Today in the history of astronomy, fear of totality brings an end to a battle. | Published: May 28, 2026 Though the warring armies appear to have been surprised by it, Greek astronomer Thales had predicted the eclipse of May 28, 585 B.C.E. In this 18th century painting, Thales is shown receiving the "secrets of the skies" from Urania, the Muse of astronomy. Credit: Antonio Canova, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons In ancient times, a total solar eclipse might have ended a war over territory between the Lydians, inhabitants of modern Turkey, and the Medes, who lived in what is now Iran. The two peoples had been fighting for over five years, but that ended on May 28, 585 B.C.E.  Greek historian Herodotus wrote about the conclusion of the conflict in Book I of his Histories : “As the balance had not inclined in favor of either nation, another engagement took place in the sixth year of the war, in the course of which, just as the battle was growing warm, day was suddenly turned into night.…