Eclipses in Ancient Cultures Part I

I can not remember the last solar eclipse I saw because it was not anything that was out of the “ordinary.” In fact, I merely checked my watch so that I would not accidentally look into the sun during the eclipse. I had the benefit and understanding of science to prevent any awe or despair. Ancient people did not have the benefit of the body of scientific knowledge that we have today. Schoolchildren learn about the how as whys of an eclipse in more detail than even the most learned astronomers in ancient times knew.

Ancient civilizations did not have the benefit of this scientific knowledge and what knowledge they did have was knowledge filtered for religious and political reasons. Eclipses, both solar and lunar, were a time of deep despair, intense fear, and inspiring awe. People did not have the experience of seeing many eclipses in their lifetime to believe with any certainty that the sun or moon would return. They felt as if the sun or moon was abandoning them or they were being punished for some crime they did or did not do. Throughout the ancient world, civilizations believed in a dragon like creature that went on the rampage during an eclipse.

This is continued in Eclipses in Ancient Cultures Part II