The AD 365 Crete earthquake and possible seismic clustering during the fourth to sixth centuries AD in the Eastern Mediterranean: a review of historical and archaeological data

Historical and archaeological data are used to test geological claims that, in the fourth to sixth centuries AD, the Eastern Mediterranean experienced an unusual clustering of destructive earthquakes (thr Early Byzantine Tect onic Paroxsym'). A review of historical accounts of a notable earthquake at this time, that of 21 July AD 365, indicates that this event destroyed nea rly all the towns in Crete and was followed by a tsunami which devastated t he Nile Delta. The AD 365 event was also probably responsible for reported or observed destruction in ancient towns of west Cyprus and Libya. This ear thquake is: most likely to be identified with a Hellenic Are subduction-zon e event of 'great' (M > 8) magnitude, as testified by up to 9 m of uplift i n western Crete dated by previous geological studies to around this time. H istorical and archaeological data also support the hypothesis that the four th to sith centuries AD was a period of abnormally high seismicity in the E astern Mediterranean. The high seismicity rates of this period may reflect a reactivation of all plate boundaries in the region (Dead Sea Transform, E ast Anatolian Fault. North Anatolian Fault, Hellenic Are. Cyprus Are Fault) . (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.