When An Eclipse Became Columbus's Weapon
In general, there are two types of eclipses: solar eclipses and lunar eclipses. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon blocks the Sun's light, while a lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth is between the Sun and the Moon, preventing sunlight from fully reaching the Moon. Under certain conditions, a total lunar eclipse makes the Moon's surface appear dark red, known as a blood moon.
In the past, eclipses were often considered mystical omens, signs of divine wrath, and even threats to human life. This belief was later used by Christopher Columbus as a survival strategy for his crew.
Who Is Cristopher Columbus?
Christopher Columbus, the discoverer of the Americas, was a sailor and explorer who traveled for years. After landing on an island northeast of Cuba that he later named San Salvador, he continued his journey from Cádiz, Spain, on May 11, 1502, with the ships Capitana, Gallega, Vizcaína, and Santiago de Palos. However, due to an outbreak of sea worms that had eaten holes in the hulls of his ships, Columbus was forced to abandon two of his ships and eventually had to run his last two caravels aground on the north coast of the island now known as Jamaica, on June 25, 1503.The Arawak, the local indigenous people, initially welcomed Columbus and his crew warmly, providing them with food and shelter. However, as the days turned into weeks, tensions escalated. After six months, the locals cut off food supplies, dissatisfied with what Columbus and his men were giving them in return. Things reportedly worsened when half the crew mutinied, leading to riots and the killing of several Arawaks. Others were even robbed.
According to Space.com, the unwitting figure who helped Columbus was Johannes Müller von Königsberg, known by his Latin name Regiomontanus. He was a prominent German mathematician, astronomer, and astrologer. Before his death, he published an almanac containing astronomical tables for the years 1475 to 1506.
All sailors of that era carried an almanac with them when sailing, including Columbus. Armed with the information contained in the almanac, which predicted an eclipse would occur.
Columbus was not deterred. He requested a meeting that day with the cacique, the local tribal leader. On the appointed evening, as the sun set and the moon began to rise in the east, the change was clearly visible. A dark shadow slowly nibbled at the edge of the Moon. About an hour later, when the sky was completely dark, the Moon transformed into a dim red ball that looked ominous in the eastern sky.
According to Columbus's son, Ferdinand, the Arawaks were terrified and came with supplies, begging the admiral to ask forgiveness from their God. They promised to cooperate again if the Moon was restored to its original state. Columbus then pretended to be alone to consult with his God. In his cabin, he used an hourglass to calculate time based on predictions in Regiomontanus's almanac. Columbus measured the time of the eclipse with his hourglass. The natural phenomenon lasted 47 minutes and 36 seconds.
From then on, Columbus and his crew wanted for nothing while they continued to wait for a rescue ship, which finally arrived in June 1504. The historical veracity of this legend is difficult to determine, although it is known that a total lunar eclipse occurred in Jamaica on that date. Usually referred to as the Columbus Eclipse, this famous astronomical event has inspired many fictional episodes, including one incident in Mark Twain's 1889 novel A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, in which the main character escapes being burned at the stake by predicting a solar eclipse.
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