Your Day in the Ancient Greek World
December 14
December 14 in ancient Greece is represented in our source-audited archive by 2 verified records spanning AD 62 to AD 557. Together, the entries below connect this calendar date with different moments in the ancient Greek world through historical and documentary evidence.
Across the centuries
On This Day
-
AD 62
Life on This Day
A Survey Tax on Palm Groves Is Recorded
On December 14, AD 62, a Greek receipt records a survey-related tax connected with palm groves. It preserves an ordinary intersection of agriculture, measurement and taxation.
Sources
Primary evidence
- ERC Elephantine dataset 307130
Modern scholarship
- Texts & Scripts from Elephantine
Public links
-
AD 557
Event That Shaped History
A Major Earthquake Strikes Constantinople
On December 14, AD 557, a severe earthquake struck Constantinople and its surroundings, damaging buildings, walls and Hagia Sophia. The later collapse of Hagia Sophia’s first dome occurred in 558 and must not be folded into this event.
Sources
Primary evidence
- Agathias, Histories 5.3; Malalas and parallel Byzantine chronicles
Modern scholarship
- Guidoboni et al. historical earthquake catalogue
- Modern Byzantine chronicle studies
Public links