Ancient history of the moon

Different cultures from around the world all looked to the moon as a significant part of society. Some of the most advanced ancient civilizations understood the phases of the moon to represent the passing of time and built whole calendars off of the lunar cycle. It took them years of observation, usually with the most challenging part of the process being record keeping, to gain the knowledge necessary to accurately predict the changing of the seasons in mathematical terms.

"Ancient ideas

Some ancient peoples believed that the moon was a rotating bowl of fire. Others thought it was a mirror that reflected Earth's lands and seas. But philosophers in ancient Greece understood that the moon is a sphere in orbit around Earth. They also knew that moonlight is reflected sunlight.

Some Greek philosophers believed that the moon was a world much like Earth. In about A.D. 100, Plutarch even suggested that people lived on the moon. The Greeks also apparently believed that the dark areas of the moon were seas, while the bright regions were land." - NASA

Babylonian Calender :


European Zodiac Calender:


Mayan Calendar:


As different models of how the solar system worked became historically popular, the phases of the moon were seen as a key element within each of these theories. The phases of the moon in their order of appearance starting at the New Moon and progressing through the Crescent, First Quarter, and Gibbous to reach the Full Moon. The Full Moon is then followed by Gibbous, Last Quarter and Crescent to complete full circle at the New Moon again.