76 Earthquake: Paphos, Salamis, Cyprus

76 A.D. Cyprus. An earthquake destroyed three cities in Cyprus: probably Salamis, Paphos and Citium. The shock, which was felt in Antioch at about the same time and caused considerable concern, was perhaps the same event.

Damage in Cyprus was so severe that Rome transferred its minto the island as a relief measure.

Many chroniclers record this earthquake. Saint Jerome writes that in OI.CCXIX.9 (77) 'in Cyprus three cities collapsed in an earthquake', dating it to the seventh year of the Emperor Vespasian's reign, which began on 21 December AD 75. Eusebius says the same. Orosius synchronizes the earthquake with the Roman plague of AD 77/78. Others even try to tie it in with eruption of Vesuvius in the reign of Titus.

The decisive factor in dating this earthquake to AD 76 is the fact that the Roman mint was transferred to Cyprus in this year, the first coins being struck in July. Clearly this was a measure taken to bring relief to the island, helping to pay for repairs: if the earthquake had not occurred until AD 77, the motive for transferring the mint a year earlier would be quite obscure.

According to Sibylline Oracles, 'then indeed an earthquake will destroy Salamis together with Paphos, when dark [waves of] water should beat down on famous Cyprus', which could refer to this event.

Although the Oracles are supposedly prophetic texts, they were compiled between the fourth century BC and the third or fourth century AD, first by Jewish and then by Christian writers, and became a kind of chronicle, since events were inserted after they had actually happened. If the Oracles are indeed referring to this event when they mention the destruction of Paphos and Salamis, then the identity of two of the cities destroyed is known; the third has, however, still to be identified. Because Paphos and Salamis are at opposite ends of Cyprus, it must have been a city in between the two, probably Citium.

Finally, the record of the earthquake in Antioch comes from Philostratus. It apparently frightened the population, who were in dispute with each other at the time, but did no damage. One can deduce from other passages in Philostratus' account that Apollonius was near Cyprus in AD 76, thus there is a possibility that, if the account of this earthquake is not fictitious, it may be the same as the Cyprus earthquake of AD 76, Antioch being near the island.

It is probably that the earthquake was associated with a seismic sea wave at Salamis and Paphos but it is not certain whether this was the result of this or of another earthquake.

(above from reference #9116)