363 Galilee earthquake

The Galilee earthquake of 363 was a pair of severe earthquakes that shook the Galilee and nearby regions on May 18 and 19.^[3] The maximum perceived intensity for the events was estimated to be X^[4] (Very destructive) on the European macroseismic scale. The earthquakes occurred on the portion of the Dead Sea Transform (DST) fault system between the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba.

Galilee earthquake of 363

Local date	May 18 and 19, 363[1]
Epicenter	32.999°N 35.366°E / 32.999; 35.366[citation needed]
Areas affected	Syria-Palaestina province of Byzantine Empire
Max. intensity	EMS-98 X (Very destructive)[2]

The earthquake severely damaged Sepphoris and Petra, while destroying the Nabratein synagogue. Julian the Apostate's plan to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem may have been cancelled due to the damage caused by the earthquake.

Impact

Remains of the Nabratein synagogue, 2005

Sepphoris, north-northwest of Nazareth, was severely damaged. Nabratein and the Nabratein synagogue (northeast of Safed) were destroyed.^[5] The earthquake may have been responsible for the failure of the plan to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem with the permission of the Emperor Julian.^[6]

Petra, in what is now Jordan, was fatally damaged.

See also

• Geography of Israel#Seismic activity
• List of historical earthquakes
• List of earthquakes in the Levant