A revealing and intriguing example of how Ancient Near Eastern story-patterns have been reshaped and reworked is Herodotus’ report about the enthronement of Darius as new king of the Persian empire (Hdt. 3.84-9). In a fanciful and ironic way Herodotus explains the success of Darius to have been chosen new king, with the assistance of his groom and an oracle of a neighing horse. Herodotus also introduces a fictitious monument as a means of authentication allegedly celebrating Darius’ enthronement with the help of his smart groom. This monument reveals striking similarities with an Urartian royal relief which is described in detail in two inscriptions of the Assyrian king Sargon II (721-705 BC). Together with other Ancient Near Eastern elements referring to horse oracles and their specific setting as well as a parallel tradition testified by Ctesias of Cnidos an Ancient Near Eastern story-pattern comes to the fore that was, however, transferred by Herodotus into a completely new narrative.