DALTON, Ga. — Mankind has observed eclipses since the dawn of time.

But the first recorded solar eclipse took place in 2124 B.C., says Christian Griggs, an associate professor of history at Dalton State College.

In those days, he says, people believed that eclipses meant the gods were angry and could affect the health of rulers and kings.

“The royal astrologers failed to predict that eclipse, which was a very serious error, so the emperor had them executed. That’s how we know there was an eclipse,” said Griggs, who was one of the speakers Wednesday night at the college’s Goodroe Auditorium on what has been dubbed the Great American Eclipse, which will take place Monday, Aug. 21.

Griggs spoke about how mankind has reacted to eclipses throughout history, especially before they understood the science of what was happening.

The ancient Vikings, he said, believed that giant wolves chased the sun and moon and when they caught them an eclipse happened. In ancient India, he said, people believed that the severed head of a deity named Rahu caused eclipses by swallowing the sun.

Samantha Blair, assistant professor of physics and astronomy, spoke about what actually does happen during an eclipse.

During a solar eclipse, such as the one that will happen on Aug. 21, the moon comes between the Earth and the sun, blocking out the light of the sun. During a lunar eclipse, the Earth comes between the moon and the sun and the Earth’s shadow falls on the moon, causing the moon to look red.

“Dalton will experience a partial eclipse, not a total eclipse like some other parts of the country, but more than 99 percent of the sun will be covered,” Blair said.

Blair said the moon will begin to cover the sun around 1:03 p.m. The eclipse will peak, with the maximum surface of the sun covered, around 2:33 p.m., and that will last about two minutes and 31 seconds. Blair said the sun will not be fully uncovered again until 3:58 p.m.

Blair said that staring into the sun can cause eye damage, and the eclipse should only be viewed through a telescope or binoculars that have a solar filter or through special eclipse glasses. Many stores are currently selling glasses they say are eclipse glasses. But Blair said people should make sure the glasses are ISO (International Organization for Standardization) certified. People can also view the eclipse with a pinhole projector, a card with a small hole through it, to project an image of the sun.

The college will have a solar telescope set up on campus the day of the eclipse for people to view it.

The next total solar eclipse that will be visible from the continental United States will be in 2024.