Solar Eclipse 2010: Still Powerful in Popular Mythology

July 9, 2010 — -- It is said that the great eclipse of 585 B.C. took place as the ancient Lydians were locked in battle with the Medes. They settled their differences on the spot.

Today we're more scientific about it all -- or at least we think we are. We know that a solar eclipse, like the one that will be seen Sunday in the southern reaches of the Pacific Ocean, is a routine -- albeit spectacular -- product of orbital mechanics. It happens when the moon passes between the earth and the sun.

Still, 85 percent of teachers in India surveyed by the Women's Studies department of Barkatullah University in Bhopal last summer admitted they were uneasy about letting pregnant women go outside to see an eclipse.

Tamra Andrews, in "A Dictionary of Nature Myths" (Oxford University Press, 1998) wrote that almost all ancient cultures were frightened if the sky went black at midday. "Though some Australian tribes described an eclipse as the moon and sun kissing or making love," she wrote, "the heavens were supposed to act in an orderly fashion, and an eclipse was an introduction of chaos."

It made perfect sense to fight back with drums or arrows shot into the sky, she wrote, because, after all, they seemed to work -- the eclipses ended.

"I think one reason why people are eager to ascribe special powers to such an interesting event," said Mark Hammergren, an astronomer at Chicago's Adler Planetarium, "is because it makes them feel like they're part of something important, and that they're doing something about it."

So beliefs continue today, even if they make a scientist's teeth hurt.

"When there is an eclipse, a lot of electrical and magetic energies are released," said Rakesh Kumar, who describes himself as a Vedic astrologer in Queens, New York. "Eclipses prevent those energies from entering the earth, even for a few minutes."

In an online post, Kumar wrote, "The New Moon and the total Solar eclipse will create some disturbing Cosmic energies and will affect many countries around the world....

"Financial situation in America will be worst affected and the Wall Street will be hit. There would be serious differences in the leaders of the government. Whatever the country tries to do to make up for the financial deficit, it would end up spending huge amounts due to other losses. Floods, storms will also take its toll. Oceans will be rough, rivers will overflow, and the sea life would also get affected."