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Real astronomy and dated history, with sources. Documented traditions and folklore. Modern lunar astrology · symbolic, not predictive.

Folklore #250 Folklore & calendar

The Greek for epilepsy is the falling sickness, but the New Testament word for a sufferer is seleniazomai — moonstruck — and the association ran for two thousand years.

Modern studies have looked hard and found little: a few report small effects around particular phases, most report none, and the ones that find something disagree about which phase. The historical importance is real, though. This association is a large part of why 'lunatic' exists as a word at all.

Tradition: Classical and biblical usage; modern studies largely negative · checked Sep 2026

🔭 Meanwhile, in astronomy: Lunatic, month and Monday

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The Greek for epilepsy is the falling sickness, but the New Testament word for a sufferer is seleniazomai — moonstruck — and the association ran for two thousand years.

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The Greek for epilepsy is the falling sickness, but the New Testament word for a sufferer is seleniazomai — moonstruck — and the association ran for two thousand years.

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