Eclipse Myths: How Ancient Cultures Explained the Sun's Disappearance
A new book by Moncho Núñez, science communicator and former director of the Museos Científicos Coruñeses, explores the universal myth of a beast devouring the sun during eclipses. Titled 'Eclipses', the book examines how ancient civilizations worldwide invented similar stories to explain the sudden darkness, often involving zooform creatures, hungry jaguars, or decapitated demons. Núñez argues that these myths were a survival mechanism, prompting collective responses like throwing stones at the sky to force the sun's return. The book is published by an unspecified publisher and is available in Spanish. The article also mentions an upcoming solar eclipse on August 12, with a map showing its path and visibility in Spanish municipalities. The piece highlights the cultural significance of eclipses across history, linking ancient fears to modern astronomical understanding.
Key facts
- Moncho Núñez is the author of the book 'Eclipses'.
- Núñez is a science communicator and former director of the Museos Científicos Coruñeses.
- The book analyzes myths about eclipses across ancient civilizations.
- Common myths include beasts eating the sun, jaguars, and decapitated demons.
- Ancient people threw stones at the sky during eclipses as a defense.
- The article references a solar eclipse on August 12.
- A map shows the eclipse's path and visibility in Spanish municipalities.
- The book is published in Spanish.
Entities
Artists
- Moncho Núñez
Institutions
- Museos Científicos Coruñeses
Locations
- Spain