Page 3 - The 'X' Chronicles Newspaper - April 2024

Legends and Folklores - Solar Eclipse 3

What Legends and Lore

Surround the Solar

Eclipse?

Total solar eclipses have been regarded
with awe, fear, and wonder throughout
human history, and nearly every culture
has its own set of myths and legends
surrounding them. Eclipses are
extraordinary celestial events where the
moon passes between the Earth and the
sun, causing a shadow to fall upon Earth's

surface. Here are some examples of how
different cultures have historically
interpreted solar eclipses:

Ancient Civilizations:

Babylonians: They were sophisticated in
astronomical science and often linked
eclipses with omens, particularly for their
rulers and kingdom.

Ancient Chinese: In ancient China, a
revenge, causing eclipses when he
solar eclipse was explained through the
swallows them, but since he has no body, SOLAR ECLIPSE TRIVIA
legend of a celestial dragon devouring the
they soon come out again.
sun. It was customary to bang drums and - A solar eclipse occurs when the moon
pots or shoot arrows into the sky to scare passes between the sun and the Earth,
Vietnamese folklore: Similarly, it's
away the dragon. blocking the sun's light and casting a
thought that a frog or a large toad eats the
shadow on the Earth's surface.
sun, causing an eclipse.
Vikings: Eclipses were caused, in Norse
mythology, by a wolf named Sköll - The total solar eclipse is a rare
Africa, Oceania, and Others: phenomenon that happens when the
chasing and catching the sun. It was
believed that people needed to aid the sun moon completely covers the sun,
West African folklore: Some myths revealing the sun's outer atmosphere,
to escape the wolf's jaws.
propose that the eclipse happens when known as the corona.

the sun and moon are fighting. The
Indigenous Cultures:
people encourage the resolution of - The longest total solar eclipse in
conflict to bring back the sun. recorded history lasted for a maximum
Native American tribes: Many had their of 7 minutes and 31 seconds and
interpretations, often involving the sun occurred on July 22, 2009.
Korean legend: Solar and lunar eclipses
being bitten by a bear or other animal.
occur because mythological dogs are
- The ancient Greeks believed that a
trying to steal the celestial bodies.
The ancient Incas: They believed that a solar eclipse was a sign of angry gods
jaguar was attacking the sun and that the and a premonition of disaster.
Scientific Explanations:
ensuing struggle caused a solar eclipse.
- During a solar eclipse, the
They also feared that after it devoured the
With the advancement of science, these temperature can drop significantly due
sun, the jaguar would come down to
myths were gradually replaced by the to the sudden decrease in sunlight.
Earth to continue its feast with humans.
understanding that eclipses are natural
- The term "umbra" refers to the
phenomena predictable through the laws
Australian Aboriginals: Their eclipse darkest part of the moon's shadow
of celestial mechanics. The traditional
myth involved the moon-man and the during a solar eclipse, where the sun is
beliefs have not disappeared completely;
sun-woman joining together as lovers, completely blocked.
some are celebrated as cultural heritage,
where the moon-man covers the sun-
while others have been adapted into more
woman, explaining the darkness. - The path of totality is the narrow
modern worldviews. track on the Earth's surface where the

Asian Traditions: total solar eclipse is visible.
The next time you witness a solar eclipse,
you're actually participating in a moment - The phenomenon known as the
Hindu mythology: It's believed that the
that has captivated the human "diamond ring effect" occurs just
demon Rahu tried to steal the immortality
imagination for millennia, wrapping you before and after a total solar eclipse
nectar from the gods and is beheaded for
in the tapestry of stories that span the when a burst of sunlight creates the
the offense. His head, immortal by the
globe and reach back through the ages. [] illusion of a diamond ring in the sky.
nectar, chases the sun and moon in