Arab Weather - Astronomical phenomena such as lunar eclipses have always amazed humans since ancient times, and with their lack of scientific understanding in ancient times, many myths and beliefs arose around them that spread awe and fear in people's souls. Ancient civilizations linked lunar eclipses to supernatural events, such as attacks by mythical creatures.
Despite scientific progress in explaining this natural phenomenon, some people still feel anxious or afraid of a lunar eclipse, influenced by the legacy of these ancient beliefs that have continued through generations. In this article, we review the most prominent reasons why some people still fear a lunar eclipse today, and how ancient myths played a major role in shaping these fears.
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Ancient civilizations feared eclipses because they believed that this natural phenomenon carried negative connotations or was a bad omen. There were several reasons behind this fear, which varied according to the culture and beliefs prevailing in each civilization, including:
Ancient civilizations did not have scientific knowledge to explain astronomical phenomena such as eclipses and for them, it was unexpected and frightening. They did not know that an eclipse is simply the shadow of the Earth covering the moon or the moon blocking the sun, so they explained it in supernatural and magical ways.
Eclipses are associated in the minds of some with natural disasters such as earthquakes, famines, or wars. Ancient Chinese civilizations, for example, believed that a celestial dragon would swallow the moon or sun during an eclipse, and people had to make noise to scare it away and restore the light.
In civilizations such as the Maya and Inca, eclipses were considered a sign of serious changes in the cosmic order, which caused panic among people. Eclipses were considered a symbol of the reversal of things and the deterioration of conditions. The following are some of the most famous ancient civilizations and their myths related to lunar eclipses:
Because the sun and moon were the basic time system of ancient civilizations, any disruption in the movement of the sun or moon raised concerns about the cosmic order in general. The disappearance of the moon or sun was understood as a threat to the continuity of normal life and the time system, causing people to feel fear and anxiety.
In some cultures, eclipses were used to assert the ruler's authority or to manipulate popular beliefs. For example, some rulers or priests used their astrological knowledge to predict eclipses to demonstrate their power or ability to "control" nature.
The fear of eclipses was the result of ignorance of the scientific reasons behind this phenomenon, in addition to the influence of religious and symbolic beliefs that interpreted cosmic phenomena as messages from higher powers.
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