Seeing the sun suddenly disappear in the middle of the day most have been terrifying if you were not expecting it. Modern science tells us that these sudden disappearances are eclipses. In ancient times it must have looked as if the world was coming to an end.
One eclipse had such a startling effect it even stopped a battle in the Middle East. The year was 585 BC. On one side was an army from ancient Media. Opposing them was the army from ancient Lydia. They were locked in the thick of the battle when suddenly the sun grew dim and was blotted out. The fighting stopped. For a minute or two daytime became night-time. Then the sun began appearing again and daylight was restored. But both armies were so amazed by what they had seen that they promptly made peace.
On that occasion, and at every other solar eclipse, the moon had come directly between the earth and the sun and blocked out the sun’s light. Total eclipses, which seem like night falling, only happen over certain parts of the earth once ever fifty years. Partial eclipses, when only part of the sun’s light is hidden, happen more regularly.
Picture Credit : Google
