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18-15 BCE Cyprus Earthquake

between 18 and 15 BCE

by Jefferson Williams








Introduction & Summary

18-15 BCE Cyprus Earthquake Summary

Textual Evidence

Text (with hotlink) Original Language Religion Date of Composition Location Composed Notes
Inscription(s) from Paleo Paphos Greek Pagan 15 BCE Paleo Paphos Ambraseys (2009) interprets the inscription(s) as commemorating reconstruction activity which took place "immediately or soon after 15 BC."
Inscription from Byblos Greek Pagan 15 BCE ? Byblos or Paphos or ? Ambraseys (2009) cites this inscription as evidence for an earthquake in Cyprus (Paphos) dated to ~17–15 BCE. However, the inscription was discovered in Byblos (Lebanon) and, while it records that Apollodorus son of Nikonos was fortunate to have survived an earthquake, it does not specify the location of that event. On contextual grounds, the earthquake may instead have affected Byblos.
The Life of the Caesars by Suetonius Latin Pagan 121 CE Rome? Suetonius writes that Augustus relieved cities that had been destroyed by earthquakes, without naming the cities involved or, apparently, providing dates for the earthquakes.
Roman History by Dio Cassius Greek Pagan ~207-229 CE Mostly in Capua (Italy). Possibly wrote some material in other locations. In a brief passage, Dio Cassius notes that Paphos had suffered damage from an earthquake in ~15 BCE.
Chronicon by Eusebius Greek translated to Latin by Jerome Christian Early 4th century CE Caesarea Eusebius states that in the fourth year of the 190th Olympiad (1 July 17 CE to 30 June 16 CE), an earthquake ruined many parts of the cities of Cyprus
Text (with hotlink) Original Language Religion Date of Composition Location Composed Notes
Inscription(s) from Paleo Paphos

Inscription from Byblos

The Life of the Caesars by Suetonius

Roman History by Dio Cassius

Chronicon by Eusebius

Notes

Ambraseys (2009)

17–15 BC Cyprus

A destructive earthquake in Cyprus. It occurred in 15 BC (Diodorus) or, according to others (Eusebius), in Ol.190.3 (17 BC), that is sometime between 17 and 15 BC, during which period one or more earthquakes partly destroyed many places in Cyprus, including Paphos. The city was rebuilt with the assistance of Augustus and was renamed Augusta.

Inscriptions found at Palaepaphos (IGR iii. 939, 941–944) confirm the reconstruction activity in the city immediately or soon after 15 BC. An inscription (Dussaud 1896) from Byblus recording the gratitude of a survivor from an earthquake, dated vaguely to the first centuries BC or AD, may perhaps refer to this earthquake, which, in this case, should have occurred between Cyprus and the coast of Syria. A later writer (Georg. Mon. PG. i. 294) confuses Paphos with Salamina and Cyprus with Syria in this connection (see above, 44–32 BC)

Notes

. . . he...gave money to the Paphians who had suffered from an earthquake, besides allowing them, by a decree, to call their city Augusta.’ (D.C.=Dio Cass. LIV. 23/LCL.vi.342).
. . . he (Augustus) relieved others (cities) which had been destroyed by earthquakes .. .’(Suet.Aug.47/LCL.i.200).
The senate and the people of Paphos Sebaste (Augusta) [commend] Tiberius Caesar, son of the divine Augustus, Emperor Augustus and greatest pontifex, to Paphian Aphrodite.’ (IGR.iii.941–942).
An earthquake destroyed many districts of Cyprus.’ (Eus. Gk., 142).
A large part of the island of Cyprus was reduced to a ruin [by an earthquake].’ (Eus. Arm., 142).
In Cyprus many parts of the towns fell in an earthquake.’ (Hieron., 166).
Apollodorus son of Nicon, saved from the earthquake, erected this to Zeus, his saviour.’ (Dussaud 1896).
Let us add that every sea-shore is prone to earthquakes: thus Paphos was not shaken just once . . .’ (Sen. QN. VI. xxvi. 4).

References

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

Guidoboni et al. (1994)

(074) 17 B.C. Paphos, Cyprus sources 1

sources 2 catalogues Dio Cassius mentions rebuilding work carried out at Paphos on the island of Cyprus in 15 B.C. at the behest of Augustus:
[Augustus] also set aside money for the inhabitants of Paphos, who had suffered in an earthquake, and issued a decree that the city should be named Augusta
Dio Cassius is a late (3rd century A.D.) but well-informed writer who relies on good sources; and in this case he has thought it worthwhile to record the prompt assistance given by Augustus towards the reconstruction of cities struck by earthquakes. These are by no means disinterested details; for it is well known that in his idealisation of the emperor Augustus, Dio Cassius was trying to describe the contemporary situation and, by implication, draw attention to the problem of public buildings. He wanted to persuade the emperors of his day not to devote too much attention to grandiose public works, leaving municipalities with the all too frequent burden of work such as the rebuilding of a city struck by an earthquake. For a general reference to rebuilding work carried out by Augustus, see the passage from Suetonius (Aug. 47) quoted in entry ( 072 ).

That the earthquake was also felt throughout Cyprus, is clear from a reference in the Chronicon of Eusebius for the third year of the 190th Olympiad [17 B.c.]:
Large parts of towns in Cyprus were destroyed in an earthquake.

In Cypro plurimae civitatum partes terrae motu conciderunt.
Syncellus reports the earthquake in the same terms as Eusebius.

References

Guidoboni, E., et al. (1994). Catalogue of Ancient Earthquakes in the Mediterranean Area up to the 10th Century. Rome, Istituto nazionale di geofisica.