Speaking of your reference to the ancients (something that i always thought very intertesting)....

"Mesopotamians believed the Moon was being attacked during a total lunar eclipse. By association, they saw that their king might be assaulted as well.

These ancient peoples were able to predict the Moon’s phases and the natural pattern of when a total lunar eclipse might occur. During a total lunar eclipse, they would protect their king by hiding him and installing a substitute ruler. When the total eclipse had passed, their king came out of protection and resumed his position as ruler."