543 Earthquake: Cyzicus (Erdek), Turkey

In AD 544 an earthquake-induced destructive inundation hit the coast of Thrace facing the North Aegean Sea. However, its origin remains questionable since strangely enough it was reported that it inundated also the Bulgarian coast of the Black Sea (Papadopoulos et al., 2011, and references therein).

From Byzantine historical sources, it appears that a strong sea wave, very likely a tsunami, that hit coastal settlements of Bulgaria, was caused by a very strong earthquake occurring on AD 544 or 545 offshore modern Varna (Figure 2.2). Ranguelov et al. (2008a) presented field evidence from an archeological site in Balchik city, situated ∼20 km north of Varna. Namely, the Cybele Temple was affected by fire and roof collapse, very possibly due to that earthquake. The floor was flooded by seawater, which left behind a layer of sand and shells. The Temple is of the Hellenistic period and located about 180 m inland from the present shoreline (Figure 2.14).

(above from reference #11868)

Many sources report a strong earthquake affecting the town of Cyzicus (Asia Minor), destroying the city. The date of occuurence is uncertain: some authors date the event in 542 B.C. (Ambraseys, r391), some others in 543 B.C.or in 544/545 (Guidoboni, r379, r572). According to Giudoboni, the description of anomalous sea behaviour in Thrace is dated in 544/545 B.C. (reference #4139)

542 (possibly 543, September 6), winter. Region of the Sea of Marmara. An earthquake. Cyzicus was destroyed. In some places, the shore of Thrace was flooded for 3 - 4 km including Odessus, (i = 4). The sea returned to its normal state after many people were killed and much damage done. Waves were observed in Dionysioupolis, Aphrodesion, in the Gulf of Edremit, in Asia Minor where many towns were flooded. There exists no reliable information on the preceding earthquake, but the values of its parameters are available: 40.3 N, 27.8 E, M = 6.8. (reference #2130)

Many sources report a strong earthquake affecting the town of Cyzicus (Asia Minor), destroying the city.

The date of occurrence is uncertain: some authors date the event in 542 B.C. (Ambraseys, 1962.), some

others in 543 B.C.or in 544/545 (Guidoboni, 1989, Guidoboni et al., 1994). According to Guidoboni, the

description of anomalous sea behaviour in Thrace is dated in 544/545 B.C. (reference #11164)