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The original was posted on /r/todayilearned by /u/uswuhdyqj627 on 2024-03-16 14:02:11.

Original Title: TIL about the ancient Mesopotamian practice of using a substitute king to protect the real king from evil omens. The real king would go into hiding, and rites were performed to transfer the danger onto the substitute. At the end of the ritual, the substitute is put to death.