Substitute Kings and Eclipse Omens in Ancient Assyria (brewminate.com)
Ancient Assyria answered deadly eclipse omens by enthroning substitute kings, men crowned to absorb a ruler’s fate and die in his place.
An eclipse threatened the Assyrian king, so another man received his crown—and his predicted death.
Behind the substitute-king ritual stood sophisticated astronomy, court politics, and a brutal attempt to outmaneuver fate.
