 January Qadicha: V; Aleppo: VI. Aleppo (Sieberg).
Earthquake. Seismological compilations
Parametric catalogues – Ambraseys and Finkel (1995): 1783 Decem-
– Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 1760 January, I = ber 14, a strong shock was felt in Aleppo (BV;
= VII (in Lebanon), a strong earthquake occurred Guys; Volney).
397
– Sieberg (1932): 1783 July 20, an earthquake Out of a population of about 5000, 1500 (Olivier)-
occurred in Northern Syria. In Aleppo, there 2000 (Guys) people were killed and many in-
was minor damage. It was felt in Tripoli and the jured. One-third of the houses was destroyed and
whole of Lebanon. the remainder more or less ruined. Damages were
equally heavy in Jableh where most of the houses
〈150〉 1783 December 4 Aleppo: IV. were destroyed and the minaret of the mosque of
Seismological compilations Ibrahim fell: farmers lost their lives in surround-
– Sieberg (1932): 1783 December 4, a slight ing villages; the castles of Markab and Qadmus
shock occurred in Aleppo. were completely ruined (Nuri). There was also
loss of life in the Bucak area north of Lattakia and
〈151〉 1795 January Aleppo: VI. settlements along the Nahr Al-Kebir River suf-
Seismological compilations fered in particular (ANF). The shock was felt be-
– Ambraseys and Finkel (1995): 1783 Decem- tween Aleppo and Tripoli and in Saida (Sidon)
ber, at 14 h 10 min, two shocks in Aleppo, the (Browne). It is said that as a result of the earth-
second being strong enough to damage many quake the surface of the ground around Lattakia
houses (Olivier). rose (Olivier) but this may be an exaggeration.
– Sieberg (1932): 1795 January, two shocks – Ambraseys (1989): 1796 April 26 morning, a
caused some damages in houses at Aleppo. destructive earthquake occurred in the Sahel dis-
trict of Lattakia. It lasted for about 1 min, almost
〈152〉 1796 April 26 Qalaat Al-Marqeb: VI- totally ruining the coastal plain between Jableh
II; Al-Qadmous: VIII; villages along Nahr and Bucak. Most of the houses collapsed in
Al-Kabir: VII-VIII; Jableh: VII-VIII; Bkas Jableh, and water wells caved in and became dry.
area: VII-VIII; Lattakia: VII; Saida: V; Most of the miri villages in the Nahr Al-Kebir
Aleppo: IV; Tripoli: V. Landslides, liquefac- plain were ruined. In Lattakia, 1500 out of a pop-
tion. ulation of 5000 were killed. One-third of Lattakia
Parametric catalogues collapsed and the remainder was damaged. The
– Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 1796 May 5, I = V old castle, minarets, watchtowers and large build-
(in Lebanon), an earthquake caused destruction ings fell down. In the port area, the tobacco cus-
in Lattakia, where one-third of the city houses toms-house fell in and killed 400 people. It is said
were destroyed (Blanckenhorn; Sieberg; Willis). that the shock raised the surface of the ground
– Ambraseys and Barazangi (1989): 1796 April several toises. It was strongly felt at Saida. After-
26, 35.7N-36.0E, Ms = 6.6. shocks continued to be felt for two months (Con-
– Ambraseys (1989): 1796 April 26, 09:05 (LT), sular Archives; Cevdet; Olivier, 1807).
35.5N-36.0E, Ms = 6.6, Imax (MSK) = VIII. – Sieberg (1932): 1796 April 26 or May 5, a de-
Seismological compilations structive earthquake was in Northern Syria. 1/3
– Ambraseys and Finkel (1995): 1796 April 26, of the houses in Lattakia was destroyed and
this was a destructive shock in the Sahel region of there were 1500 victims. In 1796 June, many
Lattakia on the Syrian littoral (Ambraseys, 1989). weak shocks were felt in Lattakia.
The earthquake occurred on 18 Shawal 1210 A.H.
(Nuri). At about 9 h (Olivier) without foreshocks 〈153〉 1802 Baalbak: VI; Palestine: III.
and lasted with intermissions for about one Parametric catalogues
minute. In Lattakia so violent that almost every- – Ben-Menahem (1979): 1802, 34.0N, 36.2E,
thing collapsed with the first shock. The traveler I0 = VIII-IX, Ml = 6.2, great damage at Baalbak.
Olivier, who had been there 22 months earlier, It was felt in Palestine (Amiran; Karnik; Plas-
found the town barely recognizable. In the port sard and Kogoj; Seiberg).
area the old fort at the entrance of the harbor Seismological compilations
(Morana) and the tobacco stores of the customs- – Sieberg (1932): 1802, a vast earthquake oc-
house and the han (BBA), solidly-built structures, curred in Central Syria. Minor damage oc-
collapsed instantly killing the Aga, his officers, curred in Al-Bekaa and Baalbak. It was felt in
400 people and many animals (AMAE CADN). Palestine.
398
〈155〉 1814 Al-Laja: VI-VII. Rock-falls. Parametric catalogues

Seismological compilations – Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 1854, I = III (in
– Sieberg (1932): 1814, there was a strong earth- Lebanon), an earthquake was felt in Beirut,
quake at the edge of the volcanic area in Al-Laja. Aleppo and Yafa (Blackenhorn; Willis).
It was accompanied by large rock-falls. Seismological compilations
– Sieberg (1932): 1854, an earthquake was felt
〈156〉 1819 February Syria: IV-V. in Syria. It was felt in Swedieh, Antioch, Alep-
Seismological compilations po, Beirut and Yafa.
– Sieberg (1932): 1819 end of February, a
strong shock was felt in Syria. 〈167〉 1859 January 24 Tripoli: III; Beirut:
III; Damascus: III; Aleppo: III.
〈158〉 1822 September 5 Aleppo: VII. Parametric catalogues
Parametric catalogues – Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 1859 January 24,
– Poirier and Taher (1980): 1822 September 5, I = IV, an earthquake was felt in Tripoli, Beirut,
destruction of what remained in Aleppo, with Damascus and Aleppo (Blachenhorn; Sieberg;
20000 victims. Willis).
〈159〉 1830 Aleppo: III. – Sieberg (1932): 1859 January 24, three
Seismological compilations shocks were felt in Damascus and Tripoli.
– Sieberg (1932): 1830, a shock was felt in
Aleppo. 〈168〉 1864 August 15 Aleppo: IV.
〈160〉 1831 February 22 Aleppo: V. – Sieberg (1932): 1864 August 15, a strong
Seismological compilations shock was felt in Aleppo.
– Sieberg (1932): 1831 February 22, a very
strong shock was felt in Aleppo. 〈169〉 1868 April 16 Aleppo: III.
〈162〉 1844 September 19 and 30 Aleppo: V. – Sieberg (1932): 1868 April 16, a shock was
Seismological compilations felt in Aleppo.
– Sieberg (1932): 1844 September 19 and 30,
strong shocks were felt in Aleppo. 〈170〉 1870 January 2 Aleppo: III.
〈164〉 1846 December 3 Aleppo: V. – Sieberg (1932): 1870 January 2, a shock was
Seismological compilations felt in Aleppo.
– Sieberg (1932): 1846 December 3, there was
a strong shock in Aleppo. 〈171〉 1872 April 3 Harem: VIII; Armanaz:
VIII; Buhyret Al-Amq: VII-VIII; Antioch:
〈165〉 1850 February 12 Beirut: III; Ain VII-VIII; Aleppo: VII; Suaidiya: VII; Izaz:
Hamadeh: III. VI-VII; Idleb: VI-VII; Iskenderun: VI-VII;
Parametric catalogues Hama: IV; Homs: IV; Tripoli: IV; Damas-
– Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 1850 February cus: III; Beirut: III; Sidon: III; Diyar Bakr:
12, I = III (in Lebanon), an earthquake was felt III; Egypt: III; Rhodos: III (figs. 18 and 19).
in Beirut and Ain Hamadeh (Sieberg). Faulting at Baghras. Liquefaction, tsunami,
Seismological compilations aftershocks.
– Sieberg (1932): 1850 February 12, a slight Parametric catalogues
shock was in Beirut. It was felt in Ain Ham- – Ambraseys (1989): 1872 April3, 07:40 (LT),
adeh. 36.4N-36.5E, Ms = 7.2, I0 (MSK) = X.
– Ambraseys and Barazangi (1989): 1872 April
〈166〉 1854 Antioch: III; Suaidiya: III; 3, 36.4N, 36.5E, Ms = 7.2.
Beirut: III; Aleppo: III; Yafa: III. – Plassard and Kogoj (1981): In Lebanon I = IV,
399
Fig. 18. Map of intensity distribution for April 3, 1872 earthquake (Ambraseys, 1989).
Fig. 19. Map of intensity distribution for April 3, 1872 earthquake.
at 07 h 50 min an earthquake caused destruction – Poirier and Taher (1980): 1872 April 2, Anti-
in Antioch and Swedieh, it was felt in Beirut och was destroyed at 30%, 500-1800 victims.
and Tripoli (Fuchs, 1886). In April 28, an earth- – Ben-Menahem (1979): 1872 April 2, 07 h 45
quake was felt in Sidon, Beirut and Antioch min, 36.2N, 36.2E, near Samandag, I0 = X-XI,
(Diaire des Pères Jésuites de Saida; Journaux Ml = 7.3, destruction of Antioch. Felt in Pales-
Contemporains des Événments). tine and Egypt. Strong aftershocks on April 10
400
and May 15 (Amiran; Ergin et al.; Karnik; Plas- details are lacking. In Aleppo, the shock lasted 72
sard and Kogoj; Sieberg). s and caused great panic. About 100 houses were
Seismological compilations badly damaged or collapsed, killing 7 and injur-
– Ambraseys (1989): 1872 April 3, a large earth- ing 3 people. Part of the citadel fell down. Dam-
quake occurred at 7:40 a.m., affecting the reach- age extended to Izaz, Basut, Zirbeh and Idleb as
es of the Orontes where the river empties into the well as to settlements along the Mediterranean
Mediterranean. The shock almost totally de- coast such as Arsuz and Iskenderun. Damage to
stroyed Antioch as well as its seaport of Suaidiya. the south of Afsiyeh became known many
At Antioch, the shock lasted 40 s, killing 500 months after the earthquake, as did damage to
people and injuring an equal number. 1960 hous- bridges and hans. The Orontes bridge at Jisr Al-
es of 3003 were totally destroyed and 894 so Hadid was damaged and its defense towers were
damaged. There were a further 1331 other build- thrown down. The shock was very strongly felt at
ings, i.e. shops, mosques, churches, etc., of Adana, Aintab, Birecik, Hama, Homs and
which there remained 349 shops, one mosque Tripoli. It was reported from Rhodes, Konya, Di-
and one soap factory; thus, of the 4334 buildings yar Bakr, Beirut and Damascus. The earthquake
of all kinds, only 500 were left standing. The was not felt in Egypt as alleged by modern writ-
Greek cathedral, completed before the earth- ers. Aftershocks continued to be felt with de-
quake, and the American Protestant church and creasing severity throughout April and May, but
premised collapsed, killing four members of the did not cease altogether until 1873 February
community. The East and North gates (of Bab (Consular Archives; Press Reports).
Bulus) were thrown down and part of the citadel – Sieberg (1932): 1872, a destructive earth-
walls collapsed. The old Roman bridge of four quake in Northern Syria, killing 1800 persons.
arches was breached in several places and all 2/3 of Antioch and Swedieh were ruined and re-
manor houses, including that of the Scotsman built again using stones of the ramparts of the
Yate, were destroyed. By contrast with the lower city. Iskandarun and Aleppo felt by this event,
part of the town, the upper part suffered less se- but without damage. It was felt in Urfa, Diyar
verely. Thirty-eight villages between Suaidiya Bakir, many places in Mesopotamia, Damas-
and Beilan were totally destroyed. 2150 houses cus, Yafa, Egypt, Tripoli (of Libya), Rhodos
were destroyed in Suaidya, and more than 300 and Smyrna. Aftershocks lasted till August, that
people killed or seriously injured. The nearby vil- were felt in Antioch, Aleppo and Smyrna.
lages of Kabusi, Jedida and Laushiya were razed
to the ground with loss of life. The sea rose after 〈172〉 1873 February 9 Aleppo: III.
the earthquake, allegedly to a great height, flood- Seismological compilations
ing the coast. Qaramut and its district were com- – Sieberg (1932): 1873 February 9, a shock was
pletely destroyed. In the town itself there were felt in Aleppo.
170 dead and 187 wounded; in addition to shops
and public buildings, 3552 houses were razed to 〈173〉 1873 February 14 Tyr: V; Beirut: III;
the ground. Heavy damage extended to east of Al-Quds: III; Akka: III.
Amik Glü. Qilliq was totally ruined with the loss Parametric catalogues
of 300 lives, and neighboring villages suffered – Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 1873 February 14,
similarly. Here, it is said, the earthquake split the in Lebanon I = V, an earthquake felt in Tyr, Beirut
ground in places and yellow sand filled the area, and Palestine (Fuchs; Sieberg).
a description suggesting widespread liquefac- – Ben-Menahem (1979): 1873 February 14, off
tion. Also, between Batrakan and Quaralu, the coast Sur, Ml =6.2, strong at Sur. Felt in Jerusa-
valley to the east of hills is said to have dropped lem and Cairo (Amiran; Plassard and Kogoj;
as a result of the earthquake and the ground was Sieberg).
‘rent’ all the way to Baghras, an allusion to fault- Seismological compilations
ing. Damage was very heavy and there was great – Sieberg (1932): 1873 February 14, a strong
loss of life to the north and south of Qilliq, par- shock was reported in Tyre. It was felt in Beirut,
ticularly in the region of Harim and Armanaz, but Akka and Jerusalem.
401
〈177〉 1884 June 6 Aleppo: V. earthquake caused destruction in Cilicia (Abu

Seismological compilations Al-Faraj; Al-Suyuti).
– Sieberg (1932): 1884 June 6, a strong shock
was felt in Aleppo. 〈101〉 1355 Syria; Armenia; Palestine.
〈178〉 1896 February 20 Damascus: V. – Sieberg (1932): 1355, an earthquake in Syria
Parametric catalogues caused minor damage. It was felt in Armenia and
– Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 1896 February Palestine.
20, I = III? (in Lebanon), an earthquake caused
damage in Damascus (Sieberg). 〈144〉 1759 November 25, 19:23 (local time)
Seismological compilations Baalbak: > VIII; Serghaya: > VIII; Zabadani:
– Sieberg (1932): 1896 February 20, a slight > VIII; Ras Baalbak: VIII; Al-Qunaytra: VIII;
earthquake occurred in Damascus. It was fol- Damascus: VII-VIII; Beirut: VII-VIII; Sidon:
lowed by a shock at night. VII-VIII; Safad: VII-VIII; Sur: VII-VIII;
Tripoli: VII; Acre: VII; Homs: VI-VII; Hama:
〈179〉 1896 May 12 Baalbak: V. VI-VII; An-Nasra: VI-VII; Hosn Al-Akrad:
Parametric catalogues VI-VII; Lattakia: V-VI; Al-Quds: V-VI; Gaza:
– Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 1896 May 12, V-VI; Antioch: V-VI; Aleppo: V; Tarba: V; A-
I=VI, two shocks were felt at Baalbek (Sieberg). natolia: IV; Egypt: IV (fig. 20). Faulting along
Seismological compilations the Bekaa valley. Landslides near Mukhtara
– Sieberg (1932): 1896 May 12, two strong shocks and Deir Marjrjos. Tsunami at Acre. After-
were felt in Baalbak. The second was stronger. shocks.
〈180〉 1896 May 14 Antioch: V; Jisr Ash’Shou- – Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 1759 November
ghur: III; Lattakia: III; Aleppo: III; Kelless: 25, I = X, it was an earthquake that caused de-
III. struction in Shouf and 100 persons were killed,
Seismological compilations it also caused destruction in Baalbak, Ras Baal-
– Sieberg (1932): 1894 May 14, an earthquake bak, Hasbaya, Beit Jin and Northern Syria (Jal-
occurred in Northern Syria. It was strong in An- faq; Perrey; Sieberg).
tioch. It was weak in Jisr Ash’Shoughur, Lat- – Ben-Menahem (1979): 1759 November 25,
takia, Aleppo and Kelless. 33.8N, 36.2 E, I0 = X-XI, Ml = 6.8, great destruc-
tion at Baalbak. A part of Damascus destroyed.
〈181〉 1896 June 29 Syria: IV; Bisri: IV; Damaged area extends to Antioch and Yafa.
Shouf: IV; Palestine: IV; Cairo: IV. Safad MM = VIII. Many thousands of persons
Parametric catalogues were reported to have perished in the Bekaa
– Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 1896 Jun. 29, (Amiran; Plassard and Kogoj; Seiberg).
I=VI, an earthquake was felt at Bisri, Chouf in Seismological compilations
Lebanon, Syria, Palestine and Cairo (Blancken- – Sieberg (1932): 1759 November 25, a destruc-
horn, 1905; Willis, 1928, 1933a,b; Sieberg, 1932). tive earthquake destroyed 1/3 of Damascus.
Seismological compilations Many places in Lebanon were strongly damaged.
– Sieberg (1932): 1896 June 29, an earthquake In Baalbak, there was heavy damage, 12 huge
caused heavy destruction at Lymasol. columns of the Temple fell down. It was felt in
Antioch and Yafa. Aftershocks continued to the
end of the month, causing a few houses to fell.
6.4. Historical seismic events without Monographs
re-evaluation – Ambraseys and Barazangi (1989): 1759 No-
vember 25, 33.7N-35.9E, Ms = 7.4, tsunami and
〈092〉 1268 Kilikia. faulting. It is the main shock of the 1759 earth-
Parametric catalogues quakes, lasted about 50 s. It destroyed totally all
– Plassard and Kogoj (1932): 1268, I = III, an villages in a narrow zone extending to the NE
402
of the 15000 mainly adobe houses, very few col-

lapsed completely but many were badly cracked,
the Umayyad mosque, other mosques, medreses,
gates, baths and walls suffered different degrees
of damage, a few minarets were thrown down
causing additional damage to adjacent houses,
part of the Damascus Citadel crumbled into the
Banas canal damming its flow, in Salihiyeh
(north part of Damascus), damage was more se-
rious, European consuls estimated loss of life at
a few handred lives as compared to 6000-20000
given by local sources in Damascus. It was
strongly felt in Antioch and Lattakia, causing
some panic and collapse of a number of old
houses. In Aleppo, it lasted two minutes and a
few walls were fissured. It was also felt in Tarba,
Gaza and Al-Arish and a few old Khans were
damaged. The shock was felt throughout Anato-
lia as far as Nakhichevan and in Egypt. A seismic
sea wave associated with this earthquake was
noted as far south as the Nile Delta without any
damage. In Acre, ships were thrown onto the
shore with some casualties. The total estimated
killed number by various temporary writrers
vary between 10000-40000. Aftershocks contin-
ued to be felt till August 1760 (Al-Budayri;
Fig. 20. Map of intensity distribution for November Archives British Legations; Archives His-
25, 1759 earthquake (Ambraseys and Barazangi, toriques Ch. Comm. Marseille; ANF; Ben Zvi;
1989). Dahman; Findikli; Vitaliano; Yaari).
〈154〉 1810 Baalbak: VI; Tripoli: VI; Syria:

for about 120 km along the Litani and the III; Palestine: III.
Bekaa Valleys into the upper reaches of the Parametric catalogues
Orontes River in NW Syria. Safad was almost – Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 1810, I = VII, an
totally destroyed with loss of life. The Metwali earthquake caused light damage near Baalbak
settlements, Bshara and in the Shouf region, and in Lebanon, a house in Tripoli was de-
were razed to the ground. Near Mukhtara and stroyed, it was felt in Syria and Palestine (Di-
Mar Djerjos, rock falls and landslides took aire des Pères Lazaristes de Tripoli; Willis).
place and added to the damage. In Serghaya and
Hasbaya, there was heavy destruction. Baalbak 〈161〉 1837 January 1, 04:00 p.m. (local time)
was totally destroyed with great loss of life, a Safad: VII-VIII; Nablus: VII-VIII; Beit
landslide was dammed the supplied water up. Lahm: VII-VIII; Al-Khalil: VII-VIII; Taba-
Heavy damage extended to Ras Baalbak. The riya: VII; Beirut: VI-VII; Damascus: VI.
available evidence suggests that within this area Tsunami at the lake of Tabariya. Aftershocks.
of maximum damage the earthquake was associ- Parametric catalogues
ated with extensive faulting for at least 100 km. – Ben-Menahem (1979): 1837, January 1, 14h
In Damascus district, many villages in the 34m, 33.0N, 35.5 E, near Safad, I0 = IX,
Ghutah and Marj suffered mainly from founda- Ml = 6.4, destructive in Safad and Tiberias. 5000
tion failures. The shock caused great panic in victims. Damage at Sur, Sidon, Damascus and
Damascus with several casualties and damage, Beirut. Tsunami in the lake of Galilee (Amiran;
403
Braslawy; Karnik; Plassard and Kogoj; Sieberg; one quarter of the dwellings suffered killing 7
Vered and Striem; Willis). people. In Nablus, one quarter of the houses and
– Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 1837 January 1, a number of shops were ruined causing the loss of
I = IX, an earthquake caused destruction in 48 lives. In Damascus, about 2000 houses were
Shouf, Palestine, Safad (5000 persons killed?) slightly damaged, 4 minarets and several houses
and Tiberias (700 persons killed and there was were destroyed and about 10 people were killed
agitation of the lake water and elevation of tem- or injured. Bazaars were damaged and parts of the
perature of the thermal sources), in Beirut there city gates as well as several. At the port of Jaffa
was large damage and panic, there was damage the shock threw merchandise from stacks while it
in Damascus (Shalem; Sieberg). was slow in Ramala. In Jerusalem, the earthquake
Seismological compilations was not very strong. The shock was felt all along
– Sieberg (1932): 1837 January 1, a destructive the coast such as in Tripoli, Lattakia, Antioch as
earthquake in the Galilea killed a large number of well as in Aleppo and at Kilis. Also it was felt in
people. It was felt in Cyprus. Safad was near the Nile Delta, at Damietta and Cairo. The earth-
completely destroyed and it was said that 1000- quake was also felt in Famagusta and Larnaca.
5000 were killed. In Tabrias, most of the houses Aftershocks continued to be felt for almost 4
and a large part of its wall fell down, with a loss months e.g., 16, 22, 25 January and 20 May were
of 700 lives. Temperature of the springs in- the most important. The loss of life due to this
creased. There was a tsunami in the lake of Al- earthquake and its aftershocks was larger than
Huleh. Zone of destruction extended from Jesreel 6000-7000 deaths (AMAE CADN; Archives
niderung till Beirut. Another zone of destruction Dép. des Bouches du Rhône; Archives Société de
extended from Nablus through Beit Lahm till Al- Géographie; Archives: Abdin Palace, Athene,
Khalil. Aftershocks continued till end of January Correspondenzblatt, L’Echo du Monde Savante,
in the Galilea region, especially in Safad. On 24 Journal de Smyrne, Das Morgenland, Natur und
January many houses at Sur were destroyed. Heilkunde; FO).
Monographs
– Ambraseys (1997): 1837 January 1 at about four 〈163〉 1845 February 21 Antioch: V; Cyprus:
in the afternoon, its epicentral area extended from III.
beyond Safad into Lebanon, Ms > 7.0, there is no Parametric catalogues
conclusive field evidence that this event was as- – Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 1845 February 21,
sociated with surface faulting. There was a de- I = III, a strong earthquake occurred in Antioch.
structive earthquake lasting about 20 s which It was felt in Cyprus (Ambraseys, 1961, 1963).
caused heavy damage in Southern Lebanon and
Northern Palestine. Destruction was done along 〈174〉 1873 November 4 Sidon: III.
the relatively narrow zone which extended from Parametric catalogues
the coastal area of Saida through the inland ikilmi – Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 1873 November
of Al-Touffa, Marjuyum, Bshara to lake Taberias. 4, I = III (in Lebanon), an earthquake was felt at
In Beirut, the earthquake caused panic and about Sidon (Diaire des Pères Jésuites de Saida; Jour-
eight houses collapsed killing two people. Saida naux Contemporains des Événments).
was almost totally ruined with the loss of 7 lives.
Much of Banyas was ruined. Sur suffered consid- 〈175〉 1877 February 26 Sidon: III.
erable damage where 40 houses collapsed killing Parametric catalogues
16 and injuring 36 people. Bint Jubayl was ruined – Plassard and Kogoj, 1981: 1877 February 26,
with the loss of 8 lives. In Safad, the largest of I = III, an earthquake was felt at Sidon (Diaire
places affected with 2158 deaths. At Acre, about des Pères Jésuites de Saida; Journaux Contem-
houses fell, 4 people were killed and several in- porains des Événments).
jured. Also in the district of Acre, 141 people
were killed. In Tiberias, about two thirds of the 〈176〉 1881 January 23, 17:45 (local time)
houses collapsed killing 822 people and injuring Sidon: III.
65. In Nazareth, only one house collapsed and Parametric catalogues
404
– Plassard and Kogoj (1981): 1881 January 23, 19th century A.D. amounts to 181 events. The
I = III (in Lebanon), an earthquake was felt at 1365 B.C. earthquake in Ugharit was the first
Sidon (Diaire des Pères Jésuites de Saida; Jour- documented one to be mentioned in the cata-
naux Contemporains des Événments; Sieberg). logue. The most extensive and disastrous appear
to have been those of 53 A.D., 494, 502, 551,
747, 849, 859-860, 1114, 1157, 1170, 1202, 1404,
7. Discussion and conclusions 1408, 1705, 1759, 1796, 1822, 1837 and 1872.
They caused considerable damage and killed a
This catalogue represents a comprehensive large number of people in Syria and Lebanon.
databank on the historical earthquakes for Syria Most these events were preceded and followed
and the surroundings covering 35 centuries, and by some damaging shocks, some of them causing
will serve in studying the seismic hazards of the significant destruction and large loss of life. On
region. It is a unified seismological compilation the other hand, they were associated with earth-
and parametric catalogue. While it is certain that quake hazards such as faulting raptures, liquefac-
many small earthquakes must be missing due to tion, landslides, tsunamis and fires.
many reasons, we can say that the total number of Parameters of 36 historical events are includ-
the historical earthquakes in and around Syria for ed in table I. Also, fig. 21 is a distribution of these
the period between the 14th century B.C. and the events. These destructive earthquakes and others
Fig. 21. Map of Syria and the surroundings showing the distribution of historical earthquakes epicenters (cir-
cles). Dates of earthquakes are listed in table I. DSF – Dead Sea Fault system; EAF – Eastern Anatolian Fault
system; EFS – Euphrates Fault System; GF – Al-Ghab Fault; RSF – Ar-Rassafeh Fault; RF – Roum Fault; SF –
Serghaya Fault; SPF – Southern Palmyride Fault; YF – Al-Yammouneh Fault (faults are compiled from McBride
et al., 1990; Barazangi et al., 1993; Gomez et al., 2001).
405
presented in the catalogue occurred primarily as a Jabal Al-Arab regions have less seismic activity.
result of movement of the northern segment of the Consequently, the earthquake hazards may be
Dead Sea fault system (Al-Yammouneh in Le- genuine in the Western Syria and Lebanon, the
banon and Al-Ghab in Syria) and of the Eastern region that is the most densely populated where
Anatolian fault system. While few large earth- both regions include the larger cities such as
quakes occurred along the Palmyra, Ar-Rassafeh Damascus, Beirut, Aleppo, Homs, Hama, Tripo-
and the Euphrates faults. Table II is a complete list li, Idleb, Lattakia, Tartus, Daraa, Akka, Saida,
of historical earthquakes with estimated intensities Zahleh, Baalbak Al-Qunaytra and Antakia.
at relevant localities and accompanying effects, Comparing both instrumentally recorded
with information completeness (A – complete; B – (figs. 2 and 22) and historical earthquakes (figs.
accepted; C – uncomplete) and information quali- 21 to 23) for the northern extension of the DSF in
ty factors (1 – good source quality; 2 – moderate Syria and Lebanon, one can easily see that there
source quality; 3 – poor source quality). is a clear difference between these two periods.
The general conclusion of this paper is that In fact, the instrumental seismicity represents an
the historical seismicity of Syria is relatively- apparent quiescence that does not reflect the po-
well documented now, and that Western Syria tential hazard. It is, therefore, recommended that
and Lebanon are the most seismic regions, while consideration of historical period is essential
the Palmyra, Ar-Rassafeh, the Euphrates and the when assessing seismic hazard in this region.
Table II. A complete table of historical earthquakes with estimated intensities at relevant localities and ac-
companying effects, with information completeness (A – complete; B – accepted; C – incomplete) and infor-
mation quality factors (1 – good source quality; 2 – moderate source quality; 3 – poor source quality)
No. Date Intensity distribution Surface effects Completeness Quality

001 ~ 1365 B.C. Ugharit: VIII-IX. Tsunami, fire. C 2
002 590 B.C. Tyre: VII? Tsunami at the C 3
Lebanese coast.
003 525 B.C. Tyre: VIII-IX; Sidon: VIII-IX; Tsunami at the B 3
Kiklades island: III-IV; Lebanese coast.
Eubea island: III-IV.
004 331 B.C. Syria: VI. C 3
005 199-198 B.C. Sidon: VIII; Syria: ≤VII. Landslide at Sidon. C 3
006 148-130 B.C. Antioch: ≥ VII. C 3
February 21,
afternoon
007 92 B.C. Syria: III-IV; Egypt: III-IV. Tsunami at the C 3
Syrian-Lebanese coasts.
008 65 B.C. Syria: VII-VIII; Antioch: B 3
VII-VIII; Al-Quds: VI;
Cyprus: III-IV; Salamis:
III-IV; Famagusta: III-IV.
009 37 B.C. Dafneh: VI-VII; Antioch: V. C 3
March 23,
morning
10 19 A.D. Sidon; Palestine; Syria; C 3
Asia Minor.
011 37 A.D. Antioch: VII-VIII; Dafneh: C 3
VII; Al-Quds: IV.
406
Table II (continued).
012 47 Antioch: VII. C 3

013 53 Antioch: VII-VIII; B 3
Afamia: VI-VII;
Manbej: VI-VII;
Lattakia:VI-VII (fig. 15).
014 82-94 Antioch: VI-VII; Syria. Aftershocks. C 3
015 115 December 13 Antioch: VII; Eleyah: VI Tsunami at Caesaria, B 2
-VII; Mirana: VI-VII; the Lebanese coast
Rhodos: IV; Pitana. and Yavne.
016 130 Damascus: V-VI; Baalbak: V; Aftershocks. C 3
Eastern Mediterranean region.
017 160 October Dura Europos: ≥ VI. C 3
018 220 Antioch: VI. Aftershocks. C 3
019 233 Damascus: VII. C 3
020 242-245 Antioch: VI-VII; Syria: VI- B 3
-VII; Egypt: III; Iran: III.
021 272 Antioch: VI; Syria: VI. C 3
022 303-304 Sidon: VIII; Tyre: VIII; Tsunami at Caesaria. B 2
Syria: VII; Al-Quds: III-IV.
023 341 Antioch: VI-VII; Beirut: VII. Aftershocks. C 2
024 348-349 Beirut: VII; Arwad: VI. Tsunami? C 3
025 363 May 18-19, This earthquake destroyed C 2
night Palestine and parts
of Jordan, Panyas: VII.
026 394-396 Antioch: V-VI. C 3
027 450-457 Tripoli: VI-VII. C 3
September
028 458 September Antioch: VII-IX. C 2
029 475 September Jableh: VII-VIII. C 3
030 494 Antioch: VII, Tripoli: VI-VII; B 3
Lattakia: VI-VII; Beirut: V.
031 500 Antioch; Seleucea; Orfa; Safad. C 3
032 502 August 22, Akka: VIII; Tyre: VII-VIII; A 2
Friday Sidon: VII-VIII; Beirut: VII;
Palestine: VI; Safad: VI?;
Reina: VI?
033 525 May Beirut: VII-VIII; Byblus: VII-VIII; Aftershocks. A 3
Sidon: VI-VII; Antioch: VI-VII.
034 526 May 20-29 Antioch: VIII; Dafneh: VII; Aftershocks. B 1
Seluecea: VII. Liquefaction
at Antioch.
Fire in Antioch.
035 528 November 29 Antioch: VII-VIII; C 1
Lattakia: VI-VII.
036 531-534 Area between Aleppo C 2
and Homs: VI-VII; Antioch:
407

VI; Mesopotamia: IV.
037 551 July 9 Beirut: IX-X; Sur: IX-X; Tsunami along A 1
Tripoli: IX-X; Byblus: IX-X; the Lebanese coast.
Al-Batron: IX-X; Landslide near
Shaqa: IX-X; Sarfand: VII-VIII?; Al-Batron. Fire
Sidon: VII-VIII; Arwad: III-IV. at Beirut (fig. 5).
038 553 Antioch: V. C 3
039 557 Antioch: V. C 3
040 565-571 Antioch: VI-VII; B 1
Seleucea: VI-VII; Kilikia:
VI; Anazrabo: VI; Orfa: IV.
041 580-581 Antioch: VI-VII; Dafneh: VI. C 1
042 588 Antioch: VI-VII. Aftershocks. C 1
043 601-602 Kilikia; Syria. Surface faulting. C 1
044 634 Aleppo: VII-VIII; Aftershocks. C 1
Palestine: IV-V.
045 639 Antioch: IV-V. C 3
046 678 Batnan: VI-VII; Orfa: VI-VII; C 1
Mesopotamia: VI.
047 713 February 28 Antioch: VI-VII; Aftershocks. C 1
Aleppo: VI-VII;
Kennesreen: VI-VII.
048 717 December 24 Antioch: VI-VII; Batnan: Aftershocks. C 1
VI-VII; Orfa: VI-VII.
049 747 January 18 Mt. Tabor: VII-IX; Surface faulting and A 1
(It seems to be Baalbak: VIII; Bosra: VII; liquefaction in Meso-
that there are two Nawa: VIII; Balqa: VIII; potamia. Landslide
earthquakes, Al-Quds: VII; Beit Qubayeh: at Mt.Tabor.
the first is in the VII-VIII; Tabaryya: VII;
Southern Syria Al-Ghouta and Manbej: VII;
while the second Darayya: VI; Damascus
is in the northern one and Daraa: V-VI; Ariha.
and Mesopotamia
that Manbej could
be affected.)
050 757 March 9 Habura: VII; Meso- C 1
potamia; Syria; Palestine.
051 775 Antioch: IV. C 3
052 791 Aleppo: V; Northern C 3
Syria; Palestine.
053 8th century Ar-Rassafeh: VII-VIII. C 3
054 835 January 5- Antioch: VI-VII. Aftershocks. C 3
-December 25
055 846 August 28- Antioch: > VIII; Aftershocks. A 3
-847 August 16 Damascus: VII; Homs: VII;
Antioch; Al-Jazira: VI;
Al-Mousel: VI.
408

056 847 November 24 Damascus: VII-VIII; A 1
Al-Ghouta: VII-VIII;
Al-Mazzeh: VII; Beit Lahya:
VII; Darayya: VII; Antioch:
VI; Al-Mousel: V.
057 853 June 12- Tabariya: VIII-IX. Landslide. C 3
-854 June 1
058 859 December 30- Antioch: VIII; Lattakia and Landslide. A 1
-860 January 29 Jableh: VIII; Homs: VII;
(It could be two Palmyra: VII; Tarsus: VI;
earthquakes, Balis: VI; Damascus: VI;
the first one is Adana: VI; Al-Quds:
between Antioch V-VI; Ar-Raqqa: V; Ras
and Lattakia Al-Ein: V; Harran: V;
while the second Orfa: V; Egypt: IV (fig. 6).
is on the Euphrates.)
059 881 May 16 Syria; Egypt; Meso- C 3
potamia; North Africa
and Al-Andalus.
060 889 Aleppo: III-IV. C 3
061 894 Northern Syria. C 3
062 951 June 9- Aleppo: V-VI; Raaban?; Aftershocks. C 3
-952 May 28 Duluk ?; Tal Hamed ?
063 963 July Izaz: VII; Northern Rock-falls. C 3
Syria: VI.
064 972 Antioch: VI-VII, C 2
Damascus: V.
065 991 April 5, night Baalbak: VIII-IX; Landslide, tsunami, C 3
Damascus: VII-VIII; aftershocks.
Egypt: III-IV.
066 1002 November 10- Western Syria: ≥ VIII. C 3
-1003 October 29
067 1029 January 20- Damascus: VII. C 3
-1030 January 8
068 1042 August 21- Palmyra: > VII; Baalbak: B 3
-1043 August 9 V; Tabriz: III; Egypt: III.
069 1046 July 8- Diyar Bakr: ≥ VII; C 3
1047 June 27 Khlat: ≥ VII.
070 1063 July 30- Tripoli: VII-VIII; B 1
-August 27 Lattakia: V-VI;
Acre: V-VI; Sur: V-VI;
Antioch: V (fig. 7).
071 1089 Palmyra: ≥ VIII. C 3
072 1091 September Antioch: VI-VII. C 1
26 or October 6
073 1094 April 20- Damascus: V-VI. C 1
-May 18
409
074 1098 January Antioch: III; Aleppo: III. C 3

075 1114 November Maskaneh: VIII; Maraash: Landslide. A 1
(Two earthquakes VII-VIII; Samsat: VII-VIII;
could be happened; Orfa: VII-VIII; Harran:
one at Maraash and VII; Aleppo: V; Antioch:
other at Orfa.) IV (fig. 8).
076 1128 Tyre. Surface faulting? C 3
077 1135 Syria. C 3
078 1137 October 19 Syria: VII; Al-Jazira: VII; B 1
-November 16 Al-Mousel: VII; Iraq: VII.
079 1138 October Al-Sham: VI-VII; Aftershocks. C 1
11-26 Al-Jazira: VI-VII;
Aleppo: VI-VII.
080 1139 Aleppo. C 3
081 1140 August 17 Qalaat Sheizar: VI-VII. C 2
-1141 August 6
082 1152 September 27 Bosra: VII; Hauran: C 2
VII; Syria: VII.
083 1156 September Western Syria including Foreshocks, aftershocks, C 1
-1159 May Damascus. surface faulting.
084 1170 June 29 Damascus: VII-VIII; Homs: Aftershocks, tsunami. A 1
VII-VIII; Hama: VII-VIII;
Al-Sham: VII-VIII; Lattakia:
VII-VIII; Baalbak: VII-VIII;
Shaizar: VII-VIII; Barin: VII;
Aleppo: VII-VIII; Iraq: V;
Al-Jazira: V; Al-Mousel: V (fig. 10).
085 1182 Bosra: VII; Judea: VI; C 3
Nablus: VI.
086 1202 May 20, Mount Lebanon: IX; Tsunami, landslide, A 1
early morning Baalbak: IX; Tyre: IX; Nablus: aftershocks.
VIII; Beit Jin: IX; Banyas: VIII+;
Al-Samyra: VIII+; Damascus: VIII;
Safita: VII; Akka: VII; Hauran:
VIII; Hama: VIII; Tripoli: VIII;
Safad: VII; Al-Quds: VI; Bosra:
VII-VIII; Al-Batron: VII; Jbeil:
VII; Beirut: VII; Marqab and Hosn
Al-Akrad: VII; Barin: VII; Homs:
VII; Tartus: VI; Aleppo: V; Antioch:
V; Al-Mousel: IV-V; Mesopota-
mia: IV; Cairo: IV; Alexandria: IV;
Dimyat: IV; Qus: IV; Iraq: IV;
Cyprus: VII?; Lesser Armenia: IV;
Sicily: IV; Khlat: IV; Ceuta: III?;
Constantinople: IV (fig. 16).
087 1212 Antioch. C 3
088 1222 Kelless. C 3
410
089 1236 Northern Syria: VI-VII. C 3

090 1242 Syria. C 3
091 1254 Northern Syria. C 3
092 1268 Kilikia. C 3
093 1274 Syria. C 3
094 1281 Syria. C 3
095 1287 March 22 Lattakia: VII-VIII; C 3
Palestine: IV; Armenia: IV.
096 1290 Syria. C 3
097 1303 August 8 Cairo: VII; Alexandria: Tsunami, flood. A 2
(It seems to be two VII; Damanhur: VII, Safad:
different events.) VII; Damascus: VI; Hama: VI;
Antioch: IV; Tunis: IV; Barqa:
IV; Morocco: IV; Cyprus: IV;
Istanbul: IV; Sicily: IV.
098 1322 January 20- Damascus: V. C 2
-February 19
099 1339 January 13 Tripoli: VII, Palestine: IV. C 3
-February 11
100 1344 January 2 Al-Rawendan: VIII; Manbej: B 1
VII-VIII; Aleppo: VI-VII;
Damascus: IV.
101 1355 Syria; Armenia; Palestine. C 3
102 1399 September 20 Damascus: III-IV. C 3
103 1403 December 18 Aleppo: IV-V. C 3
104 1404 February 20 Qalaat Blatnes: VIII; Tsunami, landslide. A 2
Bkas: VIII; West of Aleppo:
VII-VIII; Qalaat Al-Marqeb:
VII-VIII; Tripoli district: VII,
Lattakia: VII; Jableh: VII.
105 1404 November 5- Aleppo: V. C 3
-December 4
106 1407 April 9- Antioch: VII; Cyprus: V. Surface faulting. C 3
-May 8
107 1408 December 29 Shugr: VIII-IX; Bkas: VIII- Faulting between Sfuhen A 2
-IX; Blatnes: VIII; Lattakia: and Al-Quseir. Landslide
VII; Jableh: VII; Antioch: VII; in Sfuhen. Tsunami
Syrian coast: VI (fig. 17). in Lattakia.
108 1484 March 29- Aleppo: V-VI. C 3
-April 27
109 1491 April 24 Nicosia: VII; Limassol: VII; A 2
Famagusta: VII; Paphos:
VII; Damascus: IV; Cairo:
IV; Crete: IV.
110 1537 January 7 Antioch: VII; Damascus: IV; B 1
Dimyat: IV-V; Egypt: IV.
411
111 1537 March 08 Damascus: IV. C 2

112 1546 September 29 Nablus: VI-VII; Damascus: Tsunami at Cyprus. A 3
V; Al-Quds: VI; Yafa: VI;
Tripoli: VI; Famagusta: V.
113 1563 September 13 Damascus: VI. C 2
114 1565 July 26 Damascus: V. C 2
115 1568 October 10 Lattakia: VII; Famagusta: V; B 3
Limassol: IV; Nicosia: IV.
116 1577 Northern Syria: VI-VII; Aftershocks. B 3
Palestine: IV; Cyprus: IV;
Armenia: IV.
117 1604 March 13 Damascus: V, Bekaa: V. C 2
118 1606 October 19 Baalbak: IV. C 2
119 1610 March 7 Aleppo: VI. C 2
120 1616 July 22 Aleppo: VI. C 3
121 1618 July 8 Damascus: IV. C 2
122 1618 July 23-- Damascus: IV. C 2
-August 21
123 1619 December 8- Darkoush. Landslide. C 2
-1620 November 25
124 1626 January 21 Aleppo: VIII-IX; Gaziantab: B 2
VIII-IX; Hama: VI-VII;
Damascus: V (fig. 11).
125 1627 November 24 Damascus: V. C 2
126 1640 Damascus: VI; C 3
Syria; Tabriz.
127 1656 February Tripoli: VII, C 3
Palestine: IV.
128 1657 Aleppo: IV. C 3
129 1666 September 22 Al-Mousel: VII-VIII; Sinjar: Landslides, A 2
VI-VII; Sharqat: VI-VII; aftershocks.
Aleppo: V; Tabriz: V; Van: V.
130 1680 March 22-23 Aleppo: IV. C 3
131 1683 Safineh. Landslides. C 3
132 1693-1694 Northwestern Iraq. Landslides. C 3
133 1701 Aleppo: IV. C 3
134 1705 November 24 Yabroud: VIII; Al-Qastal: Aftershocks. B 2
VIII; Damascus: VII;
Tripoli: VII.
135 1712 December 28 Damascus: IV. C 2
136 1719 March Aleppo: VII. C 3
137 1722-1723 Aleppo: VII. C 3
138 1726 April 15 Jum: > VII; Aleppo: VII; B 2
Iskenderun: IV; Famagusta: III.
412
139 1738 September 25 Iskenderun: VIII; Bellen A 2

Bass: VII-VIII,; Antioch: VII;
Jabal Al-Amanus: VII; Aleppo:
V-VI; Kelless: V; Bereket: V.
140 1752 July 21 Lattakia: VII; Tripoli: V. Tsunami at the C 3
Syrian coast.
141 1759 February 17 Aleppo: V. C 3
142 1759 June 10 Aleppo: IV. C 3
143 1759 October 30, Al-Qunaytra: VIII; Safad: Landslides at the west of A 1
03:45 (local time) VII; Acre: VI; An-Nasra: VI; Damascus and Tabariya.
Sidon: VI; Saasaa: VI; Tsunami at Acre
Damascus: V; Aleppo: IV; and Tripoli. Aftershocks.
Al-Quds: IV; Beirut: IV;
Antioch: IV; Gaza: IV;
Cyprus: IV.
144 1759 November 25, Baalbak: > VIII; Serghaya: Faulting along the A 1
19:23 (local time) > VIII; Zabadani: > VIII; Ras- Bekaa valley. Land-
Baalbak: VIII; Al-Qunaytra: slides near Mukhtara
VIII; Damascus: VII-VIII; Beirut: and Deir Marjrjos.
VII-VIII; Sidon: VII-VIII ; Safad: Tsunami at Acre.
VII-VIII; Sur: VII-VIII; Tripoli: Aftershocks.
VII; Acre: VII; Homs: VI-VII;
Hama: VI-VII; An-Nasra: VI-VII;
Hosn Al-Akrad: VI-VII; Lattakia:
V-VI; Al-Quds: V-VI; Gaza: V-VI;
Antioch: V-VI; Aleppo: V; Tarba: V;
Anatolia: IV; Egypt: IV (fig. 20).
145 1760 January Qadicha: V; Aleppo: VI. C 3
146 1765 Tripoli: V; Aleppo: IV. C 3
147 1778 May 5 Aleppo: IV. C 3
148 1779 June 8 Aleppo: V-VI. C 3
149 1783 December 4 Aleppo: IV. C 3
150 1783 December 14 Aleppo: VI; Tripoli: IV. C 2
151 1795 January Aleppo: VI. C 3
152 1796 April 26 Qalaat Al-Marqeb: VIII; Landslides, A 2
Al-Qadmous: VIII; villages liquefaction.
along Nahr Al-Kabir: VII-VIII;
Jableh: VII-VIII; Bkas area: VII-
VIII; Lattakia: VII; Saida: V;
Aleppo: IV; Tripoli: V.
153 1802 Baalbak: VI; Palestine: III. C 3
154 1810 Baalbak: VI; Tripoli: VI; B 3
Syria: III; Palestine: III.
155 1814 Al-Laja: VI-VII. Rock-falls. C 3
156 1819 February Syria: IV-V. C 3
157 1822 August 13, Jisr Ash’Shoughour: IX; Faulting, tsunami. A 1
09:50 p.m. Quseir: IX; Aleppo: VIII-IX;
413
(local time) Darkoush: VIII-IX; Antioch:

VIII; Iskenderun: VIII; Idleb:
VIII; Sarmeen: VIII; Kelless:
VIII; Armanaz: VII-VIII; Sar-
mada: VII-VIII; Lattakia: VII;
Homs: VII; Hama: VII; Maraash:
VII; Ram Hamadan: VII;
Bennesh: VII; Maarret Missrin:
VII; Damascus: III; Gaza: III;
Al-Quds: III; Black Sea: III;
Cyprus: III (figs. 12, 13 and 14).
158 1822 September 5 Aleppo: VII. C 3
159 1830 Aleppo: III. C 3
160 1831 February 22 Aleppo: V. C 3
161 1837 January 1, Safad: VII-VIII; Nablus: Tsunami at the A 3
04:00 p.m. VII-VIII; Beit Lahm: VII-VIII; lake of Tabariya.
(local time) Al-Khalil: VII-VIII; Tabariya: Aftershocks.
VII; Beirut: VI-VII; Damascus: VI.
162 1844 September Aleppo: V. C 3
19 and 30
163 1845 February 21 Antioch: V; Cyprus: III. C 3
164 1846 December 3 Aleppo: V. C 3
165 1850 February 12 Beirut: III; Ain C 3
Hamadeh: III.
166 1854 Antioch: III; Suaidiya: III; B 3
Beirut: III; Aleppo: III; Yafa: III.
167 1859 January 24 Tripoli: III; Beirut: III; B 3
Damascus: III; Aleppo: III.
168 1864 August 15 Aleppo: IV. C 3
169 1868 April 16 Aleppo: III. C 3
170 1870 January 2 Aleppo: III. C 3
171 1872 April 3 Harem:VIII; Armanaz:VIII; Faulting at Baghras. A 1
Buhyret Al-Amq: VII-VIII; Liquefaction, tsunami,
Antioch: VII-VIII; Aleppo: VII; aftershocks.
Suaidiya: VII; Izaz: VI-VII;
Idleb: VI-VII; Iskenderun: VI-VII;
Hama: IV; Homs: IV; Tripoli:
IV; Damascus: III; Beirut: III;
Sidon: III; Diyar Bakr: III; Egypt:
III; Rhodos: III (figs. 18 and 19).
172 1873 February 9 Aleppo: III. C 3
173 1873 February 14 Tyr: V; Beirut: III; B 3
Al-Quds: III; Akka: III.
174 1873 November 4 Sidon: III. C 3
175 1877 February 26 Sidon: III. C 3
176 1881 January 23, Sidon: III. C 3
17:45 (local time)
414
177 1884 June 6 Aleppo: V. C 3

178 1896 February 20 Damascus: V C 3
179 1896 May 12 Baalbak: V. C 3
180 1896 May 14 Antioch: V; Jisr Ash’Shoughur: B 3
III; Lattakia: III; Aleppo: III;
Kelless: III.
181 1896 June 29 Syria: IV; Bisri: IV; Shouf: B 3
IV; Palestine: IV; Cairo: IV.
Fig. 22. Map of instrumental (red circles) and historical (yellow triangles) seismicity of Syria and surrounding
region.
From the statistical point of view, a complete- tions and in the meantime affected many locali-
ness test is applied to the parametric catalogue. It ties; and ii) there is some inhomogeneity with re-
is found that its completeness was estimated to be spect to the density of the description flow of the
at magnitude M=6.5. The reason that this mag- historical earthquakes along the whole time-win-
nitude-threshold is very high, can be explained dow of the catalogue. Figure 24 shows the com-
through two factors: i) the parametric assessing pleteness plot of the parametric catalogue.
of some historical earthquakes is only performed We believe that the coverage, to some extent,
for the earthquakes that have complete descrip- in this catalogue is still not uniform in space or
415
Fig. 23. Map of cumulative main historical earthquake damage distribution in Syria and surrounding region.
done to identify seismotectonic behaviors of

these active faults.
It is hoped that this catalogue represents a
comprehensive databank on the historical seis-
micity covering 35 centuries, and will serve in
studying the seismic hazards of the country.
Acknowledgements
We wish to thank Prof. Ibrahim Othman,

Director General of the AECS.
Fig. 24. The completeness plot of the parametric We would also like to thank Profs. Abdul
catalogue (N: number of earthquakes). Karim Rafek, Nazem Kallas, Mohamed Muhafel
and Souhail Zakkar from Damascus University,
Faculty of Literatures, Department of History; Dr.
Muammer Ülker, Head of the Süleymaniye Li-
time. This requires further archival searches to brary in Istanbul and Dr. Salvatore Paolini from
discover unknown earthquakes and improve the ENEA in Rome, for providing some historical
data, and studies of earthquake and faulting be- sources. Dr. Claudio Margottini contributed in
havior through palaeoseismic analyses should be providing and analyzing some historical sources.
416
We thank Profs. Nicholas A. Ambraseys (Im- Al-Asrafiya. His book Al-Roudhtein fi Akhbar Al-
perial College of London) and Massimiliano Dawlatein (The Two Gardens in Both Countries)
Stucchi (INGV-Milan) for their review of manu- is the history of both sultans Nur Ed-Din and
script and their comments. We are deeply in- Salah Ed-Din. In his work, he copied from some
debted to Prof. Muawia Barazangi (Cornell Uni- sources adding personal events or his father’s
versity), Dr. Mustapha Meghraoui (IPG Stras- events.
bourg) and Dr. Francisco Gomez (Missouri Uni-
versity) who made thorough reading in early and Agathius Scholasticus (ca. 536-582): A
recent versions of the manuscript. We are grate- Byzantine poet, historian and lawyer from My-
ful to Mme. Micheline Berthélemy (Damascus) rina, who lived in Constantinople. His history
for her re-writing of the manuscript of 1822 of his own times begins where that of his mod-
earthquake. Many thanks to Mr. Tony Nimr (IPG el, Procopius of Caesarea, ends. His historical
Strasbourg) for his help in preparing the fig. 1. account of the reign of emperor Justinian cov-
Special thanks to our colleagues from AECS-De- ers events from 552 to 558, but the work was
partment of geology Mr. Ihssan layyous, Mme. unfinished, and was continued by Menander
Rahil Saadeh and Mr. Adnan Hasan for their Protector.
helping drawing some figures, and also to Mr.
Youssef Radwan for reading in the manuscript. Al-Antaki, Abu’l-Faraj Yahya Ibn Sa’id
More information on the historical seismic- (980?-1066 A.D.): An Arab historian and physi-
ity database is in <http://apamea.u-strasbg.fr>. cian, well known for his continuation of the
The preparation of the catalogue and related Chronicle of Eutychius of Alexandria. He was a
specific studies and investigations on individ- Melchite Christian, and lived in Egypt for the
ual earthquakes were funded by the Internation- first forty years of his life. From 1014 onwards,
al Atomic Energy Agency (contract No. 6247/ he lived in Antioch under Byzantine rule. His
R3/RB) and partially by the APAME EC proj- sources are Islamic, Greek and Antiochene
ect (contract No. ICA-CT-2002-10024) Gener- Christian.
al Directorate of Antiquities and museums
(Ministry of Cultural). Al-Boustani, Botrus (1234-1300 A.H., 1819-
1883 A.D.): An Arab knowledgeable scientist
who was born in Al-Dbiyya (Lebanon). His
Appendix I. Information about authors or texts work, Dairet Al-Maaref (Cycle of the knowl-
cited in the catalogue. edge), is an encyclopedia that contains a section
of Zlzala (earthquake).
Abû Al-Fidâ, E. (672-732 A.H., 1273-1331
A.D.): He was born in Damascus and lived par- Al-Budayri Al-Halak, Ahmad (18th century
tially in Cairo. He was a prince of Hama, the sci- A.D.): He was a barber who was born at Dam-
entist and the historian. His book Al-Mukhtasar fi ascus. His career assisted him to write a valu-
Akhbar Al-Bashar (A Summary of Human Be- able historical book entitled Hawadith Di-
ings News) was known and appreciated in Eu- mashq Al-Yawmiyya bayn 1741 wa 1762 (Dam-
rope during the 17th century. It represents his ascus daily events between 1741-1762 A.D.)
most famous work, in which many earthquakes which represents an eyewitness account of the
were described. 1759 A.D. earthquake.
Abu Shama, Shihab Ed-Din Abdl Rahman Al- Al-Dhahabi, Shams Ed-Din Muhammad Ibn
Maqdisi (559-665 A.H., 1203-1268 A.D.): He Abdallah (1274-1348 A.D.): An Arab historian
was born in Damascus. After studying, he trav- and theologian who was born in Damascus or
eled to Mecca and Al-Quds. In the year 628 Mayyafariqin (east of Diyar Bakr, Southern
A.H./1231 A.D., he was named a teacher at Turkey) and educated in Cairo. His major work
Rukniya and in the 662-1264 he was named is a Chronicle dealing with the history of Islam
teacher of the most important school of law called from its origin to the 14th century.
417
Al-Ghazi, Kamal Ed-Din (586-660 A.H., 1191- mentioned in detail according to four eyewit-
1262 A.D.): He was born in Aleppo. He studied nesses from Aleppo namely Bakri Kateb, Jaw-
the law and was a historian and traveler. His most dat Basha, Mohammad Al-Termanini and Mo-
important work is Tarikh Halab (History of Alep- hammad Taqi Ed-Din.
po). He took some information from ancient
sources and personal, or parents’, memories. Al-Tabari, Muhammad Ibn Jarir (224-310
A.H., 839-923 A.D.): The most famous Arab
Al-Ghazi, Mohamad Al-Najm (?-1061 A.H., ?- historian. He was born at Amil (Tarbastan), and
1651 A.D.): A historian and writer of literature lived and died in Baghdad. After studying in
who compiled many texts. He died in Damascus. Baghdad and then in Basra and Kufeh, he re-
turned to Baghdad, where he spent the rest of
Al-Hamoui, Yakut (547-626 A.H., 1178-1229 his life as a teacher. His work Tarikh Al-Russol
A.D.): He is a geographic chronicler. His origin wa Al-Mouluk (History of Prophets and Kings),
was Byzantine, captured when he was a boy covers the period from the beginning of the Is-
and sold as a slave in Baghdad, he was released lam and the year 302 A.H., and containing ten
by a merchant who educated him. His surname earthquakes.
was probably derived from his Master Askar
Al-Hamoui. In his work Moujam Al-Bouldan Antonini Placentini Itinerarium (6th century
(Dictionary of Towns), he described places, A.D.): This is one of the itineraries written for
cities, towns and villages he visited. the use of pilgrims visiting the Holy lands in
Palestine. It dates to 6th century.
Al-Maqrizi, Taqi Ed-Din Abul Abbas Ahmad
(766-845 A.H.,1346-1442 A.D.): An Arab his- Badr Al-Ghazi, Mohamad (?-984 A.H.,?-
torian who was born in Cairo. Most of his life 1576 A.D.): A theology teacher and writer who
was in Misr (Egypt) except sometimes in Dam- lived in Damascus. He is a father of Mohamad
ascus. He worked in government, but then left Al-Najm Al-Ghazi.
public administration to follow his vocation as
a historian. His work Al-Suluk li Maarefet Dual Chronicle of Edessa (540 A.D.): A Syriac
Al-Muluk describes the events that occurred be- source written by an unknown author around
tween 568 and 845 A.H. 540. It mentions the 528 earthquake.
Al-Nablsi, Abd Al-Ghani (?-1143 A.H., ?- Chronicle of 724 (8th century A.D.): It was a
1731 A.D.): A Damascene historian, poet and Syriac chronicle by an unknown author cover-
literature who compiled many texts of earth- ing the period from Adam to 724. It was proba-
quakes. He died in Damascus. bly written at the time of the Caliph Hisham.
Al-Suyuti, Jalal Ed-Din (849-911 A.H., 1445- Chronicle of 1234 (13th century A.D.): An
1505 A.D.): An Arab polygrapher and historian, anonymous Syriac chronicle written about half
who was born in Cairo. His well work Kashf Al- a century after the chronicle of Michael the Syr-
Salsala an Wasf Al-Zalzala (... Description of the ian. It is divided into two parts, of which one is
Earthquake) represents the first compilation for devoted to secular history (to 1234) and the oth-
about 108 earthquakes that occurred in the Arab er to ecclesiastical history (to 1207).
World before and during Islam till 905 A.H.
Dio Cassius Cocceianus (2nd-3rd century
Al-Tabakh, Mohammad Ragheb (1293-1370 A.D.): A senator during the reign of the Roman
A.H., 1877-1951 A.D.): An Arab historian, who emperor Commodus (180-192 A.D.), who sub-
was born and died at Aleppo. In his work Aalam sequently held other important positions. He
Al-noubala’a bi Tarikh Halab Al-Shahba’a wrote in Greek a history of Rome from its ori-
(The Famous Noblemen in the History of Alep- gin to 299 A.D., of which the books covering
po), the 1237 A.H. earthquake (1822 A.D.) was the years 68-10 B.C. have survived in their en-
418
tirety. The period 9 B.C.-46 A.D. survives in born, lived and died in Al-Mousel. He traveled
abbreviated form, and the other parts are to be often to many cities such as Baghdad, Aleppo,
found in the epitomes of Xiphilinus (11th cen- Damascus and Al-Quds. His book Al-Kamil fi
tury) and Zonaras (12th century). Dio Cassius’ Al-Tarikh (The Complete in History), which
work is based on late republican histories, the covers the period from the creation up to the
tradition imperial annals and, for contemporary end of 1230 A.D. and contains 56 earthquakes,
events, his own experience. represents the most famous one. He took some
information from Ibn Al-Qalansi.
Elias of Nisibis (975-1049 A.D.): He was born
at Nisibis in Northern Syria, and became met- Ibn Al-Dawadari, Abu Bakr Ibn Abdallah
ropolitan of the city in 1008. He wrote a (14th century A.D.): An Arab historian who was
Chronography in Syriac and Arabic, the first born in Egypt and lived between Egypt and
part of which is historiographical work coming Syria. His Chronicle is an important source for
down to 1018 and modeled on the Chronicon of the history of the Fatimites, Ayyoubites and
Eusebius. He mentions various earthquakes in Mamluks periods.
his work, but some of his dating have to be cor-
rected in the light of other Byzantine sources. Ibn Al-Jawzi, Abdul Rahman (510?-597 A.H.,
1113?-1200 A.D.): An Arab historian who was
Evagrius Scholasticus (ca. 536-600): He was born, lived and died in Baghdad. His work Al-
born at Epiphania in Syria, and worked as a Mountazam fi Tarikh Al-Mouluk wa Al-Oumam
lawyer, probably at Antioch, where he wrote his (The Regular in the History of Kings and Na-
Historia Ecclesiastica in 6 books. It narrates tions) is a general history, including earthquakes,
events from 431 to 594 and treats both ecclesi- from the creation up to 1185 A.D.
astical and secular history. He used sources
which are now partly lost. Ibn Al-Qalanisi, Hamzeh Ibn Assad (465-555
A.H., 1073-1160 A.D.): He was born and lived
Fragmenta Tusculana (6th century A.D.): in Damascus. Following his studies in Letters,
These fragments were discovered in the Abbey Law and Theology, he began an administrative
of Santa Maria at Grottaferrata (Rome). They career. He was ra’is (president) of Damascus
are probably dated to the 6th century A.D. twice. His Chronicle is the best source relating
the first and second Crusader stages and the
Georgius Cedrenus (late 11th-early 12th century first years of Nur Ed-Din. His work Tarikh Di-
A.D.): A Byzantine chronicler who compiled a mashq (history of Damascus) was used by Ibn
chronicle of the world history from the creation to Al-Athir.
the reign of the emperor Isaac I Comnenus (1057).
His material comes from earlier chroniclers such Ibn Al-Wardi, Omar (691-749 A.H., 1292-
as Joannes Scitre and Joannes Scylitzes. 1348 A.D.): An Arab grammarian and historian,
who was born at Maarret Annooman and died at
Georgius Monachus (9th century A.D.): He is Aleppo. In his work Tarikh Ibn Al-Wardi (His-
a Byzantine historian. Between 842 and 867, he tory of Ibn Al-Wardi), numerous earthquakes
wrote a chronicle covering the period from the occurring in Arabia before and during his life
creation to the year 842. He brought together have been mentioned.
material from many ancient sources as well as
from some nearer to his own day. It is very dif- Ibn Batriq (877-940 A.D.): An Arab historian,
ficult to identify his ancient sources, but those who was Melchite Patriarch of Alexandria from
for the Byzantine period are the works of Theo- 933, and opposed the Coptic Jacobites. He
phanes, Malalas and Nicephorus. wrote a number of works in Arabic, notably a
Chronicle, which was continued by his nephew
Ibn Al-Athir, Ezz Ad-Din (555-630 A.H., Al-Antaki. It includes several theological dis-
1160-1232 A.D.): An Arab historian who was cussions.
419
Ibn Kathir Al-Dimashqi, Ismail Abu Al-Fida there is a great lacuna from 361 to 658. It must
Al-Hafez (710-774 A.H., 1310-1372 A.D.): An have been composed shortly after the latest
Arab chronicler who was born in the village of events it covers.
Bosra and lived most of his life in Damascus.
His work Al-Bidaya wa Al-Nihaya (The Begin- Michael the Syrian (1126-1199 A.D.): A Syrian
ning and the Finale) covers the period from the historian who was born at Melitene (Malatya).
creation to the year 767 A.H., and includes 46 He was named patriarch of the Jacobites from
earthquakes that occurred in and around Syria. 1166 onwards, and wrote a universal history from
Adam to 1195 in 21 books. It has come down to
Ibn Tagri Birdi, Abu’l-Mahasin Jamal Ed-Din us in a number of manuscripts, but all of them
yusuf (1410?-1470 A.D.): An Arab historian who have eliminated certain parts. It was also translat-
was born and died in Cairo. He was a military of- ed into Arabic and Armenian. The Armenian
ficial during the Egyptian Mamluk dynasty. He translation, which is of only slightly later date,
covered many important positions. He wrote a contains certain details which add to the surviv-
Chronicle of this dynasty, which is a primary ing Syriac texts. The original work was arranged
source for the study of post-Fatimite Egypt. in three parallel columns, which dealt respective-
ly with Church history, secular history and re-
John of Ephesus (507-586 A.D.): A Bishop of ports of prodigious events such as eclipses, earth-
Ephesus and a monophysite. He wrote an eccle- quakes, famine etc.
siastical history in Syriac before the year 581
A.D. Pompeus Trogus (29 B.C.-14 A.D.): A Latin
historian who was born in Gallia and lived in
Klengel, Horst: He was a director of the Augustan times. He wrote De animallibus and
Berlin’s museum in the 1950s. Historiae Philippicae, the latter surviving only
in an abbreviated version by Justin.
Lammense, Henri (1278-1356 A.H., 1862-1937
A.D.): An orientalist who was born in Belgium. Posidonius (135-51/50 B.C.): A stoic philoso-
He studied theology in England then lived in pher who was born at Apamea (Turkey) and
Beirut. He was a compiler of many books on the lived in Athens, Rome and Rhodes. His work
Arabs and Islam. He died at Beirut. embraced all areas of philosophy and natural
science, but only fragments have survived. His
Malalas, John (ca. 491-578): He was a chroni- theory of earthquakes was elaborated by his
cler. His name Malalas is a Greek adaptation of disciple Asclepiodotus and has come down to
the Syriac word melel, meaning «lawyer» or us through Seneca.
«rhetorician». His Chronographia, in 18 books,
provides a confused and sometimes ill-ordered Procopius of Caesarea (end of the 5th century-
narrative of world history since the creation. It after 565 A.D.): A Byzantine historian who was
makes use of an extraordinary variety of sources, born at Caesarea in Palestine. All his writings are
often misunderstanding dates and confusing of a historical nature, except for Aedificia, which
events. When he comes to the 5th and 6th cen- he wrote between 553 and 555 to describe and
turies A.D., however, he is closest to his own day, praise Justinian’s building work throughout the
and provides interesting information, intermin- Empire. He also wrote a Historia Arcana. The
gled with accounts of wonders and prodigies. The gothic War is his most important work.
fact that he shows a great deal of interest in Anti-
och, suggests that the work was written there. Pseudo-Dionysius of Tellmahre (8th century
A.D.): It is a chronicle written by a Christian
Maronite Chronicle (2nd half of the 7th cen- author of about the 8th century, because it was
tury A.D.): An anonymous Syriac chronicle, formerly attributed to the 9th century Syrian pa-
covering the period from the reign of Alexander triarch Dionysius of Tellmahre, whose Chroni-
the Great (336-323 B.C.) to the mid 660s, but cle in 16 books (of which only a few echoes re-
420
main) covered events from 582 to 843. A more chronicles, as well as historians such as Pro-
correct name for our work is Chronicle of copius and Agathias. He is the principle source
Zuquin, and it is divided into two parts, the first for the dating of a number of earthquakes.
consisting of freely adapted excerpta from the
historical works of Eusebius (the Chronicon Zonaras, John (12th century A.D.): A Byzan-
and the Ecclesiastical History). tine historian and writer on ecclesiastical sub-
jects, who held an official position at the court
Pseudo-Joshua the Stylite (5th-6th century of Constantinople. He became a monk around
A.D.): Attributed to this Syrian writer is a chron- 1118 and retired to the Monastery of Mt. Athos.
icle of Edessa for the years around 497-505/507, In addition to an epitome of world history from
which was subsequently reworked by the Jaco- the creation to the year 1118, he wrote various
bite patriarch Pseudo-Dionysius of Tellmahre. commentaries on canon law and some hymns.
His sources include such important historians
Saadeh, Gabreal (1922-1997 A.D.): A Syrian as Herodotus, Xenophon, Plutarch and Dio
historian about Lattakia and Ugharit who was Cassius.
born and died recently in Lattakia. He had the
degree of law from Beirut in 1944, then had
many positions in Lattakia. His work Al-
Mukhtasar fi Tarikh Al-Lathiqyeh (A Summary Appendix II. Different historical names of
in the History of Lattakia) consists of 7 histori- localities cited in the catalogue.
cal earthquakes that hit Lattakia (529, 859/860,
1157, 1170, 1287, 1796 and 1822). [Format: Current locality name(s) in Arabic
and English (description): Ancient name(s),
Severus of Antioch (465-538 A.D.): Born at location.]
Sozopolis in Pisidia (Turkey), he was mono- Aafrine: see Ifreen.
physitic patriarch of Antioch from 512 to 518. Acre: see Akka.
As a result of presecution by the Chalcedo- Adana (town): Southern Turkey.
nians, he was forced to flee to Alexandria in Afamia (archaeological site): Apamea, north-
Egypt, where he spent many years. He wrote in west of Hama.
Greek, but scarcely any of his works have sur- Afsiyeh: see Aq-Saya.
vived in that language, being preserved instead Aina d-Gader (village?): near Salt, North-
in Syriac translation. western Jordan.
Ain Hamadeh: near Beirut.
Socrates Scholasticus (380-439/450 A.D.): He Akka, Acre (city): Ptolemais, Akkô, southern
is a Byzantine writer. His Historia Ecclesiasti- Lebanese littoral.
ca continues the work of Eusebius from 305 Akkar (town): east of Tripoli, Northern
A.D. up to 439. He is primarily interested in the Lebanon.
history of the Church. Akkô: see Akka.
Al-Andalus: see Espania.
Strabo (64 B.C.-23? A.D.): A Greek geograph- Al-Assi, Orontes (river): Orontes, Western
ic historian who was born at Amasea in Pontus. Syria.
His historical writings were lost, but the 17th Al-Batra, Patra, Petra (archaeological site):
books of his Geographia have survived. Books Southern Jordan.
3-11 are about Europe; books 11-16 are about Al-Batron (town): Botrys, Botro, south of
Asia and book 17 is about Africa. Tripoli.
Al-Dbiyya (village): in Lebanon.
Theophanes (ca. 760-818): A Byzantine chroni- Aleppo: see Halab.
cler who wrote a history of events from 284 to Al-Eskandariyeh, Alexandria (city): North-
813 A.D. for the western and eastern empires. ern Egypt.
His sources are ecclesiastical histories and Alexandria: see Al-Eskandariyeh.
421
Al-Fustat: see Al-Qahira. Ariha, Jericho (city): Jericho, Central Pales-

Al-Ghouta (plain)): it surrounds Damascus tine.
from south and east. Armanaz (town): west of Aleppo.
Al-Harbyeh: see Dafneh. Arra: see Maarret Annooman.
Al-Hejaz, Hejaz (region): in Saudi Arabia. Ar-Raqqa (city): Ar-Raqqa, Al-Rafiqa, NE
Al-Jalil, Galilee (region): Northern Palestine. Syria.
Al-Jazira, Mesopotamia (region): NE of Syr- Ar-Rassafah (archaeological site): Rasaba,
ia and N of Iraq. Sergiopolis, southwest of Ar-Raqqa.
Al-Karak, Kerak (city): Central Jordan. Arwad (island): Aradus, Antharidus, Syrian
Al-Khalil, Hebron (city): Hebron, Central coast, southwest of Tartus.
Palestine. Ascalan (town): Ascalon, Southern Palestinian
Al-Laja (hill): south of Damascus. Littoral.
Al-Lathiqiyeh, Latakia (city): Rameta, Maz- Ascalon: see Ascalan.
bada, Laodicea, Syrian coast. Ash-Sham: see Dimashq.
Al-Led, Lod, Lydda (town): Diospolis, north- Ash-Sham, Bilad as-Sham (region): Syria,
west of Al-Quds, Central Palestine. Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan.
Al-Mazzeh: a Damascene suburb. As-Salihiyeh (archaeological site): Dura Eu-
Al-Mazzeh: a Damascene suburb. ropos, southeast of Deir Ez-Zor, Eastern Syria.
Al-Mousel, Mosul (city): Mousel, Northern As-Samyra, Samaria, Shamrin (archaeologi-
Iraq. cal site): Sebastia, northwest of Nablus.
Al-Qadmous (town): northeast of Tartus. As-Suweida (city): Soada, Southern Syria.
Al-Qahira, Cairo (city): Al-Fustat, Northern Atareb (town)): southwest of Aleppo.
Egypt. Azotus (archaeological site)): south of Jaffa,
Al-Qastal (village): northeast of Damascus. southern Palestinian littoral.
Al-Quds, the Holy City, Jerusalem (city): Al- Baalbak (town): Heliopolis, Eastern Lebanon.
Quds, Central Palestine. Baghdad: in Iraq.
Al-Qunaytra (city): southeast of Damascus, Baghras (village): in Antioch district.
Southern Syria. Baishan: see Bissan.
Al-Rafiqa: see Ar-Raqqa. Bakas: see Bkas.
Al-Ruha: see Orfa. Balis: see Maskaneh.
Al-Salameyeh, Salamiya (town): Salamias, Bambyce: see Manbej.
southeast of Hama. Banyas (village): Banyas, southwest of Dam-
Amid: see Diyar Bakr. ascus.
Amil: in Tarbastan. Banyas Al-Sahel, Banyas (town): Syrian Lit-
Amik Glü: see Buhyret Al-Amq. toral.
Andalusia: see Espania. Barin (village): Western Syria.
An-Nasra, Nazareth (town): Northern Palestine. Bar Lyas (village): south of Zahleh, Lebanon.
Antakia, Antakya, Antioch (city): Theopolis, Barqa (city): in Libya.
Antioch, Northwestern Syria. Basut: see Basuta.
Antakya: see Antakia. Basuta, Basut (village): NW of Aleppo.
Antaradus: see Tartus. Batnan (town)): Southern Turkey.
Antharidus: see Arwad. Batrakan (village): in Antioch district.
Antioch: see Antakia. Beilan (town): south of Iskenderun.
Apamia: see Afamia. Beirut (city): Bêrytus, Lebanese coast.
Aq-Saya, Afsiyeh (village): east of Antioch, Beit Jin (village): southwest of Damascus.
NW of Syria. Beit Jubrin (village): southwest of Al-Quds.
Aradus: see Arwad. Beit Lahm, Bethlehem (town): south of Al-
Areopolis: see Moab. Quds, Central Palestine.
Ariha, Riha (town): 13 km south of Idleb, Beit Lahya (ruins of a village): few kilometers
Western Syria. northeast of Damascus.
422
Beit Qubayeh (village): around Damascus. Douma (town): 7 km northeast of Damascus.

Beit Saho (village): east of Damascus. Duluk (village and fortress): near Gaziantab,
Benghazi, Benighazi (city): in Libya. Southern Turkey.
Benighazi: see Bebghazi. Dura Europos: see As-Salihiyeh.
Bennesh (village): 7 km northeast of Idleb. Edessa: see Orfa.
Beroea: see Halab. Edlib: see Idleb.
Bêrytus: see Beirut. Eleutherus: see Nahr Al-Kabir.
Bethlehem: see Beit Lahm. Emessa: see Hims.
Bilad Al-Andalus: see Espania. Epiphania: see Hama.
Bissan, Baishan (town): Northern Palestine. Espania, Spain (country): Al-Andalus, Bilad
Bkas, Bakas (archaeological site): near Jisr Al-Andalus, Andalusia.
Ash’Shoughour. Euphrates: see Nahr Al-Furat.
Bosra: see Bosra Al-Sham. Famagusta (city): western coast of Cyprus.
Bosra Al-Sham, Bosra (town): Bostra, South- Galilee: see Al-Jalil.
ern Syria. Gaza (town)): southern Palestinian coast.
Bostra: see Bosra Al-Sham. Gaziantab, Iantab (town): Southern Turkey.
Botro: see Al-Batron. Gerasa: see Jarash.
Botrys: see Al-Batron. Germanicia: see Marash.
Bucak (?): Western Syria. Gophna: see Jifna.
Buhyret Al-Amq, Amik Glü (lake): north Anti- Habur, Habura (village): east southeast of
och. Mardin, Southern Turkey.
Byblus: see Jbeil. Habura: see Habur.
Caesarea (town): Northern Palestinian coast. Halab, Aleppo (city): Harabu, Beroea, Halab,
Cairo: see Al-Qahira Northern Syria.
Casius Mount: see Jabal Al-Aqraa. Hama (city): Epiphania, Hamat, Hamath,
Ceasar: see Qalaat Sheizar. Central Syria.
Chalcis: see Kennesreen. Hamat: see Hama.
Cilicia: see Kilikia. Hamath: see Hama.
Constantinople: see Istanbul. Harabu: see Halab.
Crac des Chevaliers: see Qalaat Al-Hosn. Harem, Harim (town): west of Aleppo.
Cyprus: see Qubrus. Harim: see Harem.
Dafneh, Al-Harbyeh (town): 9 km southwest Harran (town): southeast of Sanliurfa, South-
of Antioch. ern Turkey.
Damanhur (city): Northern Egypt. Hauran (region): Hauran, region of Daraa,
Damascus: see Dimashq. Southern Syria.
Dameska: see Dimashq. Hazart: see Izaz.
Dameski: see Dimashq. Hebron: see Al-Khalil.
Damietta: see Dimyat. Hejaz: see Al-Hejaz.
Daraa (city): Daraat, Southern Syria. Heliopolis: see Baalbak.
Daraat: see Daraa. Herapolis: see Manbej.
Darayya (village): 3 km south of Damascus. Hims, Homs (city): Emessa, Homs, Central
Darkoush, Darkush (village): NWW of Idleb. Syria.
Darkush: see Darkoush. Homs: see Hims.
Deir Marjrjos (village and archaeological Hosn Al-Akrad: see Qalaat Al-Hosn.
site): west of Homs. Iantab: see Gaziantab.
Dimashq, Ash-Sham, Damascus (city)): Da- Ibin (village): north of Idleb.
meski, Dameska, Ash-Sham, Southern Syria. Idleb, Idlib (city): Northwestern Syria.
Dimyat, Damietta (city): NW Egypt. Ifreen, Aafrine (town): northwest of Aleppo.
Diospolis: see Al-Led. Iskenderun (city): Miryandrous, Northwestern
Diyar Bakr (town): Amid, Northern Syria. Syria.
423
Istanbul (city): Constantinople, Western Turkey. Limassol (city): southern littoral of Cyprus.
Izaz (town): Hazart, north of Aleppo. Lod: see Al-led.
Izmir (city): Smyrna, Western Turkey. Lydda: see Al-Led.
Jabal Al-Akraa (mountain): Casius Mount, Maarat: see Maarret Annooman.
Northwestern Syria. Maarret Annooman, Maarat (town): Arra,
Jabal Al-Amanus (mountain): Jabal Al- south of Idleb.
Lkam, Northwestern Syria. Maarret Missrin (village): 12 km north of Idleb.
Jabal Al-Lkam: see Jabal Al-Amanus. Mabbog: see Manbej.
Jabala: see Jableh. Mabbug: see Manbej.
Jableh (town): Jabala, Syrian coast, south of Makkeh, Mecca (city): in Western Saudi Arabia.
Latakia. Malatya, Melitene (city): in Turkey.
Jaffa: see Yafa. Manbej (town): Bambyce, Hierapolis, Mab-
Japho: see Yafa. bug, Mabbog, northeast of Aleppo.
Jarash, Jerash (town): Gerasa, Northern Jor- Maras: see Marash.
dan. Marash, Maras (town): Germanicia, Southern
Jbeil (town): Byblus, Lebanese coast, north of Turkey.
Beirut. Marsin (town): in Kilikia, Southern Turkey.
Jedida (village): in Antioch district, NW of Masada (village): Central Palestine.
Syria. Maskaneh (town): Balis, southeast of Aleppo.
Jerash: see Jarash. Mazbada: see Al-Lathiqiyeh.
Jericho: see Ariha. Mecca: see Makkeh.
Jerusalem: see Al-Quds. Melitene: see Malatya.
Jifna, Gophna (?): in Jordan. Mesopotamia: see Al-Jazira.
Jisr Ash’Shoughour (town): southwest of Miryandrous: see Iskenderun.
Idleb. Misis (town): Moposueste, Southern Turkey.
Judea (region): Central Palestine. Moab (town and archaeological site): Are-
Jum (village): NW of Aleppo. opolis, east of Dead Sea, in Jordan.
Kabusi (village): in Antioch district, NW of Moposueste: see Misis.
Syria. Mosul: see Al-Mousel.
Kafer Tab (village): north of Hama. Naba (mountain and archaeological site):
Kelless, Killes, Killis (town): north of Aleppo. Nebo, northwest of the Dead Sea, Western Jor-
Kennesreen (archaeological site): Chalcis, dan.
Qenneshrin, 20 km south of Aleppo. Nablus (city): Northern Palestine.
Kerak: see Al-Karak. Nahr Al-Kabir, Nahr Al-Kebir (river): Eleu-
Khan Sheikhoun, khan Sheikhun (town): 30 therus, Northwestern Syria.
km north of Hama. Nahr Al-Furat, Euphrates (river): in North-
Khan Sheikhun: see Khan Sheikhoun. ern and Eastern Syria.
Khlat: northeast of Diyar Bakr, Southern Turkey. Nahr Al-Kebir: see Nahr Al-Kabir.
Kilikia, Cilicia (region): Southern Turkey. Nawa (village): Neve, north of Daraa, Southern
Killes: see Kelless. Syria.
Killis: see Kelless. Nazareth: see An-Nasra.
Konya (town): Turkey. Nebo: see Naba.
Kufeh: in Iraq. Neve: see Nawa.
Labruda: see Yabroud. Nusaybin, Nisibis (town): Northern Syria.
Laodicea: see Al-Lathiqiyeh. Nisibis: see Nusaybin.
Laryssa: see Qalaat Sheizar. Orfa, Urfa, Sanliurfa, Al-Ruha (town):
Latakia: see Al-Lathiqiyeh. Edessa, Southern Turkey.
Laushiya (village): in Antioch district. Orontes: see Al-Assi.
Lefkosia (city): Central Cyprus. Palmyra: see Tadmor.
Lejjun (citadel): Western Jordan. Patra: see Al-Batra.
424
Payas (village): Northwestern Syria. Ram Hamadan (village): 10 km northeast of

Petra: see Al-Batra. Idleb.
Phoenician coast: coasts of Syria, Lebanon Rasaba: see Ar-Rassafah.
and Palestine. Ras Al-Ein (town): Northeastern Syria.
Ptolemais: see Akka. Ras Baalbak (village): Northern Lebanon.
Qalaat Balatunus: see Qalaat Blatnes. Ras Shamra, Ugharit (archaeological site):
Qalaat Blatnes, Qalaat Al-Mahalbeh, Qalaat Ugharit, 10 km north of Latakia.
Balatunus (citadel): east of Latakia. Riha: see Ariha of Syria.
Qalaat Al-Hosn, Hosn Al-Akrad, Crac des Saasaa (village): northeast of Al-Qunaytra.
Chevaliers (citadel): west of Homs. Safad (town): Zefat, Northern Palestine.
Qalaat Al-Mahalbeh: see Qalaat Blatnes. Safita (town): southeast of Tartus.
Qalaat Al-Marqeb (citadel): North Tartus, Saida, Sidon (city): Sidon, Southern Lebanese
Syrian coast. littoral.
Qalaat Sheizar (citadel): Laryssa, Ceasar, Salamias: see Al-Salameyeh.
northwest of Hama. Salamis (town): Western Cyprus.
Qaramut (village): south of Iskenderun. Salamiya: see Al-Salameyeh.
Qatana (town): 17 km southwest of Damascus. Salfouhum: see Sfuhen.
Qenneshrin: see Kennesreen. Salqein (town): northwest of Idleb.
Qilliq (village): in Antioch district. Samandag, Samandaği (town): southwest of
Quaralu (village): in Antioch district. Antioch.
Qubrus, Cyprus (island and country): East- Samandaği: see Samandag.
ern Mediterranean region. Samaria: see As-Samyra.
Quseir (mountain): it includes Dafneh and Samosta: see Samsat.
three villages, Northwestern Syria. Samsat (?): Samosata, Turkey.
Rameta: see Al-Lathiqiyeh. Sanliurfa: see Orfa.
Fig. A.1. Major cities affected by the historical earthquakes in Syria and the surroundings.
425
Sarakeb (town): southeast of Idleb. Shamrin: see As-Samyra.

Sarepta: see Sarfand. Shaqa (village): Triaris, Lebanese coast.
Sarfand (village and archaeological site): Sharqat (?): in Iraq.
Sarepta, Lebanese littoral. Sicily: see Siqilliya.
Sarghaya (town): northwest of Damascus. Sidon: see Saida.
Sarmada (village): north of Idleb, Northwest- Sinjar (mountain): Northern Iraq.
ern Syria. Siqilliya, Sicily (island): Southern Italy.
Sarmeen (village): 8 km southeast of Idleb. Sis (town): in Kilikia, Southern Turkey.
Sarugi (?): see Suruc. Smyrna: see Izmir.
Sebastia: see As-Samyra. Soada: see As-Suweida.
Seleucea: see Suaidiya. Sur, Tyre (city): Tyre, southern Lebanese littoral.
Sepphoris (?): Palestine. Suruc (?): Sarugi, between Harran and Orfa,
Sergiopolis: see Ar-Rassafah. Southern Turkey.
Sfuhen (village and archaeological site): Sal- Suaidiya, Sweidiyeh (town): Seleucea, near
fouhum?, west of Maarret Annooman. Antioch.
A.2 A.3
Fig. A.2. Localities affected by the historical earthquakes in Western and Northern Syria.
Fig. A.3. Localities affected by the historical earthquakes in and around Palestine.
426
Sweidiyeh: see Suaidiya. MD = Mühimme Defteri (in BBA).

MMD = Maliyeden Müdevver Defterler (in BBA).
Tabariya, Tiberias (town): Northern Palestine. MGH, AA = Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Auctores
Tadmor, Palmyra (town and archaeological Antiquissimi.
site): Tadmor, Central Syria. PG = Patrologiae cursus completus, series Graeca.
Taftanaz (village): 15 km northeast of Idleb. SP = State Papers (in FO).
Tarablus Ash-Sham, Tripoli (city): northern
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ANNALS OF GEOPHYSICS, VOL. 48, N.

The historical earthquakes of Syria:

ia. Original sources were identified, located, 2. Seismotectonic setting

Earthquake catalogues of the Middle-East are

historical seismic events in the light of original

6.1. New sources for past unknown events

In this section, we present unknown historical

〈004〉 331 B.C. Syria: VI.

〈069〉 1046 July 8-1047 June 27 Diyar Bakr:

〈113〉 1563 September 13 Damascus: VI. Sources

probably those of Megiddo VIII, Bissan VII, Sources

Parametric catalogues – Sieberg (1932): 859 April, a strong earth-

Fig. 7. Map of intensity distribution for July-August, 1063 earthquake.

Fig. 8. Map of intensity distribution for November 1114 earthquake.

Fig. 9. Map of intensity distribution for August 12, 1157 earthquake.

No. Date Lat. Long. Major affected localities I0 H Ms

01 37 A.D. 36.00 36.30 Antioch, Dafneh VII-VIII 15 6.2

No. Date Lat. Long. Major affected localities I0 H Ms

09 18.01.747 32.50 35.60 Mt. Tabor, Baalbak, Bosra, Nawa, IX 25 7.2

No. Date Lat. Long. Major affected localities I0 H Ms

Al-Qunaytra, Damascus, Beirut,

Seismological compilations was swallowed up. It was less strongly in Syria

felt in Cyprus. damage to the temple walls in 〈012〉 47 Antioch: VII.

Fig. 15. Map of intensity distribution for the 53 A.D. earthquake.

Seismological compilations − Sieberg (1932): 306, a strong earthquake in

〈061〉 894 Northern Syria. Parametric catalogues

〈085〉 1182 Bosra: VII; Judea: VI; Nablus: VI.

〈086〉 1202 May 20, early morning Mount

Seismological compilations – Ambraseys (1989): 1666 September 22, 37.0

〈155〉 1814 Al-Laja: VI-VII. Rock-falls. Parametric catalogues

Fig. 19. Map of intensity distribution for April 3, 1872 earthquake.

〈177〉 1884 June 6 Aleppo: V. earthquake caused destruction in Cilicia (Abu

of the 15000 mainly adobe houses, very few col-

〈154〉 1810 Baalbak: VI; Tripoli: VI; Syria:

No. Date Intensity distribution Surface effects Completeness Quality

No. Date Intensity distribution Surface effects Completeness Quality

012 47 Antioch: VII. C 3

No. Date Intensity distribution Surface effects Completeness Quality

No. Date Intensity distribution Surface effects Completeness Quality

No. Date Intensity distribution Surface effects Completeness Quality

074 1098 January Antioch: III; Aleppo: III. C 3

No. Date Intensity distribution Surface effects Completeness Quality

089 1236 Northern Syria: VI-VII. C 3

No. Date Intensity distribution Surface effects Completeness Quality

111 1537 March 08 Damascus: IV. C 2

No. Date Intensity distribution Surface effects Completeness Quality

139 1738 September 25 Iskenderun: VIII; Bellen A 2

No. Date Intensity distribution Surface effects Completeness Quality

(local time) Darkoush: VIII-IX; Antioch:

No. Date Intensity distribution Surface effects Completeness Quality

177 1884 June 6 Aleppo: V. C 3

done to identify seismotectonic behaviors of

We wish to thank Prof. Ibrahim Othman,

Al-Fustat: see Al-Qahira. Ariha, Jericho (city): Jericho, Central Pales-

Beit Qubayeh (village): around Damascus. Douma (town): 7 km northeast of Damascus.

Payas (village): Northwestern Syria. Ram Hamadan (village): 10 km northeast of

Sarakeb (town): southeast of Idleb. Shamrin: see As-Samyra.

Sweidiyeh: see Suaidiya. MD = Mühimme Defteri (in BBA).

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