There have been eclipses for time immemorial – for as long as the solar system has been in existence! It is not hard to imagine that before humans understood the way the solar system worked, eclipses could have been awe-inspiring and quite terrifying – in fact, many interpreted eclipses as a sign from the gods.
It is not surprising that solar eclipses are mentioned in records that go back thousands of years, as they are incredible events which could not be explained as a weather event or early night-fall. The Chinese have records which list solar eclipses that go back for over four thousand years, while a stone in Ireland seems to mention an eclipse which occurred in 3340 BCE. 1375 BCE saw the recording of another eclipse by the Syrians, and in 763 BCE the Assyrians also noted down an eclipse event. Herodotus himself lists several eclipses, and tells the story of the Battle of Halys in 585 BCE, in which a war between the Medians and Lydians was halted when a solar eclipse caused the men battling to stop in surprise. The Good Friday Crucifixion Eclipse is another well known historical event, in which the Synoptic Gospels recorded a three hour period of darkness.
In more recent years, a total eclipse has helped confirm Einstein’s theory of general relativity – in 1919 – and in 1999 the solar eclipse became the most watched in history. Those in Cornwall and Devon were treated to a real show.
It is not surprising that solar eclipses are mentioned in records that go back thousands of years, as they are incredible events which could not be explained as a weather event or early night-fall. The Chinese have records which list solar eclipses that go back for over four thousand years, while a stone in Ireland seems to mention an eclipse which occurred in 3340 BCE. 1375 BCE saw the recording of another eclipse by the Syrians, and in 763 BCE the Assyrians also noted down an eclipse event. Herodotus himself lists several eclipses, and tells the story of the Battle of Halys in 585 BCE, in which a war between the Medians and Lydians was halted when a solar eclipse caused the men battling to stop in surprise. The Good Friday Crucifixion Eclipse is another well known historical event, in which the Synoptic Gospels recorded a three hour period of darkness.
In more recent years, a total eclipse has helped confirm Einstein’s theory of general relativity – in 1919 – and in 1999 the solar eclipse became the most watched in history. Those in Cornwall and Devon were treated to a real show.