Significance and representation of natural disasters in the Imperial historiography

Abstract

The following contribution analyses to which extent natural catastrophes (ear­thquakes, seaquakes, tremors, etc.) are dealt with in the historical sources of the Roman Imperial Age. Firstly, we study the behaviour of the victims of such catastrophes and the measures adopted in order to re-establish normality after the disaster through some particular examples. Secondly, the opinions emitted by the ancient authors about the causes and the effects of the disasters are listed, taking into account both the rational ex­planations and the religious interpretations of such catastrophes. The latter has an especial signification in the literature of Christian inspiration during the Late Roman Epoch.