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Eclipse

for Concert Band (Grade 3)

Program Note
On May 28th, 525 BC, a battle was being fought between legions of the Medes and Lydians, as part of a six-year long war over conflicting interests in the region. This battle is recorded by the Greek historian Herodotus, about which he wrote:

another combat took place in the sixth year, in the course of which, just as the battle was growing warm, day was on a sudden changed into night. This event had been foretold by Thales, the Milesian, who forewarned the Ionians of it, fixing for it the very year in which it actually took place.

By “day was on a sudden changed into night”, Herodotus refers to a total solar eclipse that was, by chance, occurring in the very same place at the very same time. This eclipse was foretold by the Greek philosopher, Medes, and as a result considered (if the story is indeed true) to be the earliest historical event with which the exact date is known.

What is amazing about this is that, after finally emerging from the darkness of the eclipse, the two warring nations immediately decided to end the conflict and begin peace talks. What it must have been like to witness such an apocalyptic event and not having any possible scientific conception of what a solar eclipse was. To the legions witnessing it, it must have felt like a truly awesome sign from the gods. “End this petty squabbling immediately, or you will not see the sun again,” they may have heard. 

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