Humans have observed and tracked solar eclipses for millennia. In many cases, a solar eclipse brought on fear and foretold the end of the world or was a sign of great misfortune. To explain the causes of a solar eclipse, ancient humans would seek spiritual justifications and tell folkloric tales for why they occur. From these explanations, many myths and superstitions exist. Most of these are only myths and have since been disproven.
Myth 1. Eclipses Are an Omen of Misfortune
Many of the beliefs that an eclipse is a negative event stem from ancient folklore. Some examples include the ancient Greeks, who thought that an eclipse was a sign that the gods were displeased and would bring misfortune upon humans.
One mythological concept the Aztecs had about an eclipse was that the sun disappeared because a jaguar was going to eat it. To release the sun, the ancient people would make as much noise as possible to scare the jaguar into letting it go. Like the Aztecs, the ancient Chinese thought that solar eclipses happened when a dragon attacked and ate the sun. The dragon also must be scared away by noise.
Solar eclipses are likely seen as harbingers of disaster because they were noted at several historically significant events. In 763 B.C.E., ancient Assyrian records tell of an eclipse that happened at the same time as a revolt in the city of Ashur. Another example is the death of King Henry I of England in 1133 A.D., which happened during a solar eclipse.
