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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Intro music provided by Tim Rayburn. It is available at Magnatune.com


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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
MAP #43: The Battle of Tours 732 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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I was first introduced to archaeology as a kid and up on the movie screen was a whip carrying, fedora wearing relic hunter. When Indiana Jones wasn't fighting Nazis or running for his life he was on a quest to gather anc…
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Dr. Samuel Stokes joins the Podcast for an interview about his music and medieval influences. For his doctorate dissertation in Music Theory, he composed a symphony inspired by Eustace the Monk, the 13th century pirate.…
MAP#36 – Popes Behaving Badly [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:15
The Pope, the Bishop of Rome, successor of Saint Peter and leader of the Catholic Church. Pious men aspire to the chair and humbly accept the position. At least that's what we'd like to believe. But not all popes were ri…
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Welcome to the premiere episode of the Vikings Podcast! I’ve put together a brief episode to introduce the actors and the characters they play. There are a few sound clips from the show and the show format is discussed.…
MAP#35 – Richard III: Lost and Found [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:46
The medieval-verse was all abuzz the last couple of weeks about an exciting archaeology find. Back in August 2012 the University of Leicester started a search for the lost remains of King Richard III. Richard was killed…