Ancient Sumeria elected ‘Substitute Kings’ during eclipses to protect the king from a prophecy of death. Once a real king, ‘Erra-imitti’ suddenly died while eating hot porridge and his substitute, ‘Enlil-bani’ formerly a random gardener, stayed king for 24 years.

Enlil-bani Enlil-bāni,[nb 1] ca. 1798 BC – 1775 BC (short chronology) or 1860 – 1837 BC (middle chronology), was the 10th king of the 1st Dynasty of Isin and reigned 24 years according to the Ur-Isin kinglist.[i 1] He is best known for the legendary and perhaps apocryphal manner of his ascendancy. Biography A certain […]

Ancient Sumeria elected ‘Substitute Kings’ during eclipses to protect the king from a prophecy of death. Once a real king, ‘Erra-imitti’ suddenly died while eating hot porridge and his substitute, ‘Enlil-bani’ formerly a random gardener, stayed king for 24 years. Read More »