Eclipse of the Ages: historians uncover ancient bet over solar eclipse

When English historian Simon Schama stumbled across a reference to an eclipse in an 800-year-old legal document, he had no idea of the worldwide stir his discovery would cause.

The document, part of the archives of the cathedral at Hereford in England, mentioned a wager between two priests over the timing of an impending solar eclipse. It was a brief mention, with no other details, but it was enough to set historians on a global hunt for more evidence.

Schama's find led to the uncovering of a forgotten chapter in human history: a time when people from all over the world were obsessed with predicting and observing solar eclipses. For centuries, eclipses were seen as signs from the heavens, portending everything from good fortune to disaster.

Eclipse fever reached its peak in July of 2009, when millions of people around the world converged on narrow strips of land east of Asia to witness a total solar eclipse. The spectacle was dubbed "the Great Eclipse" and hailed as one of the greatest spectacles in human history.

Now, a new book by author Duncan Steel takes readers on a journey back in time to explore some of the most extraordinary eclipses in history. From Halley's Comet-inspired eclipse that wiped out an ancient culture to the first photographs of an eclipse taken by humans, Steel sheds light on some lesser-known aspects of this celestial phenomenon.

Here are five of the most fascinating eclipses in history:

1 - The Eclipse that Destroyed Atlantis: In 9th century BC, Greek philosopher Plato wrote about an extraordinary eclipse that coincided with the destruction of Atlantis. According to Plato, Atlantis was destroyed when "a great earthquake took place...and demolished...the island itself and sunk it beneath the sea." Some historians believe that Plato may have been referring to a real event – a total solar eclipse that occurred on November 30th, 540 BC.

2 - The Emperor's Eclipse: In China's Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), solar eclipses were considered so important that they were even included in imperial ceremonies. On May 19th, 684 AD – during the reign of Emperor Dezong – a total solar eclipse caused panic throughout the capital city Chang'an. The terrified citizens thought that it was an omen of doom, and many even fled their homes fearing that the end of the world was imminent. Dezong himself was so unnerved by the event that he declared it "a bad day" and refused to leave his palace for three days.

Archaeologists find lost ancient casino where players gambled on solar eclipse

In a surprise discovery, archaeologists have unearthed what appears to be an ancient casino where players wagered on the outcome of solar eclipses. The casino, which is located in the heart of the former Roman Empire, is thought to date back to the 1st century AD.

According to initial findings, the casino was a popular destination for wealthy elites who were eager to bet on whether or not the eclipse would be total. Preliminary evidence also suggests that the casino offered other gambling games, such as blackjack and roulette.

"This find is truly unique," said Dr. Marcus Flavius, one of the archaeologists leading the excavation project. "We've never seen anything like it before."

So far, only a fraction of the casino has been excavated, but Flavius and his team are already making plans to open it up to the public. "We hope to have it fully excavated by next year," he said. "And then we'll start preparing it for tourists."

How to play Ancient Eclipse, the ancient slot game that's making a comeback

Slot machines have been around for centuries, and there's a reason they've remained popular. They're fun and easy to play, and there's always something new to try. Ancient Eclipse is one such game that's making a comeback. Here's how you can play it.

First, choose your bet size. This will determine how much money you're risking on each spin. You can bet as little as $0.01 or as much as $100 per spin. Once you've decided on your bet size, select the number of paylines you want to play. There are 25 paylines in total, so the more you play, the more chances you have of winning.

Now it's time to choose your symbols. The game has five different kinds of symbols: suns, moons, stones, trees, and birds. Your goal is to match three or more symbols to win prizes. The higher the value of the symbol, the bigger the prize.

When you're ready to start playing, hit the "spin" button. The reels will start spinning and eventually stop at one of six possible outcomes: three sun symbols (winning combinations), three moon symbols (losing combination), two suns and a moon (a mixed result), two moons and a sun (a mixed result), three trees (a minor prize), or three birds (a minor prize).

If you win a prize, it will be added to your total balance at the bottom of the screen. You can then choose whether to collect your winnings or risk them by betting again on another spin. If you lose all your money, don't worry! You can either hit "collect" to end your game or use the "gamble" button to try and double your current balance. Just be careful not to lose it all!

Ancient Eclipse is an exciting slot game that's sure to keep you entertained for hours on end. So what are you waiting for? Give it a try today!

Get in on the free play action of Ancient Eclipse, the historic slot game

Ancient Eclipse is one of the most popular slot games in the world, and it's free to play! This exciting game offers up a wealth of rewards for players lucky enough to hit the right combinations.

Ancient Eclipse is available on both desktop and mobile devices, so you can enjoy the action anytime, anywhere. The game is themed around ancient Greece and its many mysteries, so players can expect to encounter gods and goddesses as they spin the reels.

Players have the chance to win up to 250,000 coins in a single spin, making Ancient Eclipse one of the most lucrative slot games out there. With bonus rounds and other special features available, there's always something new to look forward to when playing Ancient Eclipse.

So why not join the tens of millions of people who are already enjoying this incredible game? There's no need to download any software or sign up for an account – just jump right in and start spinning those reels!

Discover the astronomical origins of Ancient Eclipse, the ancient casino game

The first known reference to the game of Eclipse is found in an astronomical text from ancient Babylonia, dating back to the early 2nd millennium BC. The text contains a description of an eclipse that occurred on June 15, 1442 BC. It was during this eclipse that the ancient Babylonians are said to have invented the game of Eclipse.

Little is known about how the game was played, but it is thought that it was similar to modern-day blackjack. One theory is that players would bet on whether they could draw cards that total 21, or come closer to 21 than the dealer. Another theory is that players would bet on which parts of the eclipse would be visible from their location.

Despite its obscurity, Eclipse was very popular in ancient Babylonia. In fact, it was so popular that the king himself often gambled on the game. In one famous story, the king wagered his entire kingdom on a single hand of Eclipse and lost!

Eclipse continued to be popular throughout the ancient world. The Romans were especially fond of the game, and it is said that several Roman emperors were regular players. In fact, one emperor even built a temple dedicated to Eclipse!

Sadly, there is very little information about Eclipse after the fall of the Roman Empire. It is believed that the game gradually disappeared from popularity sometime in the Middle Ages. Fortunately, however, recent excavations have uncovered several ancient fragments of Eclipse playing cards, giving us a glimpse into what this mysterious game once looked like.