Substitute Kings Absorbed Deadly Omens

In ancient Mesopotamia, Assyrian priests responded to dire omens, particularly solar eclipses, with a ritual known as the "substitute king." They selected a man, who did not have to be a commoner, dressed him in royal clothing, declared him king, and gave him a young woman as his queen while the real ruler withdrew from public view. The pair took on the evil fate that the omen supposedly reserved for the true king. Once the danger passed, the ritual required both substitutes to die, allowing the real king to return safely.

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