62 Tsunami: Crete, Greece

62-64 A.D. Crete. An earthquake felt in Crete was associated with an abnormal fluctuation of sea level. Apollonius, an eyewitness to the event, relates that, about midday, an earthquake shook the whole island and that at Leben, on the south coast of the island, south of Gortyna, the sea receded about 7 stadia (1.3km). He adds that travelers arriving from Cydoniatis (modern Chania) in the western part of the island reported that at the same time an island rose out of the sea between Thera and Crete.

The date of the event is not given, but Apollonius was in Sparta until the end of the winter of AD 61 and in the spring of the following year, AD 62, he proceeded to Crete. Although it is not known how long he stayed on the island, he arrived in Rome early in AD 64 or possibly, at the latest, in AD 66. There is no literary evidence that the shock caused any damage on the island; had it been serious, it would have been mentioned by Apollonius.

Archaeological evidence suggests some destruction at Gortya but this is dated vaguely to the period of Nero or Flavius (Di Vita 1986).

With few exceptions modern writers assign this event to AD 46 and associate it with the eruption of the volcano of Thera, for which there is no evidence.

(above from reference #9116)

62 A.D. Earthquake 35 deg 12 min N, 25 deg 06 min E, magnitude 6.9. This earthquake has traditionally being dated to 46 AD associated to the formation of the island Thia as the effect of the volcanic activity of Santorini, during the reign of the imperator Claudius. Some recent historical, archaeological and seismological studies tend to date it to 62 or 66 AD. Strong earthquake affecting Crete accompanied by a sea withdrawal. At Leben, southern Crete, the sea withdrew for about one mile. (reference #4139)

62 A.D. (possibly 46 or 66). Eruption of the volcano of Santorini was accompanied by an earthquake felt strongly on the Island of Crete. The sea in Lebena on the southern coast of Crete retreated approximately 100 m from the waterline.(Ref #2130)

62 A.D. Crete. (reference #14)

62 A.D. South coasts of Crete. Lebena. Tsunami intensity iii. (reference #15)

62 A.D. South coasts of Crete. Lebena. Tsunami intensity iii. Earthquake 35.5 N, 25.5 E, intensity IX. (reference #20)

62 A.D. ...It is clear to us that the island of Hiera emerged in 46 AD and that the earthquake and the accompanying sea-wave at Leben, which is described by Apollonius, occurred in 62 AD. There remains, however, to identify the island alluded to by Apollonius, which should have been connected with the sea-wave at Leben. For this, we resort to Bursian (1862, p. 522) who very logically

suggests that there might have been a volcanic shoal or islet near Thera (Santorini) which following the behaviour not so uncommon with islets around Thera, sunk shortly after it emerged from the sea. As for the origin of the seismic sea-wave observed at Leben, we may say that is was of volcanic nature. (reference #23)

66 A.D., Spring - Crete, 35 1/2 deg N, 25 1/2 deg E.

A shock strong enough to cause extensive damage at

Knossos was followed by a tsunami on the north coast of Crete. (reference #109)

66 A.D. Crete Island. Earthquake 35 deg 12 min N, 23 deg 30 min E, intensity VIII, magnitude 6. Large sea withdrawal. (reference #2427)

66 A.D. Northern Crete, 35.2N, 25.1E, magnitude 6.9. Levana tsunami intensity iii. (reference #330)