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Blood moon lunar eclipse

Exploring Ancient Lunar Legends as Total Lunar Eclipse Will Create Rare 'Blood Moon'

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The moon has been an object of worship, veneration, and intrigue among ancient civilizations for thousands of years. Now, it is set to capture our admiration once again as a total lunar eclipse will turn the moon blood red on Friday 27 July. It will be the longest total eclipse of this century. 

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly behind Earth and into its shadow, which can occur when the Sun, Earth, and the Moon are aligned with the Earth in the middle. The 27 July lunar eclipse will be visible across parts of South America, eastern Africa, the Middle East and central Asia for a total of 1 hour and 43 minutes. 

“Because blue and violet wavelengths are scattered more than red and orange ones, more of the red wavelengths reach the moon, making the moon appear red,” explainsThe Guardian.

Lunar legends

The moon has been shrouded in myths and legends for thousands of years, many of which still persist to this day, and Supermoons even more so. For example, there are many who believe that full moons can drive a person mad, cause natural disasters, and increase crime rates. These beliefs have their roots in ancient religions and superstitions. Indeed, the words “lunacy” and “lunatic” come from the Roman goddess of the moon, Luna, who was said to ride her silver chariot across the dark sky each night.

Luna riding across the night sky in her chariot, Archaeological Museum in Milan (c. 2nd–5th centuries AD).

Luna riding across the night sky in her chariot, Archaeological Museum in Milan (c. 2nd–5th centuries AD). Image source: (Wikipedia)

Ancient healers and health professionals believed in a strong connection between mania and the moon. For instance, ancient Greek physician Hippocrates (460 – c. 370 BC) wrote that “one who is seized with terror, fright and madness during the night he is being visited by the goddess of the moon.” Roman philosopher and historian, Pliny the Elder (23 – 79 AD), maintained that full moons had a particularly influence upon our brains, being the ‘moistest’ organ, and that this resulted in more crime and violence. In medieval England, people on trial for murder could campaign for a lighter sentence on the grounds of lunacy if the crime occurred during a full moon; meanwhile, psychiatric patients at London’s notorious mental institution, Bethlehem Hospital, were shackled to their beds as a preventive measure during certain lunar phases.

The moon controls fertility

Perhaps because the menstrual and lunar cycles are similar in length, many early civilizations believed that the moon controlled women’s menstruation and could determine when women could become pregnant. Ancient Assyrian astrological texts give advice regarding when women are most fertile, according to the different phases of the moon, and moon deities, such as the Chinese goddess Chang’e, and the Incan Quilla, were believed to control fertility and reproduction.

An image depicting the phases of the moon, used to predict periods of fertility.

An image depicting the phases of the moon, used to predict periods of fertility. (Image source)

In ancient cultures, the moon's waxing and waning have also made it a symbol of both birth/creation and death/destruction. For example, the Polynesian islanders of the Pacific Ocean saw the moon as a symbol of creation, represented by the creator goddess named Hina, while for the Aztecs of Mexico the moon was Mictecacuiatl, a destructive force which travelled through the night sky hunting out its victims. The Maori people of New Zealand also referred to the moon as the "man eater." For the Tartars of Central Asia, the moon, known as the Queen of Life and Death, was dualistic, representing both the forces of creation and destruction.

Perhaps the greatest myth involving the full moon is the ever-popular werewolf, a mythological or folkloric human with the ability to shapeshift into a wolf or wolf-like creature during a full moon. The origin of the werewolf legend can be traced back to Germanic paganism and Proto-Indo-European mythology, where lycanthropy (the transformation of man to wolf) is reconstructed as an aspect of the initiation of the warrior class. But the link between moon and wolf is not only associated with lycanthropy. The Greek goddess of the moon was said to keep the company of wolves, while the North American Seneca tribes believing wolves sang the moon into existence.

Depiction of a man wearing a wolf-skin (460 BC).

Depiction of a man wearing a wolf-skin (460 BC). Image source: (Wikipedia)

It is clear that the glowing silver sphere seen in the night sky has captured the imagination of humans for as long as man has walked the earth and gazed up at the cosmos, and tonight we can appreciate it in all its dazzling beauty.

If you are not in a part of the world where the lunar eclipse will be visible, you can view the rare event throughTimeAndDate.com, which is hosting a livestream beginning at 2 p.m. EDT (18:00 UTC) that will feature views of the “blood moon.”

Top image: Changing colors of the Moon during a total lunar eclipse, Mt Buffalo National Park, June 16, 2011. Source: Phil Hart 

By Joanna Gillan

 

Comments

Since the earths moon has a continuous perigee/apogee cycle ‘semi’ super moons or near super moons must occur regularly. The moon is still there whether we see it or not, so full or new makes little difference. To single out a situation which may be the difference of 1000 or 2000 kilometers in the moons distance cycle is seemingly ridiculous. As an example of ridiculousness, why do we not celebrate when the moon is at an extreme apogee and a new moon, surely just as exciting. We are a civilization obsessed with size, speed, distance, weight etc. An Easter moon is just as spectacular in size and brilliance but can anyone explain to me why?

 

  

 

I find it amazing that people still believe that the moon affects our mood. A friend of mine told me that tonight, she plans to be indoors beofre nightfall and will not go out again until morning as somethign bad will happen if she does. Unbelievable.

Joanna Gillan's picture

Joanna

Joanna Gillan is a Co-Owner, Editor and Writer of Ancient Origins. 

Joanna completed a Bachelor of Science (Psychology) degree in Australia and published research in the field of Educational Psychology. She has a rich and varied career, ranging from teaching... Read More

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