Eclipses in Ancient Cultures Part III

(This is continued from Eclipses in Ancient Cultures Part I) The Ancient Greeks believed that it was the all powerful Zeus removing the sun from the sky as a show of force. The ancient Indians believe that the dragon would come for those impure so many people would submerge themselves in purifying rivers to protect themselves during eclipses. The ancient Arabs followed the eclipses and this study of lunar eclipses was even incorporated into their religion. The Arab people have some of the best lunar records.

In many different cultures throughout the world, the reaction was nearly always the same to these eclipses. In modern day, we can relax in our self knowledge that these events are but “normal” events and nothing to be feared. The ancient people lived through them in fear.