omens, fear and prophecy around eclipses

It's just a rock in the sky

And many light towers play on his face as he joins the Sun and the Earth in their dance across the cosmos. understand everything about it up to the millimeter and the millisecond.

This is how we know that this Saturday will be the longest "blood moon" of the century. Because it is at a point far from its orbit, the process will take about six hours and 14 minutes

It will be completely in the shade for 1 hour 43 minutes.

The moon will start to turn red around 4.30am. AEST Saturday morning. The moon will be near the horizon in the west-southwest. The total eclipse will take place between 5:30 and 6:30. It will then be set at 06:55

This well-established clock of phases, colors and alignments still evokes a strong sense of mystery.

Enticed.

Bewildered.

Terrified.

All are answers dedicated to the moon. Whether you see beauty in a solar or lunar eclipse, or an imminent destiny, will be based on your cultural and social background.

Knowledge also plays its role.

For those of us on the surface of the Earth, There are two types of eclipse: solar and lunar

In a solar eclipse, the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun.

In a lunar eclipse, it is the shadow of the Earth falling on the moon.

What makes a lunar eclipse different is its scale

The shadow of the moon only falls on a small portion of the Earth's surface, and often passes quickly.

But when the Earth's shadow falls on the moon The stained face haunts the entire half of the planet that lies in the dark at that time.

Throughout history, however, those who experienced one or the other event often felt that everything was about them. It was a rare but personal sign of the gods. Therefore, it had to be observed, interpreted, followed – and predicted.

And all this can add to the strange red sensation of apprehension, misery and change.

BABYLONIAN OMEN

The ancient Babylonian civilization was fascinated by the heavens. He quickly developed a complex school of astrology

This is distinct from astronomy as it was to interpret the will of the gods – not understanding the movement of the astrology. 39; universe.

But this understanding quickly became a necessary component. 19659003] "The level of astronomical knowledge reached in ancient Babylonia (southern Mesopotamia) can not be separated from the astrological tradition which considered eclipses as omens: astronomy and astrology were then the two sides of the same coin ". Gonzalo Rubio wrote.

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Babylonian mathematicians were able to calculate that, over a period of 223 months, there were 38 possible eclipses. Although not accurate, their understanding of this cycle allowed them to predict the date and nature of future eclipses

And in ancient Babylon – nearly 4,000 years ago – that meant the difference between the life and death

of an eclipse could predict the fate of kings.

The Babylonian sacred book Enuma Anu Enlil (The gods Anua and Enlil) said that the lunar eclipse – as we are experiencing this weekend – Omen the death of a king

Each eclipse was judged according to the position of the other stars and planets (especially Jupiter), and the amount of the moon that was obscured

the Babylonian king ritually retired from his office and he anointed a substitute king and queen

This was not as benevolent as it may seem.

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"I have noted all the signs, whether they are heavenly, earthly, or malformed , and recited them before Samas., one after the other .They (the king and queen replacements) were treated with wine, washed with water and anointed with water. Oil, I cooked these birds and made them eat.The substitute king of Akkad's land took the sins on himself. "

In D & O Other terms, a temporary royal family was appointed to take the fall for the real king. They were killed.

"His royal throne, his royal table, his royal weapon, and his royal scepter" were burned for "the cleansing of the earth."

Fortunately, the original royals waited behind the scenes to return to their former jobs.

SHOCK CULTURE

The ancient Babylon was not the only culture that thought the moon was holding her fate in her hands.

"Even though they mix astronomy and astrology, or history with the legend, humans have been preoccupied with the inevitable anomaly embodied by an eclipse as well. long as they looked at the sky, "wrote Dr. Rubio.

This was because of the almighty Sun. Egyptians, the sun that gave life was the god Amon-Ra. For the Greeks, it was Helios. For the Japanese, Amaterasu. His warm presence meant fertile crops and health. His absence meant starvation and cold.

That such an entity of supreme power over life or death could be perceived as "fighter" with the moon was terrifying

"Thus, the idea that the divinity of the sun could be temporarily extinguished a total eclipse has inspired a number of imaginative explanations, "writes Roger Culver, emeritus professor of physics.

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"Most involve a kind of evil entity trying to devour the Sun. Such myths flow without any doubtful that during the early stages of a solar eclipse, the sun seems to have a bite. "

Similarly, the mighty Moon seemed to be suffering from a blood-stained fate as the Earth l & # 39; The shadow – turned red by the refracted glow of the sunset – passed over his face.

For the Chinese, this demonic entity was a dragon. For the Vikings, it was sky wolves. For Hindus, it was the beheaded Rahu who pursued the Sun and the Moon because they betrayed his desire for immortality. From time to time, he catches them and devours them – only so that they reappear from his sliced ​​throat.

"Of course, the mythologies surrounding total solar eclipses still exist today, says Professor Culver," perhaps a testament to the endurance of the superstitious side of the human psyche. "[19659003] WARNING OF RED SKY

"I will show wonders in heaven and on earth:
Blood, fire, and smoke columns. The sun will be transformed into darkness. And the moon in the blood,
Before the advent of the great and dreadful day of the Lord " (Joel 2:30)

The Christian roots of the West are little different from the others when it comes to high expectations of blood moons, and this remains in our culture even now.

In Rennaisance 1621, a health guide recommended: "When you are invited to your bed. .. draws the curtaines to close the Moone light, which is very offensive and hurtful to the godmother, especially to those who sleep. "

As late as the 1950s, European mothers would refuse to drag their diapers under the blood moon for fear that would bring misfortune to their babies. [19659003EvangelicalpastorJohnHageepredictsthatasequenceoffourlunareclipsesin2015wasasignoftheapocalypse</P><p>Lateraseventsunfoldeditwasfoundasasignofimpendingchangesthatwouldleadtotheapocalypse

If there was a connection between the moons and the apocalypse, we would all be dead a thousand times

Si you will miss the eclipse of this Saturday, it will be back.

On average, there are three lunar eclipses each year Total eclipses come about twice every three years (next January 2019)

They will not be so long, they will not all be in your part of heaven.

But they will be there, like on wheels.