A Solar Eclipse

The ancients did not consider eclipses to be in the natural order of things but something monstrous, predicting terrible disasters. In Rome, at one time, to talk publicly or there being due to natural causes was an offense punishable by law. So strong a hold had this superstition on the popular mind that, even after it came to be generally believed that eclipse of the sun were caused by the moon coming between the earth and the sun, eclipses of the moon were still considered to be due to some supernatural power. What the moon was in eclipse, the people turned out and made a great noise with brazen instruments - the idea being that by doing so they gave her ease in her affliction. Similar notions have prevailed among all barbarian tribes. The Chinese imagine eclipses to be caused to great dragons trying to devour the sun and the moon and accordingly they beat drums and brass kettles to terrify the monsters into easing go their prey. Even in modem world the ignorant country people still believe that an eclipse, like a comet is an omen of coming disaster.