The fascination with the moon’s supposed effects is deeply rooted in literature and culture. In Shakespeare’s
Othello, the maid Emilia tells her master that the moon is too close to the Earth and is driving men mad. This poetic metaphor reflects an ancient idea—that the full moon can awaken wild emotions or cause erratic behavior. Interestingly, this notion gave rise to the word “lunatic,” derived from
luna, the Latin word for moon. For centuries, philosophers and physicians attributed episodes of madness, melancholy, and irrational acts to the lunar cycle, reinforcing the belief that human psychology waxes and wanes with the moon.
