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Reactions to natural disasters in antiquity

Blomqvist, Jerker LU (2024) In Acta Societatis Morgensternianae VIII–IX. p.87-111
Abstract (Swedish)
The article surveys the ways in which the peoples of Greco-Roman antiquity reacted to natural disasters of their time. The focus is on earthquakes, and particularly one major event, viz. the destruction of Helike in 373/2 B.C.
Mainly three themes are discussed:
(i) The hypotheses on the causes of natural disasters: had they natural causes or were they thought to be the result of divine intervention?
(ii) External support to victims of disasters: kings and emperors were supposed to provide assistance, but the city-states of the classical period were more reluctant.
(iii) The ability of resilience of ancient cities when struck by disasters.
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Classical Antiquity, Seismology, Ancient History, resilience capacity
host publication
Hortus Floridus : Studies in Honour of Anne Lill - Studies in Honour of Anne Lill
series title
Acta Societatis Morgensternianae
editor
Volt, Ivo ; Päll, Janika and Näripä, Neeme
volume
VIII–IX
pages
87 - 111
publisher
Tartu University Press
ISSN
1736-1230
ISBN
978-9916-27-623-5
978-9916-27-622-8
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
37852456-c398-4c3c-bd64-451df0aa908c
date added to LUP
2024-09-03 10:40:21
date last changed
2024-09-11 08:54:54
@inbook{37852456-c398-4c3c-bd64-451df0aa908c,
  abstract     = {{The article surveys the ways in which the peoples of Greco-Roman antiquity reacted to natural disasters of their time. The focus is on earthquakes, and particularly one major event, viz. the destruction of Helike in 373/2 B.C. <br/>	Mainly three themes are discussed: <br/>	(i) The hypotheses on the causes of natural disasters: had they natural causes or were they thought to be the result of divine intervention?<br/>	(ii) External support to victims of disasters: kings and emperors were supposed to provide assistance, but the city-states of the classical period were more reluctant.<br/>	(iii) The ability of resilience of ancient cities when struck by disasters.<br/>}},
  author       = {{Blomqvist, Jerker}},
  booktitle    = {{Hortus Floridus : Studies in Honour of Anne Lill}},
  editor       = {{Volt, Ivo and Päll, Janika and Näripä, Neeme}},
  isbn         = {{978-9916-27-623-5}},
  issn         = {{1736-1230}},
  keywords     = {{Classical Antiquity; Seismology, Ancient History; resilience capacity}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{87--111}},
  publisher    = {{Tartu University Press}},
  series       = {{Acta Societatis Morgensternianae}},
  title        = {{Reactions to natural disasters in antiquity}},
  volume       = {{VIII–IX}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}