120 Earthquake: Nicomedia, Nicaea, Turkey

121 or 122. Nicomedia and Nicaea in Bithtynia. (reference #521)

121 or 122. 40.6 N, 29.9 E. Intensity VII. At Izmit and Iznik. (reference #1071)

120, November 10. 40.7 N, 29.1 E, magnitude 7.2, Nicomedia intensity IX. Malalas mentions that during the reign of Hadrian, Cyzicus, which was the great capital

city of the province of Hellespont, suffered an earthquake on the night of 10 November. He gave generously to the city and restored it. Prom the Sibylline Oracles, it comes out that the earthquake in Cyzicus was associated by a seismic sea wave. Eusebios mentions that during this earthquake, Nicomedia collapsed in ruins and many parts of the city of Nicea were destroyed. Hadrian gave generously for their restoration. In the Chronicon Paschale it is written that most of Nicomedia and Aoria in Bithynia collapsed in an earthquake. Prom an inscription found on a stele in Nicomedia, it comes out that two young children and the man in charge of them were killed by the earthquake (Georgiades, 1904; Guidoboni et al, 1994). (reference #4408)

121. Nicomedea. About 121 AD a major earthquake in Bithynia destroyed its capital Nicomedea as well as the greater part of Nicaea, and probably Aoria, resulting in loss of life. Nicomedea and Nicaea were rebuilt out of public funds. The fortifications of both cities were also rebuilt by the state with strong walls, which suggests that the old walls were destroyed by the earthquake. The funerary inscription of the death of people in this earthquake and the minting of coins to commemorate the reconstruction of Nicomedea suggest the importance of the event. The date of this earthquake is not certain. Probably it took place in the fifth year of Hadrian, which began in August AD 121, but definitely before Hadrian visited Asia Minor in AD 124... Hadrian contributed to the construction of the new agorae and fora both in Nicomedea and in Nicaea and rebuilt fortifications in Bithynia, an indication that damage extended to other parts of Bithynia away from the capital. A mint of Roman coins at the time celebrated Hadrian as the 'Restituor Nicomediae'. It is quite possibe that a funerary inscription from Nicomedea is connected with this event, since it commemorates the death of two children and a slave in an earthquake and dates from about this time.. Guidoboni (1989) amalgamates this event with the earthquake of 123 Cyzicus, adds a sea wave and dates it to 120-128. (reference #9116)