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Supermoon

Exploring Ancient Lunar Legends as first Supermoon in Three Decades set to Dazzle Tonight

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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 Supermoon lunar eclipse, the first in more than three decades, will dazzle in tonight’s sky.

Supermoons occur when the moon reaches its closest approach to Earth in a given orbit, making it appear significantly larger and brighter than usual. It will be the first Supermoon eclipse since 1982, and the last until 2033, NASA officials said in a newly released video.

End of world theories

The rarity of the Supermoon event has given rise to a number of doomsday theories, among them that the world will be struck by a giant asteroid. 

Apocalypse author Robert Rite has claimed that Israel would be the worst affected country. "In this latest series of Total lunar eclipses, we are seeing four of them in a short span of time – this is referred to as a Tetrad: The fact that these 4 Blood moons are occurring during Jewish Holidays portends something big that will occur surrounding Israel and the Middle East," he said.

Another doomsday theorist, Texas pastor John Hagee, author of “Four Blood Moons: Something Is About to Change," said in a statement via The Blaze that “God is trying to tell us something”.

However, NASA has dismissed claims that the Supermoon would bring a meteor strike leading to the end of the world. "There is not one shred of evidence that an asteroid or any other celestial object will impact Earth on those dates," Paul Chodas, manager of Nasa's Near-Earth Object office at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory told CBS.

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

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.

The full eclipse of the moon will last more than an hour and be visible, weather permitting, from North and South America, Europe, Africa and western Asia. People from around the world can enjoy it through Nasa TV which will air the event from 8pm until at least 11.30pm EDT from the Marshall Space Flight Center. Click here to watch the event live stream online on Nasa's official website.

Featured image: A Supermoon rises over the Tien Shan mountains. Credit: Shamil Zhumatov

References:

Supermoon Lunar Eclipse 2015: Full 'Blood Moon' Coverage – Space.com

The ever persistent myths about the super moon – Edmonton Journal http://www.edmontonjournal.com/ever+persistent+myths+about+super+moon+with+video/10102910/story.html

7 Unusual Myths and Theories about the Moon – History.Com http://www.history.com/news/history-lists/7-unusual-myths-and-theories-about-the-moon

Moon - Myths Encyclopaedia - http://www.mythencyclopedia.com/Mi-Ni/Moon.html

By April Holloway

 

Comments

Moonsong's picture

It is actually scientifically proven that the moon does control one’s menstruation. Mostly, to be fair, it did so in pre-electricity times, since light does effect women’s body in that way, especially considering the fact that humans' bodies are made up of 75% water, and as you know, it is the moon which governs the tides, thereby having a marked impact on the human body as well, when it is full. This inevitable pull was minimized with the insurgence of electricity, since at this point we have readily available light during the night at all times of the month.

 

- Moonsong
--------------------------------------------
A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world ~ Oscar Wilde

"... I can't remember seeing Osiris in its totallity ..." =
"... I can't remember seeing Osiris in its totallity BEFORE ..."

Forgot to say: what made it even more impressive was that some 15 or 20 degrees to the left of the moon was the star sign Osiris, again, in a christal clear night. And actually I can't remember seeing Osiris in its totallity; whith his bough on the right side more or less aiming at the moon which looked like a planet.......
R-e-a-l-l-y B-i-z-a-r-!!!

I saw it tonight or this morning at appr. 4.40 hrs., it was a crystal clear night. Looked very bizar; the moon, cupper reddish but not 'shining' brightly. (It's amazing that you can see the moon in the first place when it's in the shade of the earth; where does the light come from?). It looked a little as if there was another planet or something. Very strange and pretty impressive.

Justbod's picture

Sadly too misty and light poluted to see it where I was, but some great photos circulating.

Thanks for an interesting article!

Sculptures, carvings & artwork inspired by a love of history & nature: www.justbod.co.uk

 

 

 
aprilholloway's picture

April

April Holloway is a Co-Owner, Editor and Writer of Ancient Origins. For privacy reasons, she has previously written on Ancient Origins under the pen name April Holloway, but is now choosing to use her real name, Joanna Gillan.

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