MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF THE ECLIPSE

1. The Inca empire from South America worshiped the sun god, Inti, and they were not unaltered by these ungodly events. It was believed that solar eclipse was an indication to his wrath and displeasure, of the otherwise benevolent god. Following an eclipse, the spiritual leaders of Inca would attempt to make appropriate sacrifices to offer their peace and devotion, which would sometime involve human sacrifices as well.
2. There is a myth in Hindu culture about the time when the Gods and Demons created the elixir of immortality. Demon Rahu wanted the elixir all for himself and tried to drink it. The Sun and the Moon told Lord Vishnu about this who then beheaded Demon Rahu. Since he had already tasted the elixir, his head remained immortal and spent its life chasing the Sun and Moon, sometimes being able to swallow them. But they always managed to emerge out of his head!
3. A similar legend is there in Chinese mythology, wherein ancient Chinese believed that a Celestial Dog or Dragon eats the Sun. They tried to scare away the beast by beating drums!
4. The Vikings had a similar lore, where they believed that two wolves Hati and Skoll swallow the Sun and Moon respectively. They also tried to scare away the wolves by making loud noises and returning the light. They had the belief that apocalypse or Ragnarok will occur when the wolves actually eat the Sun or Moon.
5. The Inuits of Greenland, Alaska and Arctic had a legend involving their Moon god Annigan and his sister, Sun goddess Malina to explain the eclipse and lunar cycle. Once these two had a quarrel and Malina stormed off and Annigan followed her. In pursuit of her, he forgot to eat anything and became thinner which symbolizes the waning phase of Moon. Once the Moon disappears, Inuits believed that Annigan began eating again and started the search for his sister afresh, explaining the waxing period. When he finally catches Malina, solar eclipse occurs.
6. A legend was popular in Western Africa too, among the Batammaliba people of Benin and Togo. According to this there were two women in the World, Kuiyecoke and Puka Puka who were matriarchs of a village. As time passed, tension arose among the people of the village and they started quarreling frequently. The two women tried to stop the infighting but it was of no use. So they threatened the people by darkening the Sun and Moon. Finally the villagers complied with their wishes, stopped fighting and made peace with each other to bring back the light. This tradition is still followed where the Batammaliba people make amends for old feuds and come together to encourage peace between the celestial bodies.