MAP90: The Black Hour: Solar Eclipse and the Medieval Mind

MAP90: The Black Hour: Solar Eclipse and the Medieval Mind

Author: The Archivist April 8, 2024 Duration: 21:42

Have you ever seen an eclipse? I’ve seen numerous lunar eclipses and I’ve seen a few partial solar eclipse, but never a total solar eclipse. On 08 April 2024, Mexico, the United States and Canada will experience a total solar eclipse. It’s the first one in 7 years and the last one for 20 years. The next total solar eclipse in North America will be in 2044.

Europe won’t be in the path of the 2024 eclipse but, if you live in Europe you won’t have to wait long for a total eclipse. There’s one on the way soon.


In modern times we know what is happening. How did medieval people feel about an eclipse. Was it seen as a bad omen or a curse? Or did they understand the science behind it?

In this episode we'll look at the myths, omens and science of eclipses and the medieval era .


  • (00:00) - Medieval Archives 90
  • (00:12) - Welcome Back
  • (00:20) - Medieval Solar Eclipses
  • (01:14) - Questions, Comments or Topic Ideas?
  • (01:27) - Get a new Podcast App! https://podcasting2.org/
  • (02:26) - 2024 Eclipse
  • (03:15) - 2026 Eclipse
  • (03:34) - 2027 Eclipse
  • (05:05) - Medieval Myths and Solar Eclipses
  • (05:16) - Giant Frog eating the sun
  • (05:20) - Rahu the Demon
  • (05:40) - Chinese Myths
  • (05:56) - Norse Myth
  • (06:19) - Omens & Death
  • (06:20) - Mohammad’s Eclipse 632
  • (06:38) - Louis of Bavaria 840
  • (07:12) - Reconquista 939
  • (07:52) - Dub, King of the Scots and Two Eclipses
  • (08:48) - King Henry’s eclipse 1133
  • (10:16) - Medieval Earthquakes https://medievalarchives.com/75
  • (11:38) - The Anarchy https://medievalarchives.com/4
  • (11:46) - Eclipse of 1185 and Prince Igor
  • (12:15) - The Black Hour 1433
  • (12:47) - Astronomy and the Medieval Mind
  • (13:07) - Can Stonehenge predict eclipses?
  • (13:20) - Stonehenge Eclipse 1999
  • (13:29) - Stonehenge Eclipse 2090
  • (13:35) - Medieval Chroniclers record eclipses
  • (13:46) - 733 Eclipse and the Venerable Bede
  • (14:00) - Leo the Deacon discovers the solar corona
  • (15:11) - Geoffrey Malaterra, Sicily 1084
  • (15:36) - Saladin, Syria 1176
  • (15:49) - Eclipse 1185 and a new discovery
  • (16:10) - Laurentian Codex and the Solar Prominences
  • (17:22) - Roger of Wendover & Solar Eclipse 1230
  • (17:55) - Regiomontanus & the Alfonsine tables
  • (18:27) - Medieval thought vs 2024 thought
  • (19:26) - Go outside and see the eclipse!
  • (19:42) - Share your photos; tag Medieval Archives on social media
  • (19:54) - independently owned and operated
  • (20:05) - Keep history alive! Support the show.
  • (20:37) - Share the show with your friends
  • (20:46) - Thanks for continued support
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Medieval Tales Podcast is a Medieval Archives & Dragon Moon Media production. 


Step into the world of Medieval Archives, where host The Archivist guides you through the sprawling, complex landscape of a thousand-year era. This isn't just a parade of dates and famous names. Instead, each episode is a deep exploration, peeling back the layers of popular legend to examine the tangible realities of medieval life. You'll hear about the strategic calculations behind what we call epic battles, the fragile alliances within courtly intrigue, and the quiet rhythms of survival in villages far from castle walls. The podcast is built on a foundation of historical evidence, carefully separating enduring fact from compelling fiction. By focusing on the people-from monarchs and saints to merchants and peasants-and the beliefs that guided them, the narrative connects these distant events to our understanding of today. Whether discussing the rise of a kingdom, the fall of a dynasty, or the evolution of a simple tool, the aim is to provide context and clarity. Tune in for a thoughtful, accessible journey that treats history not as a static record but as a continuous, human story. The medieval world was one of profound transformation, and this series seeks to illuminate how it was truly lived, felt, and shaped by those who were there.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Medieval Archives
Podcast Episodes
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MAP85: Mudlarks: Searching for London's Lost Treasures [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:06
Mudlarks A mudlark is defined as someone who digs or searches in in river or harbor mud for items of value. The term was widely used in 18th and 19th century London. Mudlarks would search the shores of the River Thames d…
MAP 84: The Medieval Knight with Christopher Gravett [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:44
When people think of the Middle Ages one of the first images that pops into their head is a knight in shining armor. Knights are synonymous with the Middle Ages. Slaying dragons, saving damsels in distress, but beyond th…
MAP #83: Halloween Special – Ghost Stories From Haunted Castles [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:22
The witching season is upon us once again. Past Halloweens we’ve covered a Medieval Serial Killer, Medieval Zombies and more. All the Halloween episodes are available on the Halloween Podcast page. This Halloween we are…
MAP082: Viking Warriors and Explorers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:55
The Viking Age​ VIKINGS! The scourge of the early middle ages. Vikings raided England, Ireland and Europe with a ferocity never seen before. On this episode we’re going to look at a few Vikings that you may not have hear…
MAP81: John II The Good: King of France 1350-1364 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:53
John II: King of France 1350-1364 King John II of France, called The Good. John ruled during a tumultuous time, the Plague was in full force killing large parts of France’s population, the Hundred Years’ War was raging a…
MAP80: Sword for Hire: Mercenaries in the Middle Ages [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:18
Fight For Profit Soldiers in the Middle Ages fought for King and Country. But what did they do when the wars ended? Not all soldiers retired back to a life of farming or trade. Some men wanted to continue fighting and th…