The explanation of eclipses in Greco-Roman antiquity

TL;DR

This paper explores how Greco-Roman scholars understood, predicted, and reacted to eclipses, highlighting the historical development of eclipse explanations, the use of the saros cycle, and societal responses in antiquity.

Contribution

It provides a concise overview of ancient theories, prediction methods, and social practices related to eclipses, emphasizing the influence of Babylonian knowledge on Greek thought.

Findings

Ancient explanations of eclipses varied from natural causes to mythological beliefs.

The saros cycle enabled some predictability of eclipses in antiquity.

Classical writers issued warnings about observing solar eclipses with naked eyes.

Abstract

The search of a rational explanation of eclipses pervades the beginnings of philosophical and scientific thought. Within this intellectual frame, the knowledge of the "saros cycle" (a cycle of 18 years, 10 or 11 days and 1/3 of a day that separates two successive sun or moon eclipses of similar features), inherited by the Greeks from the Babylonians, favored important theoretical developments in the West. The purpose of this paper is to present, briefly and schematically, a) the ancient theorizations on the causes of eclipses, b) the range of predictability of eclipses in Antiquity, c) the warnings -transmitted by some classical writers- to those who want to observe in naked eyes a solar eclipse, and d) the popular beliefs and social practices upon the occurrence of unexpected eclipses in ancient times.