The Impact of the Theran Catastrophes on Egypt
Kathryn O. Eriksson
Towards the middle of the 2nd Millennium BC, there were several catastrophic
events which impacted on Thera. In particular there were two distinct, but
very significant, incidents:
I. a major earthquake which destroyed most of Thera and which resulted in a
hectic rebuilding program and,
II. 55 - 60 years later, the huge Thera volcanic eruption which devastated
the island and created havoc in the surrounding lands.
These two events also impacted on Egypt. Unfortunately, however, there has
often been confusion in archaeology between the impact of the earthquake and
the impact of the volcanic eruption. I shall argue that the first event is
reflected in the descriptions in the Ahmose Tempest Stela and that the
contents of the Stela make the most sense when associated with the tsunami
and storms which would have occurred subsequent to the earthquake. I shall
also argue that the later Thera eruption resulted in further dramatic
consequences in Egypt recorded especially in the Speos Artemidos Inscription
and other texts related to the time of Hatshepsut. Here we have the records
of a massive set of storms, a tsunami and the death of a pharaoh.
Further evidence of the impact on Egypt will be provided and reference made
to the discussion of this issue by Wiener and Allen, Goedicke, Marinatos,
Warren, Bietak, Manning and others.
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