Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah by earthquake c.1900 BC: Lot's wife turned to pillar of salt for disobeying God's order not to look back. Evidence of extensive quake in area at this date, and legend of fire and brimstone could well have arisen from escape of petroleum gases. From Hartmann Schedel 'Liber chronicarum mundi' (Nuremberg Chronicle), Nurembereg, 1493. Woodcut. Photo via Newscom