Funny Nature & Travel Art & Stage Going Viral Science Greetings Inspirational

Edit Profile Recently Viewed Favorites

Main > Going Viral > Baba Recommends

How Ancient Cultures Explained Eclipses

Edited By: David B.

Add to Favorites In Favorites

Español

Font Size:

A+ A-

While modern science and astronomy can easily explain what happens during a solar or a lunar eclipse, many ancient cultures had to come up with their own explanations for such peculiar natural phenomena. Below, you'll find five of the most exciting and fantastical eclipse-inspired myths and legends that are bound to tickle your imagination.

If you feel that you've leant something new today, don't forget to share this article with your friends and family too.

1. The Sun-Eating Dogs & Dragons of Ancient China

One of the earliest-ever accounts of a solar eclipse, even though some people believe that it may just be an old wives' tale, dates all the way back to 2136 B.C. According to a popular legend, the Chinese Emperor Chung K'ang once sentenced his royal astronomers, Hi and Ho, to death for their inability to predict a solar eclipse.

Interestingly, the most widely-accepted Chinese interpretation of a solar eclipse was that gigantic dragons or dogs were quickly devouring the sun. As a matter of fact, the Chinese word for eclipse contains the character 'shi,' which literally means 'to eat.' In order to frighten the beast away from the sun, the people of China used to bang on drums and make other loud noises in order to make it go elsewhere.

2. The Vikings & the Star-Hunting Wolves

Just like the Ancient Chinese did, the Vikings also believed that the sun was being devoured throughout an eclipse. Their legends mention two wolves, Skoll and Hati, who go around the universe eating celestial bodies. When they approach our planet, Hati is said to seek out the sun, while Skoll goes for the moon.

They believed that an eclipse was the sign that one of these predators had caught up with their prey, and if the other one also succeeded then the apocalypse, known by them as Ragnarok, would take place. To prevent this from happening, as soon as an eclipse began, the Vikings would try and scare the wolves away and return the sun or moon's light by making music and loud noises.

3. The Inuits & the Pursuit of the Siblings

The indigenous Inuits of the Arctic, Alaska, and Greenland explain both the lunar cycle and eclipses in general by creating legends about a couple of celestial beings, Anningan the moon god and his sister, Malina the sun god.

The story starts when Malina was chased away by Anningan after a quarrel. As he repeatedly chased her, he kept forgetting to eat and ended up losing weight (symbolized by the waning of the moon), eventually vanishing when he paused to regain his strength - thereby turning into the new moon. A solar eclipse takes place when Anningan finally catches up with Malina, just as the moon reaches the sun.

4. The Batammaliba & Earth's First Women

The Batammaliba population of Togo and Benin feel that eclipses offer people the chance to make peace with neighbors, friends, and family members. One of their greatest legends tells of the world's first two women, Puka Puka and Kuiyecoke, who eventually became the village's matriarchs. As their village began to grow in size and numbers, the villagers started to become more quarrelsome, and the seeds of discontent started to be sown.

Puka Puka and Kuiyecoke attempted to intervene, but their pleas fell on deaf ears. They then resorted to more drastic measures, so they darkened the moon and the sun in order to terrify the villagers. Their plan worked like clockwork, and the villagers made peace offerings to each other in order for the light to be returned. This is a tradition which still takes place during eclipses today.

5. The Hindus & the Decapitated Demon

One of the most vibrant depictions of an eclipse is found within Hindu mythology, where demons and gods worked hand-in-hand to construct an elixir of immortality. However, one of the demons, called Rahu, was determined to make use of the elixir himself. Just as Rahu had taken his first sip, the god Vishnu, who had been informed of Rahu's plans by the sun and moon god, beheaded him.

Since the elixir hadn't had time to travel down Rahu's throat, his head remained immortal while the rest of his body died. Legend has it that Rahu's head continually chases after the sun and moon god out of anger, occasionally eating them when he catches up with them. However, because he has no body to keep them contained, they always quickly end up re-emerging, restarting the chase once again.

Source: history
Images: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Cover Image: depositphotos

Like Next Post Send Share WhatsApp

Copy Link

Did you mean:

Continue With: Facebook Google

By continuing, you agree to our T&C and Privacy Policy

Report copyright infringement

Print this content

You may also like:

Travel

These 9 Ancient Churches Are Almost As Old as Time

These Majestic Churches are Some of the World’s OLDEST

There is something special about churches, especially ancient ones. Here are 9 of the oldest and most majestic churches around the world.

Baba Recommends

This Teacher Uses Dance Moves to Motivate His Students

2:39

How a Principal Inspired Students With a Dance Routine

To make his students do more exercise, a Chinese principal asked them to dance…

Nature

Travel To The Ancient Shiratani Unsuikyo Forest In Japan

Get your virtual nature getaway here with 10 magnificent photos of a forest in Japan that has tress over 1,000 years old!

Nature

Meet the Gharial – the Ancient Beast With a SUPER Snout

8:37

The Weird Crocodile Relative You Had No Idea Existed

The gharial looks like a crocodile with a super long snout. But what is it, really?

Science and Technology

China Has Developed the Sports Complex of the Future!

7:46

Engineering Marvels: China's New Sporting Super-Complex

Feast your eyes on China's new sporting super-complex...

Baba Recommends

9 Surprising Sleeping Habits From Around the World

Sleep looks different in different parts of the world. Here are 9 surprising sleeping habits from different countries, some of which you might want to adopt.

Vehicles of Ground, Air & Water

47:09

The Most Innovative New Bikes of 2025

Get ready to experience the most cutting-edge electric bikes, mind-blowing smart bike tech, and innovations that are totally transforming how we ride

Tips, Life Hacks and DIY

Best Soaps for Different Skin Types: A Science-Backed Guide

Our goal is a scientific yet easy-to-understand overview, with real examples of recommended face and body soaps for each skin type.

Send Comment

Related Topics: baba recommends, ancient, viking, Chinese, cultures, eclipse, gods, Inuit, Hindu, Batammaliba, demons

Quizzes

Medical Test: Common Surgeries

Are you ready to prove how much you know about the operating room?

Spelling Bee 2025

Are you ready to confront the labyrinth of the English lexicon? Grab a pen (or your inner dictionary) and let’s see how you fare.

What Gift Do You Give Your Family?

At the end of the test, we will tell you some insights that will help you enhance your natural strengths and also understand how your unique job contributes to family and family happiness.

Most popular in Baba Recommends

History Facts You've Probably Never Heard Of

Keep a Conversation Flowing With These Historical Facts

If a conversation you're having starts to stall, just throw out some of these amazing historical facts and you’ll be talking long into the night!

15:33

Does Regrowing Vegetables From Scraps Actually Work?

You're likely aware that you can regrow certain vegetables using scraps. But the real question is, does this method work for every type of vegetable?

Impressive Photos Showing the Power of Time

Time Changes Everything... As Seen in These Photos

These incredible photos show just how powerful time is.

22 Fascinating Demographic Maps of the USA

These Maps Are Guaranteed to Teach You About the USA

The USA becomes all the more fascinating when you collate a ton of different maps containing insightful demographic data. Take a look at this map compilation.

Rare Footage of Cities Around the World During the 1890s

10:30

Cities of Yesteryear: See the 1890s Come Alive!

It's incredible to have this look into yesteryear, and this compilation have some truly terrific sights to show you!

10 Surprising Facts About the Food in Your Kitchen

Did you know that ordinary foods like carrots, jelly beans, sandwiches, and broccoli have a fascinating story to tell?

18 Moments of History that Shed Light On Different Times

These 18 photos open a world of yesteryear for us to explore and enjoy.

These Digital Reimaginations Bring Ancient Ruins to Life

5 Ancient Ruins Brought to Life Again With Modern Tech

Take a look at the digital remakes of five important world heritage sites and also learn about their fascinating history.

20 Nostalgic Images of Circulating Libraries

Way before Amazon, the visit of the bookmobile was one of the most exciting moments. These 20 nostalgic images capture the circulating libraries of the past.

6 Unbelievable World War II Survival Stories

Astonishing! These WWII Soldiers Survived Against the Odds

These World War II soldiers all suffered terrible ordeals, but they managed to survive against all odds. Here are 6 incredible survival stories from World War II.

11 Must-See Charts on Miscellaneous Useful and Fun Topics

11 Fun Charts - You’ll Love Learning All This Useful Info!

In these helpful visual guides, we cover such important topics as distinguishing heart attack symptoms in men and women, and how to care for your indoor plants.

12 Beautiful Quotes that'll Make You Smile and Grin

If you want a smile, you've reached the right place...

Amazing FREE Stuff On the Net You Have Not Been Using

11 of the Most Insanely Useful Websites on the Web

Believe it or not, there are tons of sites that offer useful free stuff. Here’s a look at a few of them.

A Moment in History: The Ghost Army that Scared the Nazis!

One of the most fascinating army units during World War II was constantly at the front lines, but never did any fighting...

A Surprising Fact About Every State in the USA

Some of These Facts About the US Will Leave You Speechless

We have collected the 50 most fascinating facts about each state. Some of them historical, some funny, and some straight out hard to believe.

These Beauty Practices of the Past Look Strange Today…

17 fascinating photos of beauty procedures, treatments, and practices from the first half of the 20th century that look strange and curious today

A Lost Postcard From World War II Reappeared After 77 Years

This Lost WWII Postcard is a Moving Glimpse Into History

Bill Caldwell's family was astonished to receive a postcard from him - sent in 1943!

These Couples Show Us That You're Never Too Old to Find Love

It’s never too late to find true love. These inspiring couples show one that love has no age limit.

This Song By Frank Sinatra is So Beautiful

Sing through the lyrics of Frank Sinatra's Young at Heart here.

The Most Insightful Quotes From the Mind of Albert Einstein

Allow me to share some of the insightful quotes that came out of Albert Einstein's head

8 Times the Future Was Eerily Foretold in Novels

8 Books That Predicted the Future With Strange Accuracy

It always feels eerie when the future is predicted correctly and it turns out literature is full of such accurate forecasts. These 8 novels were particularly spot on.

15 People Who Have the STRANGEST Hobbies

Some people's hobbies, as it turns out, are stranger than others. Here are 15 bizarre yet cool hobbies keeping people busy

Time-Traveling Through 21 Captivating Historical Photos

Incredible History: Looking Through 21 Fascinating Photos

Enjoy this collection of historical pictures.

These World Maps Made Me See the World in a New Way!

These Unique Maps Will Change Your Worldview

These maps show much more than just where a country is...

History Can Be Ironic and These 12 Stories Will Prove It

History Can Be Ironic & These 12 Stories Prove Just That...

These 12 short stories from world history are strange, tragic, but most importantly, utterly ironic...

22 Spectacular Photos of Old Hollywood Stars

The Golden Age of Old Hollywood: The People We Loved

Look at these gorgeous pictures to see how stars used to be...

9 Times the Future Was Predicted With Surprising Accuracy!

These 9 historical events were predicted with extreme accuracy, and here is who managed to forecast them...

15 Lovely Christmas Quotes That Will Fill Your Heart with Joy

These beautiful Christmas are sayings everyone can be thankful for!

Anger Is the Most Misunderstood Emotion - 7 Facts

This Will Change Your Perspective On Anger

Anger is an often misunderstood emotion. These facts about anger will change your views on this common emotion.

8:57

What Features Are Missing From the English Language?

English is incredible, but what can it learn from other languages? What features do English speakers miss out on?

10 of the Most Interesting Popes in History

The papacy has been ongoing ever since the time of St. Peter, but some popes stand out as being more historically significant than others. Take a look.