NASA documentation of comets as omens across ancient cultures. NASA narrative describes comets as harbingers of doom and messengers of the gods Some cultures saw comet tails as the head of a woman with long flowing hair, a symbol of mourning Other cultures perceived elongated comets as fiery swords, signs of war and death
Ancient cultures often saw comets as terrifying omens! Historical accounts brand them 'harbingers of doom' and 'menaces of the universe.' Roman Sibylline Oracles warned of sky-fire, and cultures worldwide linked comets to catastrophe and divine wrath. Fun etymology fact: 'disaster' literally means 'ill star'! 🌠💫
Key Facts
- NASA narrative describes comets as harbingers of doom and messengers of the gods
- Some cultures saw comet tails as the head of a woman with long flowing hair, a symbol of mourning
- Other cultures perceived elongated comets as fiery swords, signs of war and death
- The Roman Sibylline Oracles spoke of a great conflagration falling from the sky to Earth
- The Babylonian Epic of Gilgamesh described fire, brimstone, and flood with the arrival of a comet
- Rabbi Moses ben Nachman (13th century Spain) wrote that God took two stars from Khima (the Pleiades) and threw them at Earth to begin the Great Flood
- Yakut legend in ancient Mongolia called comets "the daughter of the devil" and warned of destruction, storm, and frost
- The English word "disaster" derives from "dis" (ill) and "aster" (star); "catastrophe" similarly contains "aster"
Source: The Mysterious Messages of the Cosmos by The Randall Carlson