How Ancient Humans reacted to Eclipses (Lunar and Solar Eclipses)

What would you do if the Sun suddenly disappeared in the middle of the day… and you had no idea why? Long before modern science, eclipses terrified ancient civilizations across the world. A blood red Moon could mean the death of a king. A blackened Sun could signal the anger of the gods. Entire cities panicked, armies feared disaster, and rulers believed the heavens themselves were sending warnings. In this video, we explore the terrifying history of solar and lunar eclipses and how ancient people reacted when the sky suddenly went dark. Discover: Ancient Babylon’s deadly “substitute king” ritual The blood moon that terrified Constantinople before its fall How Christopher Columbus used a lunar eclipse to manipulate an entire population Chinese legends of dragons devouring the Sun Why eclipses were seen as omens of war, death, and catastrophe From collapsing empires to frightened armies and desperate prayers, this is the story of humanity’s fear of eclipses before science explained the heavens. Sources: 1. Graff, S. (2017, August 30). The solar eclipse and the substitute king. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Metropolitan Museum of Art article 2. Casazza, R., & Gangui, A. (2013). The explanation of eclipses in Greco Roman antiquity. arXiv. https://arxiv.org/abs/1304.7297 3. Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2025). 9 celestial omens. Britannica. Britannica celestial omens article 4. European Space Agency. (n.d.). The eclipse in history. ESA Science & Technology. ESA eclipse history article 5. Jones, C. W. (2021). Power and elite competition in the Neo Assyrian Empire 745–612 BC. Columbia University. Referenced in the discussion of substitute king rituals and eclipse omens. 6. Guillermier, P., & Koutchmy, S. (1999). Total eclipses: Science, observations, myths and legends. Springer. Referenced in discussions of eclipse myths and the 1453 Constantinople eclipse.