posted 06-10-2017 12:58 PM               

Space Cover #421: Columbus and his Lunar Eclipse

It is a well know episode about Columbus and his Lunar Eclipse but in deep is maybe one of the first demonstrations of how knowledge is a power and how can be used to force others without wars, battles, blood or losses of human beings.

On his fourth and final voyage (1502-1504) while exploring the coast of Central America, Columbus and his sailors found in dire straits.

After an epidemic of shipworms eating holes in the planking of his fleet, two ships were abandoned and just two caravels arrived to the north coast of an island, now called Jamaica, on June 25, 1503.

However, both ships docked at port were not welcomed by native peoples, as previous times, tired of being scammed by Spanish sailors in the exchanges of fish, corn and supplies for little trinkets without value.

This time Arawak Indians denied help to sailors and make no business with them. Rapidly famine and despair appeared between the Spanish sailors with not real solution and Columbus albeit an ingenious plan.

Columbus had a copy of the Regiomontanus Almanac (published by a German astronomer, mathematician and astrologer) which contained astronomical tables covering the years 1475-1506.

Columbus discovered that on the evening of Thursday, February 29, 1504 a total lunar eclipse would occur, beginning around the time of moonrise and armed with this knowledge, three days before the eclipse, Columbus requested a meeting with the Arawak chief. Then Columbus informed him that his Christian God was very angry with his people for no longer supplying him and his men with food. Consequently, a sign of displeasure will happen in next days; the Moon would be covered and inflamed with wrath.

Obviously, this astronomical phenomena occurred, and more rapidly that legs can run, Arawak Indians were terrified at this sight imploring to Columbus in the intercession before his Christian God and pleading for clemency.

And so is written how Columbus used his astronomical knowledge to succeed in a delicate situation.

The postal stationary issued by Korea depicts Columbus meeting the native peoples meanwhile the reverse side we find a complete drawing of how Columbus astonished native peoples by predicting a total lunar eclipse.