When the Moon disappeared in 413 BC, Athenians saw it as a bad omen and delayed their planned retreat from the Sicilian city of Syracuse, where they had fought for two years in the Peloponnesian War.

The Syracusans used the delay as an opportunity to break the siege, contributing -- some believe -- to the fall of Greek civilization.

Christopher Columbus actually used an eclipse knowingly to perhaps alter history.

Stranded in Jamaica in 1503, on his fourth voyage, Columbus and his crew were wearing out their welcome with the natives, who were feeding them. Columbus knew a lunar eclipse was coming, so he "predicted" the Moon's disappearance. The natives begged him to bring it back and, of course, he did, in due time.

Next: Eclipse time limits