Eclipse....or is it?

Eclipses were much more interesting back in the day. Annie Dillard wrote as if she didn't understand the science of a solar eclipse. She describes it similar to what an ancient Egyptian might. The experience for hers is very awful and horrifying, although, very descriptive, I had trouble understanding why she was being so dramatic.

Now, in the times before scientists or astrologists discovery it would have been tragic. Seeing the sky go black and losing the source of heat and life would have been unimaginable. This must have been Dillard's thoughts during the eclipse. I googled some of the mythology and here are some ideas people used to have.

Egyptians believed during a lunar eclipse the mischievous god Seth would steal the Moon Eye of Horus.

The Mayans believed that it was a jaguar who ate the sun and who could come down and destroy them as well. Interesting fact, the Aztecs believed that stars were the eyes of demons who were waiting to come and destroy them. This was because the eyes of animals are reflective and resemble stars.

The ancient Chinese belief is my favorite. The Chinese believed that it was a dragon (or naga) who ate the sun. During a lunar eclipse they believed it was a Three Legged Toad that ate the moon.

An eclipse was always seen as a bad omen because it was the sun, a life giver and usually a god, leaving its people. The word eclipse comes from a Greek word which means abandonment (think on that). Science kind of ruined the thrill of eclipses. Now it's just the moon trying to take the spotlight from the sun (just like that girl in high school who would stand in front of you in school pictures even though she was taller than you).

Anyways, what more is there to say about solar eclipses. The moon orbits and in an instance is in front of the sun, there is no jaguar or sun-eating dragon and definitely no three-legged toad. It's a real bummer. I give props to Dillard, who knew there were so many beautiful words that could be used in describing science? Carbon plus 2 molecules of Oxygen equals CO2. I just described CO2 and it was tear jerking. No one scream, seriously, it's just CO2!