Transcript Slide 1

10 Natural Disasters of Ancient
Times in Antiquity
From around 1000 AD
back in time until 4.500 BC.
10: Damghan Earthquake
– Iran, 856 AD
The Damghan Earthquake was an
earthquake of magnitude 7.9, that
struck a 200-mile (320 km) stretch of
Iran on 22 December, 856 A.D.
The earthquake’s epicenter was said to
be directly below the city of Damghan,
which was then the capital of Iran. It
caused approximately 200,000 deaths,
making it the fifth deadliest earthquake in
recorded history. The earthquake was
caused by the Alpide earthquake belt, a
name for the geologic force that created
a mountain range named the Alpide belt,
which is among the most seismically
active areas on earth.
9: Plague of Justinian
– Eastern Roman Empire,
541 AD
The Plague of Justinian was a pandemic that
afflicted the Eastern Roman Empire
(Byzantine Empire), including its capital
Constantinople, in the years 541–542 AD.
The most commonly accepted cause of the pandemic
is bubonic plague, which later became infamous for
either causing, or for contributing to, the Black Death
of the 14th century. The plague’s social and cultural
impact during this period is comparable to that of the
Black Death. In the views of 6th century Western
historians, it was nearly worldwide in scope, striking
central and south Asia, North Africa and Arabia, and
Europe as far north as Denmark and as far west as
Ireland. Until about 750, the plague would return with
each generation throughout the Mediterranean basin.
The wave of disease would also have a major impact
on the future course of European history. Modern
historians named this plague incident after the Eastern
Roman Emperor Justinian I, who was in power at the
time. He contracted the disease, but was one of a
limited number of survivors. The death toll from this
series of plagues was an unbelievable 40 to 100
million.
8: Antioch Earthquake
– Antioch, 526 AD
In late May 526 AD an earthquake
struck in Syria and Antioch which
were then part of the Byzantine
empire. The death toll was a
massive 250,000.
The quake caused the port of
Seleucia Pieria to rise up by nearly
one meter resulting in the silting of
the harbor. It was the 3rd deadliest
earthquake of all time. The quake is
estimated to have been over 7 on
the Richter scale (VIII on the
Mercalli scale).After the earthquake
a fire broke out which razed all
buildings that had not already been
destroyed.
7: Crete Earthquake &
Alexandria Tsunami
Greece and N. Africa, July 21, 365 AD
On July 21, 365 AD, an earthquake
occurred under the Mediterranean Sea. It
is thought that the earthquake was
centered near the Greek island of Crete
and that it was a magnitude eight or
greater. It destroyed nearly all of the
towns on the island. It would have also
caused damage in other areas of Greece,
Libya, Cyprus and Sicily.
After the earthquake, a tsunami caused
significant damage in Alexandria, Egypt and
other areas. It was documented best in
Alexandria. Writings from the time tell us
that ships were carried as far as two miles
inland by the wave. A description by
Ammianus Marcellinus describes the effect
of the earthquake and the resulting tsunami
in detail. He wrote of how the earth shook
and then the ocean receded in Alexandria
and how a great wave inundated the city
with seawater. It is estimated that thousands
of people were killed.
6: The Antonine Plague
– Roman Empire, 165 AD–180 AD
The Antonine Plague is named after one of
its possible victims, Marcus Aurelius
Antoninus, the Emperor of Rome. It is
otherwise known as the plague of Galen.
Galen was a Greek physician who
documented the plague. Judging by his
description, historians believe that the
Antonine Plague was caused by smallpox or
measles. We can call this plague a natural
disaster because it was caused by a naturally
occurring disease and it killed a significant
number of people.
The Antonine Plague is thought to have come
from Roman soldiers returning from battle in
the east. Over time, it spread throughout the
Roman Empire and some of the tribes to the
north. An estimated 5 million people were
killed by the Antonine plague. During a second
outbreak, a Roman historian named Dio
Cassius wrote that 2,000 people were dying
each day in Rome. That’s roughly one-fourth
of those who were infected.
5: Eruption of Mount Vesuvius
– Bay of Naples, Pompeii Italy,
August 24, 79 AD
The 79 AD eruption of Mount Vesuvius, and the
subsequent destruction of Pompeii and Herculaneum,
reminds us of the awesome power of this active volcano.
In fact, Vesuvius may be the most dangerous volcano on
Earth. There are more people living in its vicinity than any
other active volcano. Furthermore, it is most certainly
going to erupt again.
When Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, it warned the people
with an earthquake, which was ignored. The earthquake was
later followed by the expulsion of volcanic debris and the
appearance of an ominous cloud over the mountain. Pompeii
was only 5 miles from the volcano; Herculaneum was even
closer. The people of these towns died as one might expect
victims of a volcano to die; they choked, burned and were
subsequently covered in volcanic debris and run off. What
makes this ancient natural disaster so interesting is the
evidence we have of it. For more than 1500 years, Pompeii
lay buried in Italy. It was found when residents were cleaning
up after another major eruption, in 1631 AD. It was not
completely uncovered until the 20th century. Then, people
learned all to well the horrible fate that had befallen its ancient
residents. The agony of their deaths has been immortalized in
plaster. Because their bodies rotted away long ago, while
entombed in volcanic rock, cavities, like those found in fossils,
were left behind. These were filled with plaster and what came
out were near-perfect statues of the people who died in
Pompeii, as they had died. There were thousands of victims.
Today, there could be millions.
Disasters Before Christ (B.C.) 0 A.D
4: Helike Tsunami & Earthquake
– Helike, Greece, 373 BC
Helike was an ancient Greek city that in the winter
of 373 BC. was destroyed and submerged in the
Gulf of Corinth by an earthquake and a tsunami. It
remains submerged to this day.
Ancient writers commented on the destruction and
some mentioned that you could see the ruins beneath
the water for hundreds of years after the disaster. It is
assumed that a vast number of people lost their lives,
but how many is uncertain.
The search for Helike did not begin until the end of the
past century. Since then, relics of Helike and,
interestingly, other towns have been found. Walls,
walkways, coins and more have been viewed and
photographed. This is yet another possible scene of
Atlantis, according to some. However, the destruction
of Helike happened in Plato’s lifetime. He wrote that
Atlantis happened long before his time.
A number of other, smaller, natural disasters occurred
throughout ancient times. People were subject to them
then as much as we are today. It makes you wonder
how many civilizations were destroyed by natural
disaster that we have no knowledge of, as of yet.
3: End Ice Age & Earth’s Ocean
Level Rise 130 m./300 ft.
1600-1500 B.C,
due to ice melt, a
permanent
global inundation
of all continental
coastlines, incl.
flooding of the
Black Sea & the
sea-empire of
‘Atlantis’!
Actually not more than 4.500 years old!
When the Ice Age came to an end, due to real
climate change as the oceans cooled down to the
present day level, the huge kilometers thick ice
caps of the North and on mountain ranges began
to melt and the rains (and snows!) lessened.
The results of the ice-melt were disastrous! Entire low lying
land areas were submerged in sea water, and islands like
Ireland and England shrunk down to their present size. The
entire area between Norway, Denmark, Holland, England,
once called Doggerland, was submerged and became the
North Sea!
Taiwan and China were separated whereas before they
were one landmass. (Red parts in map are now under water!)
Before, it was possible to walk all the way from Thailand via
Indonesia to Australia, but it became islands separated by
sea!
One especially cataclysmic inundation took place in the
Black Sea, once called the Euxine Lake. It used to be much
smaller and the original coast-line much lower. The Russian
icecap melt-water made the Dnjepr river widen out,
transporting trillions of tons of water into the lake. Celtic and
Thracian tribes had to flee their towns. The water finally
broke through the Rhode river and became the Dardanelles
(named after King Dardanus around the time of Troy) into the
Aegean sea, severely inundating coastlines and islands like
Samo-Thrace with a great tsunami.
Climate Change Caused Drought!
Melting of the Ice caps caused enormous coastal flooding!
FINALLY SOME HONEST “SCIENTISTS!”
Check out those 3.500 years old deserts!
When the Ice Age rains lessened due to real climate
change, as the oceans cooled down to present day
levels, a huge swath of N. Africa turned into the
Sahara desert! The formerly well-watered Indus
Valley civilisation in Pakistan/India came to an end.
Fertile Mesopotamia became mostly desert, except
around the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, and also
many lands in Meso-America and Australia dried out!
So, not only were coastal lands submerged by sea water,
but entire areas suffered severe draught forcing its
populations to migrate and find better watered areas,
causing ethnic conflicts and wars.
The lessening rain caused permanent droughts in the
Sahara, Middle East, Indus valley and elsewhere,
prompting large tribal migrations throughout the world,
like the Sea peoples trying to take over Egypt and
Olmecs landing in Mexico.
HEY! BUT.. THE “SCIENTISTS PUT THE ICE AGE 1020.000 YEARS AGO! HOW COULD THAT BE?!
2: Minoan Eruption
– Islands of Santorini
and Crete, Greece,
1645 BC
Sometime around 1645 BC, a
volcano blew up on the island of
Santorini. The massive eruption
caused widespread damage on both
Santorini and the nearby island of
Crete. At the time, the Minoans
occupied both islands. The town on
Santorini was not rediscovered until
modern times.
It is assumed that the ancient
inhabitants of these islands picked up
warnings that the volcano was going to
erupt, and heeded them. No victims of
the eruption, if there were any, have
been found. Furthermore, it appears as
if all transportable, valuable items were
removed prior to the eruption.
Nonetheless, archaeologists have
discovered that buildings and large
belongings remained.
A NEW SANTORINI BUILT ON THE CRATER WALL OF THE CALDERA!
Entire original monocontinent now called
‘Pangaea’ 2400- 2350 B.C.
1: The Global Deluge
What caused it..
Super-Critical Water!
The earth’s antediluvian crust
got ripped and cracked by the
explosive mega-force of the
super-hot (374ºC / 705ºF)
super-critical water under 4 Kbar pressure, able to melt
granite in sub-crust cavities,
which suddenly exploded when
it found a hairline of weakness
in the earth’s crust. It turned
into “fountains of the earth!”
The water ripped open a crack in the
earth’s crust all around the world with
the power of billions of nuclear
explosions. Debris and water shot up
so high that some of it escaped
gravity and hit the closest side of the
moon. That is why the Moon’s biggest
craters (mares) are on this side of the
Earth, whereas one would expect
them to be on the other side,
unprotected by Earth against
asteroids coming from space. (cont.)
Thus The First Disaster of Ancient History Turned
Out to Be the Greatest! First But Not Least!
Vast mats of vegetation were buried under
rocks and pressed into coal seams. Plant
and animal fossils from the antediluvian
world show that pre-Flood flora, fauna and
people were many times bigger than today!
The pre-Flood mountains
were lower than today and
thus flood-levels were not as
high as some speculate.
Nevertheless the entire earth
was a devastating scene of
powerful tsunamis going back
and forth, depositing
sedimentary rock-strata of
mud, sand, and debris mixed
with corpses of men, animals,
and super-size vegetation of
pre-flood times, which under
the pressure of layers of
sediment turned quickly into
fossils!
And so the 30-meter thick coal-seam above
required a 300 meter mat of vegetation, as tall as
the Eiffel Tower! The thickest 138 M one in India,
required 1380 M! Almost a mile thick, taller than
FOUR Eiffel towers thick vegetation mat! Wow!
For more true history, visit:
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As it was in the Days of Noah..
For more true history, visit:
www.powerpointparadise.com
“They were eating,
drinking, building
and planting, and
marrying and giving
in marriage, and
they knew it not,
until the Flood took
them all away!”
...so shall it be in the
days of the coming
of the son of Man!
Be prepared! Watch
and pray! For he
comes as a thief in
the night.
Jesus loves you and
wants your love too!
Receive Him today!