The 735 Vayots Dzor Province earthquake affected the

Vayots Dzor Province Vayots Dzor ( hy, Վայոց Ձոր, ) is a province (''marz'') of Armenia. It lies at the southeastern end of the country, bordering the Nakhchivan exclave of Azerbaijan to the west and the Kalbajar District of Azerbaijan to the east. It cover ...

.Guidoboni, Traina, 1995, p. 119-120 The earthquake reportedly destroyed an entire

valley A valley is an elongated low area often running between Hill, hills or Mountain, mountains, which will typically contain a river or stream running from one end to the other. Most valleys are formed by erosion of the land surface by rivers ...

. The reported casualties included at least 10,000 victims. The Armenian sources report that the earthquake caused the collapse of buildings, several

landslide Landslides, also known as landslips, are several forms of mass wasting that may include a wide range of ground movements, such as rockfalls, deep-seated grade (slope), slope failures, mudflows, and debris flows. Landslides occur in a variety of ...

s, and changes to the area's

water supply network A water supply network or water supply system is a system of engineered hydrologic and hydraulic components that provide water supply. A water supply system typically includes the following: # A drainage basin (see water purification – source ...

. The earliest surviving primary source on the earthquake is the chronicle of

Movses Kaghankatvatsi Movses Kaghankatvatsi ( hy, Մովսէս Կաղանկատուացի ''Movses Kaġankatvac’i''), or Movses Daskhurantsi ( ''Movses Dasxuranc’i'') is the reputed author (or authors) of a tenth-century Classical Armenian historiographical work on ...

(10th century). He reports that the earthquake was accompanied by "an impenetrable darkness" over the borders of Mozu. According to his narrative the earth kept shaking for 40 days, and nearly 10,000 people were "swallowed up". According to Movses, the earthquake caused the area to be named "Vayots Dzor", which he translates as the "valley of woe". A more detailed account is given by the historian Stephen Orbelian (13th century). He viewed the earthquake as a

divine punishment Divine judgment means the judgment of God or other supreme beings within a religion. Ancient beliefs In ancient Sumerian religion, the sun-god Utu and his twin sister Inanna were believed to be the enforcers of divine justice. Utu, as th ...

. He reports a thick darkness covering the region for 40 days, but a single, powerful and destructive earthquake. The upheaval of the earth reportedly caused widespread damage, from the depth of the abysses to the great heights of the region. He compares the heaving of the earth to the sea waves. He reports the collapse of mountains, the complete crumbling of rocks. Common houses and fine

palace A palace is a grand residence, especially a royal residence, or the home of a head of state or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word is derived from the Latin name palātium, for Palatine Hill in Rome which ...

s alike were turned to tombs for their residents. Springs and rivers dried up. Sounds similar to human voices were heard from the depths, reportedly speaking of the valley of woe. He estimates that the known 10,000 victims were registered taxpayers. He reported that nobody knew how many unregistered people perished in the earthquake.

Kirakos Gandzaketsi Kirakos Gandzaketsi (; c. 1200/1202–1271) was an Armenian historian of the 13th century S. Peter Cowe. Kirakos Ganjakec'i or Arewelc'i // Christian-Muslim Relations. A Bibliographical History / Edited by David Thomas & Alex Mallet. — BRILL, 20 ...

(13th century) gives an abbreviated account of Orbelian's narrative. An Armenian

synaxarium Synaxarion or Synexarion (plurals Synaxaria, Synexaria; el, Συναξάριον, from συνάγειν, ''synagein'', "to bring together"; cf. etymology of ''synaxis'' and ''synagogue''; Latin: ''Synaxarium'', ''Synexarium''; cop, ⲥⲩⲛⲁ ...

dating to c.767-769 briefly mentions the earthquake. Soviet sources report that traces of the event were confirmed by geomorphological analyses and examination of the region by

aerial photography Aerial photography (or airborne imagery) is the taking of photographs from an aircraft or other airborne platforms. When taking motion pictures, it is also known as aerial videography. Platforms for aerial photography include fixed-wing aircra ...

. The valley of Vayots Dzor includes a number of monastic settlements, none of which predates the 9th century. There has been no archaeological excavation of the region. It is assumed that the earthquake destroyed local religious centers, which were later rebuilt. There is no specific mention of destroyed villages. The placename "Mozu" is not attested in other sources. While the Armenian sources attribute the name Vayots Dzor to this earthquake, the toponym already appears in a 7th-century geographic text. It is unclear whether this early reference is a later-day gloss in the text or was part of the original work.

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* {{coord missing, Armenia 735 8th-century earthquakes 8th century in Armenia Vayots Dzor Province Earthquakes in Armenia