[nassar]

nassar (in london) asked the Naked Scientists:
   
In the past people use to think the Earth was flat. Then, what did they think
was the dark circular shadow appearing on the Moon during a lunar eclipse.

Thanks, love the show.

What do you think?

[Don_1]

Probably put it down to the Moon God, as with anything else not understood, put it down to some god or another.

[lyner]

You are assuming, from your question, that they actually thought it all through?
Even these days, some people think the phases of the Moon are the same as an eclipse.