Cutremurele de pământ care au afectat teritoriile Imperiului Romano-Bizantin în perioada 550–560. O prezentare a conținutului izvoarelor
Earthquakes that affected the territories of the Roman-Byzantine Empire in the period 550–560. A presentation of the content of the sources

Summary/Abstract: The period 550–560 was characterized by intense seismic activity, which affected the territories of the Roman-Byzantine Empire. Information contained in a series of sources from the 6th–13th centuries allows the identification of ten earthquakes. The earthquakes occurred in the years 550 (one), 551 (two), between 551 and 554 (one), 554 (two), 555 (one) and 557 (three). Some of these earthquakes were followed by many aftershocks, some of great intensity, which increased their number to several dozen. The earthquakes that occurred between 550 and 556 affected the territories of the Balkan Peninsula, the Aegean Islands the coastal and central-western regions of Asia Minor, the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea and some inland regions. Numerous settlements were destroyed or severely damaged, including large cities. A considerable number of inhabitants lost their lives. Some of the earthquakes also caused other phenomena, such as landslides, large fissures in the earth’s crust, or the generation of seismic waves, which aggravated the destruction and loss of life. The earthquakes between 554 and 557 also severely affected Constantinople as well, where numerous buildings and monuments were destroyed and many residents lost their lives. Among the buildings affected was the Church of Hagia Sophia. On May 7, 558, during repair and consolidation works, part of the dome collapsed. Reconstruction works lasted until 563.

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