TIL that ancient Assyrians used a “substitute king” ritual when an omen threatened the king. The real king went into hiding while a substitute took his place, and the substitute was later killed.

https://www.metmuseum.org/perspectives/solar-eclipse-substitute-king
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1wp3qej/til_that_ancient_assyrians_used_a_substitute_king/