There was no one there to take her place. At the advice of servants, the king sponsored what amounted to a mandatory beauty contest. All of the beautiful young virgins from across the land were gathered and brought to the palace, where for one year they were massaged with oil, perfumed, and given special foods and fine clothing. The idea was that by year’s end, the king would have a harem full of gorgeous women from whom he could pick his new queen.