1042/3 CE Tadmur and Baalbek Earthquake

AD 1042 Tadmur

An earthquake caused great loss of life in Tadmur in Syria. It is said that Baalbek was also shaken. This information is given by a single source, which does not comment on the effects on Baalbek, or specify whether Baalbek was shaken by a different earthquake. It is likely that the Tadmur earthquake was felt only at Baalbek. Al-Suyuti (writing in the sixteenth century) records this event as happening in the same year as an earthquake in Tabriz. He does not comment on the effects on Baalbek, but, since the two cities are 250 km apart, if Baalbek was not shaken by a different earthquake, it is likely that the Tadmur earthquake was felt there only.

References

Ambraseys, N. N. (2009). Earthquakes in the Mediterranean and Middle East: a multidisciplinary study of seismicity up to 1900.

(021) 1042 August 21 – 1043 August 9 [434 H.] Palmyra [central Syria]

sources

• al-Suyuti, Kashf p.32

literature

• Taber (1979)

catalogues d.

• Sieberg (1932a)
• Ben-Menahem (1979)
• Ambraseys & Melville (1982)

catalogues p.

• Poirier & Taber (1980)
• Bektur & Alpay (1988)
• al-Hakeem (1988)

The little information we have about a destructive earthquake in northern Lebanon and central Syria between 21 August 1042 and 9 August 1043 comes from a brief mention by the 15th century Arab historian al-Suyuti, who records:

“The earth shook at Palmyra [Tudmur] and Baʿalbek. Most of the inhabitants of Palmyra died in the ruins.”

References

Guidoboni, E. and A. Comastri (2005:80-83). Catalogue of Earthquakes and Tsunamis in the Mediterranean Area from the 11th to the 15th Century, INGV.

〈068〉 1042 August 21 – 1043 August 9 Palmyra and Baalbak

Intensities

• Palmyra: >VII
• Baalbak: V
• Tabriz: III
• Egypt: III

Sources

Al-Suyuti: In the year 434 A.H. (1042 August 21–1043 August 8), an earthquake occurred in Palmyra and Baalbek. Most people in Palmyra were killed under the debris.

Parametric Catalogues

• Ben-Menahem (1979): 1042 August 21, 35.1°N, 38.9°E, near Palmyra, M_L=7.2, destruction of Palmyra. It was strong in Baalbak and felt in Tabriz and Egypt.

Seismological Compilations

• Sieberg (1932): 1042 August 21, a strong widespread earthquake was felt in Tabriz and Egypt. The center appears to have been at Palmyra, where it killed most of its inhabitants. It was felt strongly in Baalbak. Victims were estimated at 50,000.

References

Sbeinati, M. R., R. Darawcheh, and M. Monty (2005). "The historical earthquakes of Syria: An analysis of large and moderate earthquakes from 1365 B.C. to 1900 A.D.", Annales Geophysicae 48(3): 347–435.