How did ancient humanity (like those Egyptian dudes) explain solar eclipses?

Barrow boy

The Egyptians were great astronomers and managed to figure out the reason for solar eclipses at a time when nobody else could. A full discussion of the presumed knowledge of solar eclipses by the ancient Egyptians is beyond the scope of these brief comments. However, it is pertinent to note that Greek writers, without exception, gave priority to Egypt in astronomical knowledge. Still, there has not yet come to light an Egyptian document specifically mentioning solar eclipses. However, that the Egyptians possessed accurate knowledge of eclipses is evident from external sources. Diodorus Siculus (200 A.D.), stated categorically that the ancient Egyptian astronomers possessed the ability to predict solar eclipses. Plutarch related that the ancient Egyptians explained solar eclipses by the passage of the Moon between the Sun and the earth in daylight hours. http://eclipse99.nasa.gov/pages/traditions_moreegypt.htm Dec 11 02, 9:20 PM