Ignorange
Illustration★★★Ancient, Archelaus, king of Macedon, was so ignorant of the things of nature, that upon the eclipse of the sun, amazed with fear, he caused the gates of the palace to be shut up, and the hair of his son to be cut off, as the custom was in solemn mournings. “Great men and learned,” saith Pliny, “ who know more in natural causes than others do, feared the extinction of the stars, or some mischief to befall them, in their eclipses. Pindarus and Stofichorus were subjects to this fear, attributing the failing of their lights to the power of witchcraft.” Wanley.
— Wanley
The point
A historical account of King Archelaus of Macedon, who, in ignorance of natural causes, reacted to a solar eclipse with superstitious fear, cutting his son's hair as a sign of mourning, as recorded by Pliny.