Eclipse Myths and Symbolism

Eclipse Myths and Symbolism

The people of many cultures from all parts of the globe have developed various myths and legends about eclipses. Many believe that an eclipse is an omen of some natural disaster or the death or downfall of a ruler. Another pervasive myth involves an invisible dragon or other demon who devours the Sun during an eclipse. Many cultures have also developed superstitions about how to counteract the effects of an eclipse. The Chinese would produce great noise and commotion (drumming, banging on pans, shooting arrows into the sky, and the like) to frighten away the dragon and restore daylight. In India people may immerse themselves in water up to their necks, believing this act of worship will help the Sun and Moon defend themselves against the dragon. In Japan, the custom is to cover wells during an eclipse to prevent poison from dropping into them from the darkened sky. And as recently as the last century, the Chinese Imperial Navy fired its ceremonial guns during an eclipse to scare off the invisible dragon.

This ominous view of eclipses is not the only one. In Tahiti, for example, eclipses have been interpreted as the lovemaking of the Sun and the Moon. Even to this day, the Eskimos, Aleuts, and Tlingits of Arctic America believe an eclipse shows a divine providence: the Sun and the Moon temporarily leave their places in the sky and check to see that things are going all right on Earth. But regardless of the meaning given to them, eclipses will continue to occur, always obeying the regular timetables of celestial motions.

** Material adapted from ECLIPSE by Bryan Brewer ($14.95 plus S&H). ECLIPSE Book Order Form. **