The total solar eclipse that will pass through parts of the nation Monday is just one of many total solar eclipses that have been seen throughout history. While we have a strong understanding of how and why eclipses happen, it was not always this way. From folklore to conspiracy theories, here’s a breakdown of some of the history and myths of a total solar eclipse.
According to NASA, one of the earliest recordings of a total solar eclipse dates back to 1375 BCE. The Ugarit Eclipse has been documented in Early Mesopotamian Records, which read:
“On the day of the new moon, in the month of Hiyar, the Sun was put to shame, and went down in the daytime, with Mars in attendance.“
After that point, you can find references to total solar eclipses in the Bible, Greek writings and various other forms of media throughout history.
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