On April 8, 2024, people in parts of North America were enthralled by a relatively rare celestial event, the total eclipse of the sun. For many in the path of totality, this was a once-in-a-lifetime event. The eclipse had a significant impact on the tourism industry in various parts of North America, and it also led to great interest in the science, history, literature and mythology surrounding eclipses and the sun.

With advances in astronomy and astronomical equipment, we now have a good understanding of the sun. Eclipses can be predicted far in advance and, these days, are celebrated as momentous experiences that offer teaching opportunities. However, what did earlier civilizations think of the sun? How much did they know of the science related to it? How did they explain the sun’s movements?

Sun Lore of All Ages by William Tyler Olcott describes the mythology and folklore surrounding the sun from various periods in history and different parts of the world. Worship of the sun is part of many civilizations’ history, as it plays such an important role in a person’s life. The book includes photographs of paintings, sculptures and monuments related to this worship, such as the accompanying photograph of the gateway of Ptolemy III Euergetes at Karnak.

William Tyler Olcott (1873-1936) was an American lawyer and amateur astronomer. After attending a talk by well-known astronomer Edward Pickering, he became greatly interested in variable stars, and in 1911, he and Pickering founded the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO). Olcott wrote several other books that helped to popularize the field of astronomy.

If you like what we do, come join us and proofread a few pages. For more information, check out our companion site, Distributed Proofreaders of Canada.