Why did people fear Comets?

A comet appears to be very large bright star with a massive, luminous tail straming out behind it. Such a spectacle is an aw-inspiring sight. Small wonder that our ancestors regarded a comet with fear, believing it to be an evil omen and indication of the wrath of God.

A comet appeared in 1066 just before the Battle of Hasting - the English may well have blamed their defeat by William the Conqueror on the evil influence of the comet. The idea that a comet is a bad omen has taken a long time to die out. A wave of terror convulsed the world at the passage of Halley's comet in APril 1920. Dozen of people committed suicide.