Astronomical Myths: Based on Flammarions's "History of the Heavens"

by J. F. Blake; Camille Flammarion

In fact the ancient chroniclers always associated the appearance of a comet with some terrestrial event, which it was not difficult to do, seeing that critical situations were at all times existing in some one country or other where the comet would be visible, and probably those which could not be connected with any were not thought worthy of being recorded.

It is well known that the year 1000 A.D. was for a long time predicted to be the end of the world. In this year the astronomers and chroniclers registered the fall of an enormous burning meteor and the appearance of a comet. Pingré says: "On the 19th of the calends of January"—that is the 14th of December—"the heavens being dark, a kind of burning sword fell to the earth, leaving behind it a long train of light. Its brilliancy was such that it frightened not only those who were in the fields, but even those who were shut up in their houses. This great opening in the heavens was gradually closed, and then was seen the figure of a dragon, whose feet were blue, and whose head kept continually increasing. A comet having appeared at the same time as this chasm, or meteor, they were confounded." This relation is given in the chronicles of Seigbert in Hermann Corner, in the Chronique de Tours, in Albert Casin, and other historians of the time.

Bodin, resuscitating an idea of Democritus, wrote that the comets were the souls of illustrious personages, who, after having lived on the earth a long series of centuries, and being ready at last to pass away, were carried in a kind of triumph to heaven. For this reason, famine, epidemics, and civil wars followed on the apparition of comets, the towns and their inhabitants finding themselves then deprived of the help of the illustrious souls who had laboured to appease their intestinal feuds.

One of the comets of the middle ages which made the greatest impression on the minds of the people was that which appeared during Holy Week of the year 837, and frightened Louis the Debonnaire. The first morning of its appearance he sent for his astrologer. "Go," he said, "on to the terrace of the palace, and come back again immediately and tell me what you have seen, for I have not seen that star before, and you have not shown it to me; but I know that this sign is a comet: it announces a change of reign and the death of a prince." The son of Charlemagne having taken counsel with his bench of bishops, was convinced that the comet was a notice sent from heaven expressly for him. He passed the nights in prayer, and gave large donations to the monasteries, and finally had a number of masses performed out of fear for himself and forethought for the Church committed to his care. The comet, however, was a very inoffensive one, being none other than that known as Halley's comet, which returned in 1835. While they were being thus frightened in France, the Chinese were observing it astronomically.

The historian of Merlin the enchanter relates that a few days after the fêtes which were held on the occasion of the erection of the funeral monument of Salisbury, a sign appeared in heaven. It was a comet of large size and excessive splendour. It resembled a dragon, out of whose mouth came a long two-forked tongue, one part of which turned towards the north and the other to the east. The people were in a state of fear, each one asking what this sign presaged. Uter, in the absence of the king, Ambrosius, his brother, who was engaged in pursuing one of the sons of Vortigern, consulted all the wise men of Britain, but no one could give him any answer. Then he thought of Merlin the enchanter, and sent for him to the court. "What does this apparition presage?" demanded the king's brother. Merlin began to weep. "O son of Britain, you have just had a great loss—the king is dead." After a moment of silence he added, "But the Britons have still a king. Haste thee, Uter, attack the enemy. All the island will submit to you, for the figure of the fiery dragon is thyself. The ray that goes towards Gaul represents a son who shall be born to thee, who will be great by his achievements, and not less so by his power. The ray that goes towards Ireland represents a daughter of whom thou shalt be the father, and her sons and grandsons shall reign over all the Britons." These predictions were realised; but it is more than probable that they were made up after the event.

The comet of 1066 was regarded as a presage of the Conquest under William of Normandy. In the Bayeaux tapestry, on which Matilda of Flanders had drawn all the most memorable episodes in the transmarine expedition of her husband, the comet appears in one of the corners with the inscription, Isti mirantur stellam, which proves that the comet was considered a veritable marvel. It is said even to be traditionally reported that one of the jewels of the British crown was taken from the tail of this comet. Nevertheless it was no more than Halley's comet again in its periodical visit every seventy-six years.

In July, 1214, a brilliant comet appeared which was lost to view on the same day as the Pope, Urban IV., died, i.e. the third of October.

In June, 1456, a similar body of enormous size, with a very long and extraordinarily bright tail, put all Christendom in a fright. The Pope, Calixtus III., was engaged in a war at that time with the Saracens. He showed the Christians that the comet "had the form of a cross," and announced some great event. At the same time Mahomet announced to his followers that the comet, "having the form of a yataghan," was a blessing of the Prophet's. It is said that the Pope afterwards recognised that it had this form, and excommunicated it. Nevertheless, the Christians obtained the victory under the walls of Belgrade. This was another appearance of Halley's comet.

In the early months of 1472 appeared a large comet, which historians agree in saying was very horrible and alarming. Belleforest said it was a hideous and frightening comet, which threw its rays from east to west, giving great cause for fear to great people, who were not ignorant that comets are the menacing rods of God, which admonish those who are in authority, that they may be converted.

Pingré, who has told us of so many of the comets that were seen before his time, wrote of this epoch: "Comets became the most efficacious signs of the most important and doubtful events. They were charged to announce wars, seditions, and the internal movements of republics; they presaged famines, pestilence, and epidemics; princes, or even persons of dignity, could not pay the tribute of nature without the previous appearance of that universal oracle, a comet; men could no longer be surprised by any unexpected event; the future might be as easily read in the heavens as the past in history. Their effect depended on the place in the heavens where they shone, the countries over which they directly lay, the signs of the zodiac that they measured by their longitude, the constellations they traversed, the form and length of their tails, the place where they went out, and a thousand other circumstances more easily indicated than distinguished; they also announced in general wars, and the death of princes, or some grand personage, but there were few years that passed without something of this kind occurring. The devout astrologers—for there were many of that sort—risked less than the others. According to them, the comet threatened some misfortune; if it did not happen, it was because the prayers of penitence had turned aside the wrath of God; he had returned his sword to the scabbard. But a rule was invented which gave the astrologers free scope, for they said that events announced by a comet might be postponed for one or more periods of forty years, or even as many years as the comet had appeared days; so that one which had appeared for six months need not produce its effect for 180 years."