So, the Suitors have just sat down for a meal (dining as usual on Odysseus' food, mind you) and suddenly - BAM - an eclipse! At this, Theoclymenus the Seer predicts their demise though he doesn't foresee the definitely PG-13 rating for gratuitous violence.
Well, guess what? Scientists are poking their whiskers over an unlikely finding.
Seems that an actual solar eclipse occurred around lunchtime on 16 April 1178 B.C.
Most Classical Philologists are poo-pooing the idea. But screw 'em. They were wrong about the existence of Troy too.
I think it's fantastic. An actual eclipse happening in a reasonable time-frame to actually be the eclipse the Suitors witnessed over lunch. Kinda makes the world seem that much more real.
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