Antioch earthquake 526

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Antioch on the Orontes (Turkey)
Antioch on the Orontes
Antioch on the Orontes

The antioch earthquake in 526 is one of the worst recorded earthquakes and is said to have claimed at least 250,000 lives.

The earthquake is narrated by various historians. It took place on May 20, 526, with aftershocks running through May 29. John Malalas provides the most detailed report, according to which almost all buildings of Antioch on the Orontes were destroyed. Only a few buildings on the mountains surrounding the city are said to have escaped the disaster. After the earthquake there was a fire that destroyed the remaining houses and above all the main church of the city, the "Great Church" with its golden dome, built by Constantine I. Johannes Malalas reports 250,000 dead, Prokopios of Caesarea even 300,000. Also Seleucia Pieria , the port of the city is said to have been destroyed. Nevertheless, the city was still inhabited. Chosrau I conquered it in 538 and kidnapped the residents, Justinian I rebuilt it under the name Theupolis, but reduced the size considerably.

literature

  • Mohamed Reda Sbeinati, Ryad Darawcheh, Mikhail Mouty: The Historical Earthquakes of Syria: An Analysis of Large and Moderate Earthquakes from 1365 BC to 1900 AD In: Annals of Geophysics. Volume 48, No. 3, June 2005, pp. 355-356 ( PDF; 5.5 MB ).