Both the Maya and the Inca possessed advanced astronomical knowledge, recording celestial movements and predicting eclipses through cycles. For both peoples, an eclipse transcended mere astronomical observation, carrying profound religious, political, and symbolic meanings.
The Maya, with their Dresden Codex, recorded eclipse tables, interpreting them as divine threats to the Sun or Moon, which could be attacked by supernatural forces. Rituals were performed to protect these celestial bodies, in a view where myth and science coexisted.
For the Inca, the Sun (Inti) was a central deity, and an eclipse was seen as a sign of divine displeasure or an attack on the Sun, threatening the cosmic order and the Inca State itself. The Moon (Mama Quilla) also held an important position, with lunar eclipses also being interpreted as dangerous events.