About 300 Israelis have already settled in Antalya for the eclipse that is expected today at noon (close to 13:00 p.m. Israel time, 14:00 p.m. local time because the Turks switched to daylight saving time a week ahead of us). We hope to be able to report in real time
Miriam Uriel, Israeli Astronomical Society
The eclipse phenomenon occurs several times a year, in different parts of the world and not always in a convenient place for viewing. The eclipses occur when the Sun, Moon and Earth are at the same time on the Milka plane. If the moon is not exactly on the Milka plane, but partially touches it - there will be a partial eclipse.
When the moon is farthest from the sun there will be an annular eclipse and not a total eclipse. A partial eclipse takes place in the areas near the path of the total eclipse.
The moon revolves around the earth every month in its month, and every birth it is between the sun and the earth with the potential for a solar eclipse and two weeks later, at full moon, the earth is between the sun and the moon with the potential for a lunar eclipse. So why isn't there an eclipse every two weeks?
The reason for this is related to the moon's orbit around the earth. The Moon does not revolve around the Earth on the Milka plane, but at an angle of approximately 5.3 degrees. This is why the meeting between the three does not happen every two weeks.
The solar eclipse lasts a short time because of the size of the moon. The eclipse can only be seen in a very limited area that passes as a narrow strip on the surface of the earth. The eclipses, and especially the solar eclipse, were seen by many as an ominous sign, a sign of calamities and plagues, including our Talmud sages. Many promised to turn back from their bad ways and lead a better way of life, only for the evil of the decree to pass.
The explanations given for this phenomenon are similar in many cases, and only the way to correct the situation is different.
Usually when it comes to a solar eclipse, the sun is being chased by a monster that must be chased away, or killed, otherwise it will devour the sun.
Indeed, when the sun disappeared during the eclipse, many believed that the sun was devoured by a monster.
The Chinese saw dragons as the enemies of the sun and the moon, so when the sun disappeared during the eclipse it was clear that a dragon swallowed it when it tried to swallow the sky.
A solar eclipse is explained by the Japanese in the legend of Amaterasu, the gentle sun goddess of the Shinto religion (=way of the gods). Mythology says that when her brother did not treat her well, she hid in a cave in the sky and closed the opening with a huge stone. Darkness prevailed in the world and evil spirits came out of hiding and caused destruction and sorrow everywhere. Desperate, a conference of the gods decided to convince Amaterasu to come out of the cave by trying to arouse her curiosity. The gods organized a merry party, placed a large mirror in front of the cave entrance, beautiful jewelry on a tree, and Uzume - the goddess of laughter began to dance an exotic dance accompanied by loud music. Amaterasu heard the music and laughter and couldn't stop her curiosity and cautiously peeked out to see what was going on.
As soon as she saw what was happening, and was fascinated by her bright reflection in the mirror, she left the cave. Again light returned to the world and painted it in magnificent colors.
A family reason can also be found in Indian groups, from the north of the United States. They believed that the eclipse happens when the sun, or the moon takes their child in their arms. The child hides the parent and this is how the defect is created.
Among various peoples who see the sun and the moon as husband and wife, or even brother and sister, there is another family reason for the eclipse: the two maintain conjugal relations between them and for reasons of modesty do so in the dark and this is the reason for the eclipse.
An explanation for the reappearance of the sun after the eclipse is related to the Lithuanian god Alka. This god, who was the god of the holy places, the caves, the trees and more... had a hobby of swallowing the sun and the moon. The gods cut him in half and only his head remained in the sky. Therefore, when God "swallowed" the sun, it later came out of the other side of the head and reappeared.
In Indian mythology there are several demons that cause eclipses. However, the preferred demon for this matter is "Rahu" who swallows the sun, or the moon and causes an eclipse. The demon rides in a chariot drawn by eight black horses and his mouth is wide open ready to swallow the heavenly bodies. If he succeeds - a defect occurs, but usually he does not succeed. It is described as the head of a dragon without a body and this explains the appearance of the sun, or the moon after the eclipse, as among the Lithuanians.
The Indians, on the northwest coast of the USA, had a simple explanation for the solar eclipse. They believed that the eclipse was caused by the sun dropping its torch.
In the cold and distant Kamchatka, they probably thought of a similar idea. Therefore, the people brought fire from their huts and prayed that the sun would return to them.
Other monsters that apparently cause the eclipse:
The Tatars were sure that the cause of the eclipse was a vampire living on a planet.
Indians in Bolivia believed that a green tiger causes an eclipse when it tries to devour the sun. Fortunately he always fails, because the sun is too hot and he has to spit it back.
Among other South American Indians, it was widely believed that the eclipse was caused by a supernatural animal from the feline family, usually a jaguar, attacking the moon or the sun.
According to the others, the lunar eclipse is caused when a giant bat, or a giant bird covers the moon with its wings. Whereas a partial lunar eclipse is caused by ants gnawing on it.
During a lunar eclipse, parents used to repeat incantations, so that their child would grow as fast as the moon that grew fast when it came out of the eclipse.
Among North American Indians there is a widespread belief that the eclipse was caused by a mythological creature such as: coyote, bird, dog, frog, lizard, snake, etc., which ate the sun or the moon.
A widespread opinion among the Indians, throughout the American continent (South, Central and North), was that the sun or the moon were fighting in the land. Alternatively, they agreed with the view that the celestial bodies were swallowed by a celestial animal, usually a jaguar.
In any case, the eclipse was a critical time for humanity, because if the light disappears from the world then life will also disappear. Therefore, the people did everything they could to prevent this tragedy.
In Cambodia, girls used to be kept in isolation and only during an eclipse would the girls come out and make an offering to the monster that eats the sun, or the moon.
The Mexicans sacrificed hunchbacks and dwarfs to remove the evil of circumcision.
Usually the noise was enough to scare the monster attacking the sun or moon and bring them back to life.
The most common activity that accompanied the eclipse, among many tribes and peoples, was to make noise. People shouted and roared, banging instruments and beating drums. They made the dogs howl by twisting their ears, or hitting them. Parents took babies outside to cry and howl.
There were Indians who shot lighted arrows at the sun to prevent its extinction, on the other hand, the Indians in Peru shot arrows to scare the animal that attacks the sun.
Sumo men from Nicaragua covered all the possibilities. They shot arrows at the celestial body and also lit large bonfires, in an attempt to frighten and drive away the predatory jaguar.
The Yukon Indians believed that the eclipse brought dirt to the earth. Therefore, to avoid diseases, the women turned the pots and plates so they wouldn't get dirty, or threw away food and water.
Some did not do any agricultural work during the eclipse.
In Chile, the residents went around in a sun-like circle until the eclipse was over. The same custom also existed in ancient Egypt, but there it was the king who went around the temple.
And finally a warning! Many groups believed that a pregnant woman looking at the eclipse would give birth to a child with a cleft lip (split upper lip phenomenon). This probably has something to do with the Aztec belief that a rabbit can be seen on the surface of the moon.
From the literature:
They tell of Christopher Columbus who landed on the coast of Jamaica, while trying to find the western passage to India, and demanded food and supplies from the local people. The residents refused and did not want to provide him with what he demanded. Columbus found himself in an awkward situation, his men were hungry and restless and the inhabitants refused to cooperate.
Columbus, known for solving complicated problems (like the Columbus egg) solved the matter brilliantly. He knew from his astrological chart that a lunar eclipse would be in a few days. When the day came, he gathered the people of the place and told them that he was very angry with them for denying him supplies and he would show them his anger by making the moon disappear. And indeed, as if according to a signal, the moon began to disappear behind the shadow of the earth. The people of the place were struck with terror and offered Columbus everything he wanted if only he would return the moon back to its place in the sky.
Columbus complied with their request and the moon reappeared a few minutes later. Columbus was amply supplied and sent on his way by the grateful Jamaicans.
The story sounds, admittedly, dubious and more appropriate for a solar eclipse that lasts a few minutes, than for a lunar eclipse that shines at night and lasts for hours, but it serves as an example for other stories about eclipses that will come in the future, such as Mark Twain's "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court".
In his book "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" the protagonist of the book, Hank Morgan, uses the same idea. Morgan is about to be burned at the stake and he "predicts" a solar eclipse, which he knew in advance was going to happen. He claims that he has the power to make the sun disappear and demands his sacrifice in exchange for the sun's return. "Black fringes slowly spread across the disk of the sun... the crowds groaned in horror as they felt the supernatural cold of the night... and saw the stars light up in the sky..." Morgan is released, and is treated with great reverence for his magical power.
The Israeli Astronomical Society
The article appeared in the spring 2006 issue of the journal "Astronomy"
