In the past many cultures have had various superstitions about eclipses, including “the End of the World”. Here is a good link to further information.

Excerpt:

Myths and Superstitions Around Solar Eclipses

Solar eclipses have caused fear, inspired curiosity, and have been associated with myths, legends, and superstitions throughout history. Even today, an eclipse of the Sun is considered a bad omen in many cultures.

Ancient Explanation for Solar Eclipse

Ancient cultures tried to understand why the Sun temporarily vanished from the sky, so they came up with various reasons for what caused a solar eclipse.

In many cultures, the legends surrounding solar eclipses involve mythical figures eating or stealing the Sun. Others interpreted the event as a sign of angry or quarreling gods.

This will be the first total solar eclipse in many peoples memories.

I live in South Carolina, but there are many other links at the following link.

Here is an excerpt from Eclipse2017.org

SOUTH CAROLINA

All good things must come to an end, and at 2:36:02pm, the shadow of the great 2017 total eclipse first touches the final state in its path. South Carolina also brings us the fifth state capital to be immersed in shadow, and several large cities will be able to play host to eclipse-chasers from all over.

Greenville is a very large city, and it is fully in shadow by 2:38pm. Its sister city of Spartanburg, however, is split by the path – you’ll want to head west, and enjoy Greenville’s 2m14s of totality.

Here is a map of the Greenville-Spartanburg area, to show you what’s going on.

Greenwood (2m28s at 2:39) is next on the list of bigger cities to see totality, and then Columbia is treated about two minutes later. The Capitol Building gets just a hair under 2m30s, and would be a great place for workers to take an afternoon shadow-break!

Sumter lies in the path, as do big, beautiful lakes Marion and Moutrie – right on the centerline!! Get out on the boat and soak it in!

The last large city to see the 2017 eclipse will be Charleston. (Here is our detailed eclipse page for Charleston!) It lies on the southern edge of the path, but because folks in Mt. Pleasant will get almost two minutes of totality, Charlestonians should head northeast!

The centerline then cuts across US17, just south of the last city to see the shadow – McClellanville, SC. From there, the shadow will take its leave of the last piece of American soil at 2:49:07.4pm. Quite appropriately, the spot is a long, isolated beach on a barrier island at the tip of a Wildlife Preserve – Cape Romain, just east of McClellanville.

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