 that a total solar eclipse would have gone unrecorded by a culture that so worshipped the Sun. Some believe the view of the eclipse was preserved in symbolic form as the solar corona has a distinctive appearance with extending long streamers of light and might be the symbolic wings of the Egyptian Sun. The image of the winged sun appears above the entrances of many tombs and temples and is said to commemorate the victory of light over darkness. Sometimes the symbol includes the heads of two serpents and the horns of a goat, also solar symbols.
Stonehenge, Babylon, Egypt they each had a unique approach to eclipses but the Babylonians by discovering the long range prediction of the cycle also established a technique to fix exact dates in the past. Numerous systems were used in ancient civilizations to record the passage of time so days, months and years and some memorable events or natural catastrophes were reported. If an eclipse was described when the reference event took place it could be compared with actual eclipses that were known to have happened near the time and place in question. If only one eclipse could fit the description then the dates could be established with certainty. Many historical chronologies have been verified or compared using this method.
The earliest record of a solar eclipse comes from ancient China the date given is October 22, 2134 B.C. It is said "the Sun and Moon did not meet harmoniously" and that during this period there were several total eclipses visible in China and the two royal astronomers Hsi and Ho failed to predict the eclipse on this date. The emperor was caught unprepared and when the daylight returned after the invisible dragon had devoured the Sun. Even without the customary drumming and noises to frighten the dragon off the ruler was so angry that they had failed to predict the event that he had the astronomers beheaded.
The date of an eclipse mentioned in the Bible that is known for certain is: "`And on that day,' say the Lord God, `I will make the Sun go down at noon, and darken the Earth in broad daylight'." (Amos 8:9) That day was June 15, 763 B.C. and the date of the eclipse if confirmed by an Assyrian historical record known as the Eponym Canon. In Assyria the year was named after a different ruling official and the events of the year were recorded under that name in the Canon. Under the year corresponding to 763 B.C. a scribe at Nineveh recorded this eclipse and highlighted the day by drawing a line across the tablet. These ancient records have allowed historians through the knowledge of eclipse data to improve the chronology of early Biblical times.
One of the most famous eclipses of ancient times ended a five-year war between the Lydians and Medes. These armies had been locked in battle when day turned into night and the total solar eclipse of May 28, 585 B.C. was enough to stop the fighting, a treaty was made and bonded by a double marriage.
There are many instances in history where an eclipse had an affect on the outcome of an event. Sometimes it was seen as an celestial omen and soldiers were reluctant to obey. Charlemagne's son, Emperor Louis was reported as so perplexed by the five minutes of totality he witnessed May 5, 840, that he died shortly after of fright.
Another condition that seems present with eclipses is earthquakes. There is a compelling number of literary and historical connections between eclipses and earthquakes. Even as recent as September 16, 1978 in Iran, and earthquake that killed more than 25,000 people occurred just 3-1/2 hours before a total lunar eclipse was visible there.
There have also been records of abuse of the knowledge of eclipses to gain God-like status or to use an eclipse as a sign from God. Christopher Columbus while stranded on the island of Jamaica with damaged ships and low provisions resorted to his knowledge of a total eclipse of the Moon on February 29, 1504 to obtain supplies from the natives. They had not wanted to trade for baubles and trinkets and the Spanish would have faced starvation. However Columbus arranged a me