What solar eclipses have caused

Solar eclipses have existed for thousands of years. Beliefs, legends and scientific data have made this astronomical phenomenon a symbol. Here are seven anecdotes about them.

The disappearance of the sun, like the eclipse taking place this Wednesday, August 12, has long inspired rituals or myths before confirming scientific hypotheses and helping cinema’s beauty. Here are 6 stories and legends:

• The replacement sovereign to protect himself from the gods

In Ancient Greece, the disappearance of the sun in the sky was interpreted as a sign of the gods’ anger. The sovereign was necessarily going to be punished. To protect him, a substitution of sovereign was put in place.

A peasant or a prisoner was designated as leader of the city for the duration of an evening. The commoner thus assumed the consequences of the punishment before being executed upon the sun’s return.

In Babylon, the custom was the same but it was to prevent the collapse of the royal power in place.

• The solar eclipse that stopped the war

On May 28, 585 BC, a war took place in Anatolia (present-day Turkey). The Medes and the Lydians clashed but the sun suddenly disappeared. Thales is said to have predicted this solar eclipse. The warriors were unaware and were seized with fear thinking that the gods were ordering the cessation of combat. The peace treaty was signed shortly after.

• The discovery of helium thanks to the eclipse

On August 18, 1868, French physicist Pierre Janssen observed a total solar eclipse in India. He analyzed the solar chromosphere using a spectroscope. Janssen saw a bright yellow line still unknown in the sky during the eclipse.

He realized he had just discovered a chemical element never before observed: helium. Its name comes from Helios, which is the personification of the Sun god in Greek mythology.

• Einstein’s theory of general relativity validated

During a total solar eclipse in May 1919, British astrophysicist Arthur Eddington conducted observations from the island of Príncipe and Brazil. He noticed that the light from the stars was deflected as it passed near the sun. As the light shifted, the curvature of space was proven. This confirmed Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity, making him a genius.

• The use of a real eclipse for the crucifixion of Christ

Director Richard Fleischer used a real solar eclipse for his historical film Barabbas. He settled in Tuscany (Italy) to film the scene of Christ’s crucifixion on February 15, 1961. This made it possible to add a dramatic atmosphere without any special effects.

• 74 minutes of eclipse in an airplane

On June 30, 1973, a prototype Concorde airplane managed to follow the moon’s trajectory by flying over Africa. A group of scientific researchers thought that an airplane traveling at the speed of the moon, or 2,000 km/h, made it possible (or could make it possible) to follow the eclipse for more than 7 minutes. Result: 74 minutes of visible eclipse from the roof of the airplane and its special portholes.

• Love Crazy: the moment to have the perfect date

The film directed by Gille Lellouche shows a scene where the two protagonists watch an eclipse, with their special glasses. TikTok then seizes this mythical scene to remind everyone to invite their loved one on August 12, and why not experience a love like Clotaire and Jacqueline.