It takes place on May 28, 585 , in what is now Turkey’s Anatolia. For six years, there has been a war between the Lydians, a kingdom located south of modern-day Turkey, and the Medes, an ancient people from modern-day Iran. The Greek historian Herodotus claims that neither side is making much headway in the conflict, and that there are few signs that it will finish. A solar eclipse is required to put an end to the carnage.
The day abruptly turned to night as the fight heated up, according to Herodotus. “After noticing the shift, the Medes and Lydians stopped fighting and were both eager to reach an agreement on the terms of peace.
Even though there won’t be a huge uproar when the complete eclipse crosses North America on April 8 this year, new research indicates it could still have a significant psychological effect by inspiring wonder.
