Total Solar Eclipse: A Cosmic Phenomenon Through History

A total solar eclipse is when the moon covers the sun’s disk—resulting in the moon’s shadow darkening the sky. According to ancient history, the celestial event has been regarded as a state of turbulence or abandonment, hence the Greek word for eclipse: abandonment. In astrology, a solar eclipse symbolizes a change or transformation. Many cultures of ancient history exalted the sun and considered it to be a dominant force because of its powerful rays and the ability to blind you. Read on to learn more about the cultural meaning of solar eclipse through time.

In Hindu mythology, the sun represents Rahu—a mortal being whose head is cut off by the god Vishnu, as a result, becomes a serpent. After totality, Rahu swallows the sun whole.

According to Chinese mythology, there are 10 suns that travel along the sky separately. One day, they are all in the sky at one time. The Dijun sun requests an archer named Yi to shoot all the suns except for one. A dragon slowing devouring the sun is the result of the moon covering the sun.

The African myth during solar eclipse claims that the sun and moon are in a quarrel. The African people urge the sun and moon to end the fight. They see this as a sign of mending old wounds for peace and harmony.

In Ancient Greek mythology, the solar eclipse symbolizes unhappy gods. They see this as a sign of total catastrophe.

According to Navajo tradition, the total solar eclipse represents the universe re-calibrating. It’s a time to reflect and allow the cosmos to do its work.

There are more myths and legends about the total solar eclipse that you can explore online. One thing that every culture can agree on is that a total solar eclipse is a remarkable event. If this celestial shift inspires you to bring harmony in your life then something good has been achieved.