According to Herodotus, the appearance of the eclipse was interpreted as an omen and, interrupted a battle in a long-standing war between the Medes and the Lydians. The fighting immediately stopped and they agreed to a truce. Because astronomers can calculate the dates of historical eclipses, Isaac Asimov described this battle as the earliest historical event whose date is known with precision to the day and described the prediction as the birth of science.
Photo Credit: Ancient Origins
The Mechanics of a Monumentally Difficult Prediction
The reason this astronomical event is thought of as being so important is that predicting a solar eclipse, compared with a lunar eclipse, is exceptionally difficult. The astronomer must not only calculate when it will occur but, where on Earth’s surface it will be visible […]. [In] a lunar eclipse, the moon passes through the Earth’s sun shadow and the phenomena is visible on the whole side of the Earth that is in night-time […]. [They] often last longer than an hour. In solar eclipses, however, the moon’s shadow falls across the Earth in a comparatively narrow path, with a maximum duration, at any given location, of about 7 1/2 minutes.
[What] makes Thales’ prediction [an] historical mystery is that historians know early Greeks, at large, didn’t have this essential lunar data and there are no other records of Greek astronomers in this period accurately predicting any other eclipses. Thus, it is thought by historians that the only place Thales’ advanced astronomical knowledge could have come from was Egypt. [It’s] known [that] Thales studied Egyptian techniques for measuring sections of land with rope […].
Returning [to] the war (mentioned above), after 15 years of fighting, on May 28, 585 BC, the armies of King Aylattes of Lydia were in battle with the forces of King Cyaxares of Medes (or, possibly, Astyages, his son), near the River Halys in what is, today, central Turkey. Chroniclers noted the heavens darkening and soldiers on both sides laying down their weapons in awe of the spectacle […]. [The] event ended both the battle and the war.
[A] Wired article says this famous astronomical event has been debated by hundreds of scholars for nearly two millennia and that some authorities believe Thales’ eclipse may have occurred 25 years earlier in 610 BC. But, the reason most agree with the 585 BC date is the record of the famous battle in Asia Minor ending when the day was suddenly turned to night.
I have received a master class in astronomy. I do not master the topic but the topic was interesting. I used to look for the terms a lot and I was satisfied to expand my knowledge. Thanks for sharing your article.
A big hug
Manuel
Awesome read…absolutely love that picture also with the camel…
I remember in elementary school we had special things to look at an eclipse. We were told it would burn our eyes without it…we went by the rules….for once.
May 29, 2020 at 12:17 AM
I have received a master class in astronomy. I do not master the topic but the topic was interesting. I used to look for the terms a lot and I was satisfied to expand my knowledge. Thanks for sharing your article.
A big hug
Manuel
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May 29, 2020 at 12:50 AM
Welcome, dear!
*HUGS* back!
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May 29, 2020 at 1:02 AM
You are welcome
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June 4, 2020 at 5:33 AM
This is so fascinating
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June 4, 2020 at 1:33 PM
I thought so, too.
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June 4, 2020 at 7:04 PM
Space is a mystery and the mysteries attract attention.
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May 29, 2020 at 7:25 AM
Herodotus is entertaining and, at turns enlightening, though he is not a model of factual reliability.
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May 29, 2020 at 2:58 PM
Hmm…seems to be a common theme in human history. I’m not seeing a lot of factual reliability, now.
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May 29, 2020 at 2:36 PM
Fascinating. The ancients were definitely more respectful of nature.
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May 29, 2020 at 3:00 PM
Yes, they were.
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May 30, 2020 at 10:03 PM
Awesome read…absolutely love that picture also with the camel…
I remember in elementary school we had special things to look at an eclipse. We were told it would burn our eyes without it…we went by the rules….for once.
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May 31, 2020 at 12:38 AM
Yeah. Staring at the sun is not a good idea, be it full sun or just a sliver of it. It’s even blinding to look at the sun thru your phone.
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May 31, 2020 at 12:39 AM
I saw it in July a couple of years ago. Remember that one? We watched it in the parking lot at work. We had some special glasses.
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May 31, 2020 at 1:02 AM
You mean this one:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_eclipse_of_August_21,_2017
Oh, yeah. I watched that puppy.
Another one will be coming up:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_eclipse_of_April_8,_2024
And, I remember this, too:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_2019_lunar_eclipse
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May 31, 2020 at 1:06 AM
Yes I guess it was 2017 and in August not July! My memory is going Vic.
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May 31, 2020 at 1:53 AM
We just have too much being thrown at us. Our memories would be better if we weren’t under constant distractions. Been watching all the riots?
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May 31, 2020 at 2:01 AM
Nope…I don’t watch the news but I’ve heard. That will not bring anyone back…
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May 31, 2020 at 2:17 AM
You got that right.
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