In 2003, a peat cutter in Ireland found an arm in the bog. It belonged to a man who stood 6'6" tall, with manicured nails and a diet of meat. He wore bronze armbands—symbols of kingship.

Then they found how he died: stabbed, mutilated, decapitated, cut in half.

This wasn't murder. This was sacrifice. When the harvests failed for three years, the people killed their king to appease the gods.

Old Croghan Man teaches us about the terrifying burden of being held accountable for things no one can control—and why we still do this today.

A pinch of salt to hold what lasts,
A tale to carry what time forgets.