December 24, 893 Earthquake: Ardabil, Dvin, Iran, Armenia

March 23, 893 - March 12, 894 (AH 280). In Iran at Ardabil six earthquakes occurred during this period; the result of this was that 150,000 persons perished. One of these earthquakes occurred between December 14, 893 and January 11, 894 at the town of Ardabil and it was preceded by an eclipse of the moon, darkness and wind. (reference #1098)

March 23, 893, Ardabil, Iran, 38.15 N, 48.18 E, intensity VIII. (reference #1057)

March 27, 893, 40 N, 44.6 E, depth 10 km, magnitude 5.3, intensity VIII-IX. Dvin IV; in Dvin town walls, homes, palaces, and churches fell; only about 100 homes were spared. (reference #223)

December 14, 893, Daibul. (reference #1212)

December 14, 893 - January 11, 894 = 280 A.H.L., Shavval, at Tabaristan and Ray an eclipse of the moon was followed by strong winds carrying smoke and black volcanic ash; an earthquake also occurred (Sani'ud- Dovlah 1880).

On the same date it appears that a severe and violent earthquake with following aftershocks occurred in Tovin in Armenia killing a huge number of people (100,000 - 180,000) in the region. Ardabil was probably affected by these earthquakes. There was also an eclipse of the sun accompanied by winds carrying black ash in the region.

These phenomena suggest that there was also associated with earthquakes volcanic activity in this region (Oldham 1883: Ibn-ul-Athir; Mushketoff & Orloff 1910). Dvin or Tovln, III (Milne 1911: Mushketoff & Orloff ).

A.D. 869 & 895, Towin, 82,000 dead (Sieberg 1932, p. 810).

The occurrence of violent earthquake activity over such an extensive distance - Tabariatan and Ray to Armenia - along with other volcanic activity indicates an extensive area subject to a number of events as would be likely in so unstable a region.

A.D. 894. Environs of Erivan, in the town of Doun (Davin), 20,000 persons lost their lives (Mallet 1852 p. 15). Caucasia, Erivan, III (Milne 1911: Mushketoff & Orloff

(above from reference #1217)

December 24, 893, Dvin, 40 N, 44.6 E, magnitude 6. In the night of 15 Shawwal 280 an earthquake in the district of Ararat devastated Dvin. Houses, palaces and churches were destroyed and many of the inhabitants perished in the ruins. The area worst affected was that of the city of Dvin and its immediate surroundings, which had already suffered considerable damage in an earthquake thirty years before. All but about 100 houses were destroyed, together with the great church and palace of the Catholicos, and 30000 people were killed, Damage extended over the plateau of Artashat where landslides added to the destruction, and Grigor, Bishop of R'tshunik and some of his followers who happened to be in retreat in the mountains, perished. This was a locally destructive earthquake affecting a rather small but densely populated region. Shocks recurred for five more days, adding to the damage. (reference #1117)

893, India. The capital (the name of this city is not given) was destroyed, and 180,000 men perished. Preceded by an eclipse of the sun, and followed by great storm. The same year white and black meteoric stones fell, accompanied by thunder and lightning. (reference #521)

894, environs of Erivan; town of Doun, 20,000 persons lost their lives. (reference #521)

893, Armenia, Dabil, Yamamahe and Yaman in Arabia, intensity III which corresponds to an earthquake which destroyed towns and devastated districts.

(reference #1055)

893, Russia, Dvin or Tobin, intensity III which corresponds to an earthquake which destroyed towns and devastated districts.

(reference #1055)

893-894, 38.25 N, 48.28 E, or 40 N, 44.6 E, intensity VIII-X, Ardabil (70,000 deaths), Dvin (30,000 deaths). (reference #3437)