The Earthquakes and the Tsunami of 1755 and 2004 – Historic Accidents?

摘要

This paper is about the interpretation of the 1755 Lisbon earthquake as ahistoric accident. The paper is divided in two main parts: the commemoration of the 250thanniversary of the 1755 Lisbon earthquake in 2005 and the reaction to other times, astoday. Especially a comparison is highlighted, the reaction to the 2004 Sumatra earthquakeand Indian Ocean tsunami in 2005 and today, as, contrary to what happened immediatelyafter, the 2004 event did not cause a discourse. Also compared to other historical eventsmentioned, the Lisbon earthquake remains the only historic accident, and one of the birthdates of modernity. Some key aspects are discussed, as the issue of ruins, or of rebuilding,in context of the 18th century and today. Overall, the accent lays on the view from theHumanities, not of earthquake engineering, and reviews such views at the events andpublications about the earthquake.