227 BC Earthquake: Dodecanese Islands, Greece

Name: 227 BC Earthquake: Dodecanese Islands, Greece
Location: Dodecanese Islands, Greece

227 BC · M7.2 · Deaths: few

A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Dodecanese Islands, Greece in 227 BC, 100 km below the surface. It caused a tsunami.

Map

Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.

The earthquake

Date: 227 BC
Place: Dodecanese Islands, Greece
Magnitude: 7.2 (Ms)
Focal depth: 100 km (62 mi)
Intensity: 10 on the Modified Mercalli scale
Tsunami: Yes: the tsunami it caused
Epicenter: 36.300° N, 28.300° E
Country: Greece

The toll

Deaths: Few (about 1 to 50)
Damage: Limited (under about $1 million)
Houses destroyed: Few (about 1 to 50)

Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.

What the record says

NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.

220 (possibly, 222 or 227) B.C. Aegean Sea, Island of Rhodes. A strong earthquake destroyed the lighthouse - statue of Colossus of Rhodes, the fortress and the landing pier. Presumably, tsunami waves originated that could have been observed on the northern shore of the islands of Rhodes and Tilos; many ships were destroyed. (reference #2130)

Classic writers, like Polyvios (202-120 BC) and Pausanias (2nd century AD), reported that a strong earthquake destructed the city of Rhodes around 227 BC and caused the collapse of the famous Colossus of Helios. (reference #2840)

Classic authors reported on an earthquake occurring -227 BC, very likely between 226 and 229 BC. The earthquake isolated Rhodes causing collapse of the city walls and shipyards as well as of the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the seven wonders of antiquity. An inscription dated in the 3rd century BC or later says that the earthquake killed people. The damage was possibly extended in SW Asia Minor (modern Turkey) provinces. No tsunami was reported […] We suggest that the large 227 BC earthquake had its source close to Rhodes (Fig. 2), very likely in the shallow water domain, which may explain the non-tsunamigenic nature of the event. (reference #13796)

Other significant earthquakes nearby

Within 200 km, the deadliest first.

Significant earthquakes of 227 BC The 200s BC Recent earthquakes near here

Sources

Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 28.