How the Ancients Understood Eclipses

And how to prepare for the April 8 eclipse.

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How the Ancients Understood Eclipses — Solar eclipses have fascinated people for millennia, and many ancient cultures developed myths to explain why they occurred. (Amanda Carden/Shutterstock)

4/7/2024

Updated:

4/7/2024

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Picture this: The sun, moon, and Earth are all part of a cosmic dance, and every so often, they align just right to create a magical moment in the sky.

April 8 will be such a moment. A total solar eclipse will be happening in the continental United States. The eclipse will cast a shadow across certain parts of North America, turning day into a breathtaking night for a brief period. Imagine the sun, our brightest star, being covered by the moon, creating a stunning celestial display for those lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time.

It’s a chance for communities to come together, gaze at the sky, and share in the wonder of the universe. But it is also a chance to remember the diversity of cultures around the world and know that they have experienced eclipses, too, but may have understood them in very different ways.

Traditional Beliefs From Around the World

Throughout history, different cultures have looked up at the sky and embraced both curious and magical stories about eclipses.

The word “eclipse” comes from the Greek “ekleipsis,” meaning “an abandonment.” This gives a hint as to the fear that used to surround the celestial event.

In many cultures, it was said that a demon or other celestial creature was eating the sun. (It could be a dragon, bear, or even frog, depending on where the legend originates.) And if you think about it, an eclipse does indeed look like a huge creature taking bite after bite out of the sun.

Often, when that has been the belief, the solution people have employed has been the same: Make a lot of noise so as to scare the creature off.

India

In Indian mythology, the demon Rahu is said to swallow the sun, causing solar eclipses. However, Rahu’s head had been previously severed as a punishment from the gods, so, after eating it, the sun soon passes through Rahu’s throat and then reappears.

China

According to Encyclopedia Brittanica:

“In ancient China, it was commonly held that solar eclipses occurred when a celestial dragon attacked and devoured the Sun. Chinese eclipse records are some of the oldest in the world and go back more than 4,000 years.”

You may have seen on television or in movies that Chinese historical records were meticulously kept.

Norse

Norse mythology tells a tale of two celestial wolves that forever chase the sun and the moon. Some have believed that during an eclipse, one of the wolves finally caught the sun, causing its temporary disappearance and the possible commencement of Ragnarok, the end of the world.

Various Regions

The folklore of many cultures traditionally held that the sun and the moon were a male and a female who were uniting during an eclipse.

Eclipse Fast Facts

Why 2024 Is Special

There was a total solar eclipse in 2017, but 2024 will be different. An estimated 31.6 million people live in the path of totality this year, compared to 12 million in 2017. This year’s eclipse will also last longer—in some areas, twice as long as in 2017.

And, most interestingly of all, the sun this year will be closer to a solar maximum mode, whereas in 2017, it was closer to the solar minimum. This means the corona around the moon should be brighter and more dynamic.

The Shadows It Creates

There is both an “umbra” and a “penumbra” when an eclipse occurs.

“Umbra” means shadow, and it is the shadow cast on Earth by the moon when it eclipses the sun; this shadow is about 170 miles wide.

The “penumbra” is a wider shadow that has the umbra at its center, but this shadow is a few thousand miles wide. One can think of this as the peripheral umbra.

A Rare Event

NASA stated: “Getting a chance to see a total solar eclipse is rare. The Moon’s shadow on Earth isn’t very big, so only a small portion of places on Earth will see it. You have to be on the sunny side of the planet when it happens. You also have to be in the path of the Moon’s shadow. On average, the same spot on Earth only gets to see a solar eclipse for a few minutes about every 375 years!”

Earth’s Moon

There are many moons in the solar system, but only Earth’s moon is the right size to create a total solar eclipse.

How to Enjoy the April 2024 Eclipse

Pinpoint the location: If you want to see the total eclipse and not just a partial one, you have to pinpoint the precise time and place to go so that you will be standing under the path of the umbra. A good website for that is GreatAmericanEclipse.com

View it safely: NASA warned: “Caution! Never look directly at the Sun, even for a second! It will damage your eyesight forever! To view a solar eclipse, use special solar viewing glasses ... sunglasses do not work, even if you stack many of them together.”

So your options are either special glasses or making pinhole cameras (a simple and fun project).

Prepare snacks: You could have a celestial snacktime, preparing eclipse-themed snacks such as moon pies and Oreos.

Make it fun for the kids: Younger kids could draw the changing shapes of the sun as the eclipse progresses. Remember that they’ll need to be quick! They could document the stages and compare their drawings with those of friends. They will quickly see why people thought a giant creature was gradually gobbling away at the sun.

Older kids could write a creative story about a town that was experiencing an eclipse but with no understanding of what was happening. They could talk about how different people reacted, what they did, and how they responded when the sun came back.

Utilize educational materials: If you homeschool, then NASA has some great materials for you at Science.NASA.gov/eclipses

However you choose to spend the day, you will probably be glad the eclipse was a part of it. Protect your eyes or watch it on TV, and be glad when the sun finally returns.