In the Shadow of the Moon: The Science, Magic, and Mystery of Solar Eclipses by Anthony Aveni

3 Stars

This work represents an extensive overview of world recollections of eclipses from oral, pictorial and written accounts. It explains the mechanics, the science of the events, but the focus is the experience as seen through the ages and across the varying cultures. Stylistically conversational, it is geared towards laypeople, and written to be intersectional combining: religion, astronomy, mythology. It draws on eyewitness accounts where available. Essentially, this is cultural astronomy. 

Includes a review of extant eclipse records from Stonehenge, Babylonia, Ancient Greece, Judeo-Christian and Muslim, Chinese, Maya, and Aztec societies. The cultural importance within is emphasized. Briefly addresses the stewardship of Islamic astronomers as the critical link between ancient cultures and modern western cultures.

Walking a line between mystical and scientific with the observation that reconciling them may be a futile task since the objectives are different. This is a discussion of eclipses as science and cultural phenomena and how humankind progresses in its knowledge, understanding, and the regard of event. People have used the knowledge or fear of eclipses to manipulate followers. Offshoots of Christianity were validated by celestial events and epidemics as church leaders sermoned about the consequences of man's sin. Shawnee Doctrine garnered Native American resistance by "prophesying" a solar eclipse. Nat Turner gained followers' trust by foretelling an eclipse to galvanize a slave rebellion. 

I knew more than I realized before reading this and thus, there weren't a great deal of aha moments for me, but it certainly highlighted our obsession with binaries and its origin: the sun and moon.