The religion of the Getae-Dacians [1] - non-commercial paper by an anonymous researcher Revision January 2010"In ancient times religion was underlying and supporting every relation of life and every social institution. A supernatural presidency consecrated and kept together all the cardinal institutions of early times: state, race and family" (Sir H Maine)
The Getae-Dacians ethno genesis and the term Getae-Dacians The proto-Thracians were the Indo-Europeans who settled among the population already inhabiting the CarpathianBalkan region [2] The general view is that the Bronze Age populations emerged from the fusion of the local Eneolithic stock with the Indo-Europeans intruders. The Northern Thracian group inhabited the Carpathian-DanubeBlack Sea area, both sides of the Danube, and became individualized from the Thracian stock, no earlier than 12th century BC “More than fifty years ago, Vasile Parvan wrote about 'the Dacians at Troy on the strength of similar ceramic types found at Troy and in the Carpathian area; the only amendment we can make is to replace Dacians by Thracians, because the various groups of Thracian population had not separated out in the twelfth century BC “ [2] •
We have no way of knowing what the “Thracians” called themselves, if indeed they had a common name [3] The name “Thracians” occurred in Homer and Hesiod in the 18th-17th century BC, before there was any idea of a national Thracian identity. The name Thracians and the name of their country, Thracia were given by the Greeks .The origins of the name are not clear, but it is probable that at first the names applied only to a very restricted area and group of people and that later they covered a whole region occupied by tribes of the same ethnic origin [3] •
Hecataeus of Miletus (550 BC-490 BC) is the first historian (before Herodotus) who mentions tribes from the Getic group of Thracians. Hellanicus of Mytilene names names them Crobyzi and considers them a subgroup of the Getae [58] In 440 BC, Herodotus grouped the Getae with the Thracian stock but mentioning they have different customs and religion than the other Thracians. He wrote in his Histories [4] The Thracians bear many names in the different regions of their country, but all of them have like usages in • every respect, excepting only the Getae, the Trausi, and those who dwell above the people of Creston. (Herodotus) John Jamieson, [11] It seem fully as probable that the name of Getae had originally included all the Tracians, and that the reason • why one branch retained it, while it was not generally applied to the rest, was the peculiar distinction of the people with respect to religion ”
[1] The term Getae-Dacian is designating the same ethnic people named Getae by ancient Greeks and named Dacians mostly by Romans at the moment of Roman expansion toward Getae territories and after Roman conquest of Getae lands (both sides of Danube) [2] John Boardman, I.E.S. Edwards, E. Sollberger, and N.G.L. Hammond. The Cambridge Ancient History, Volume 3, Part 1: The Prehistory of the Balkans, the Middle East and the Aegean World, Tenth to Eighth Centuries BC . Cambridge University Press, 1982, . [3] The Assyrian and Babylonian Empires and other states of the Near East, Volume 3 By John Boardman 1864” [58] The Assyrian and Babylonian Empires and other states of the Near East, Volume 3 By John Boardman “ A text of Hellanicus of Mytilene (490 BC – 405 BC) associates the Crobyzi as well the Terizi (From the Tirizian promotory) with the Getae, who “immortalize” that is “render immortal” by ritual” [4] The History of Herodotus By Herodotus Written 440 B.C.E Translated by George Rawlinson (I believe Zalmoxis to have lived long before the time of Pythagoras) [11] “Hermesc Scythicus or Radical Affinities of the Greek and Latin Languages to The Gothic by John Jamieson, 1814”
In the first century BC when Romans extended toward the Getae territories (of the Burebista state) Roman writers started to replace the name Getae with the name of Dacians. [5] The ancient writer Pliny asserted “Getae, Daci Romanis dicti” those Getae called Daci by the Romans [6] After Roman conquest of Dacia they used mostly the name Dacians [5] for Getae. The testimonies of ancients that Dacians and Getae were the same people are overwhelming by direct testimonies or by naming Dacians the ones that were named Getae before them [6] , [7] , [8] , [9], [10] [11] [14] [15] By speaking about the Getae’s country, Strabo specifies that there was an old subdivision in that country of Getae where “Getae, those who incline towards the Pontus and the east, and Daci, those who incline in the opposite direction towards Germany and the sources of the Ister “ Pliny the Elder and Strabo stated that Getae and Dacians both subgroups spoke the same language which solves the ethnic confusion [56] [5] In 31 BC, in his Odes, Horace talking about the Battle of Actium fought between the forces of Octavian on the one side and combined forces of Mark Antony and Cleopatra on the other mentioned the auxiliaries in Antony's army as being Dacians of the Dacian King Cotiso ·…"Dacian and Ethiopian (Egyptian fleet), dread-inspiring One with his archers, with his fleets the other ...Routed are Cotiso's fierce Dacian armies" [6] Pliny said “Getae, Daci Romanis dicti” those Getae called Daci by the Romans quote in {11} [7] Appianus (95–165) a Roman historian (of Greek ethnicity) who flourished during the reigns of Trajan, Hadrian and Antoninus Pius also asserts that "the Getae beyond the Ister (Danube) were denominated Daci" quote in {11} Also, he wrote Trajan's conquest of Dacia Dacia (lost work). He named it Dacica [15] and not Getica [8] 276/282 AD Vopiscus says, Probus either subdued or received into a state of amity Thracians, atque omnes Geticos populos {11} [9] Stephanus Byzantinus (6th century) says: Getia is the country of the Getae: this however is a Thracian nation. Also, he said "Daci are the same people with Getae" {11} [10] 6th century, Isidor Bishop of Seville, in his work “Etymology” it says that Getae is the very first name for the Goths tribe. Getae which were dwelt area southward from Danube until northwest part of Carpati,and “Getae were forebears of Goths and they were considered as Dachians” {11} Affinities of the Greek and Latin languages to the Gothic by John Jamieson, 1814 [11] Hermes Scythicus or Radical Affinities Geography of Strabo published Strabo published in Vol. III of the Loeb Classical Library edition, 1924 ( public domain) [14] The Geography “As for the southern part of Germany beyond the Albis (modern River Elbe), the portion which is just • contiguous to that river is occupied by the Suevi; then immediately adjoining this is the land of the Getae, which, though narrow at first, stretching as it does along the Ister (modern River Danube) on its southern side and on the opposite side along the mountain-side of the Hercynian Forest, for the land of the Getae also embraces a part of the mountains, afterwards broadens out towards the north as far as the Tyregetae; but I cannot tell the precise boundaries” Getae and Dacians are speaking the same language ; the Getae were Thracians; and Moesi were Thracians • Now the Greeks used to suppose that the Getae were Thracians; and the Getae lived on either side o the Ister, as did also the Mysi, these also being Thracians and identical with the people who are now called Moesi one should read "Moesi, hand-to-hand fighters" instead of "Mysi, hand-to-hand fighters." o Aelius Catus transplanted from the country on the far side of the Ister into Thrace fifty thousand o persons from among the Getae, a tribe with the same tongue as the Thracians. And they live there in Thrace now and are called "Moesi" [15] The Roman Empire by Robert Kenneth Sherk “Trajan dedicates spoils ” in 113 – 114 AD Hadrian (The later Roman emperor that was in 113 –114 AD high officer in Trajan’s army) wrote the “Trajan dedicates spoils ” naming Getae the Dacians against whom Trajan emperor fought Dacia wars “To Zeus Kasios has Trajan, son of Aeneas, dedicated this gift, / The ruler of men to the ruler of the • immortals / Two Two artistically wrought cups and from an aurochs / The horn adorned with all-gleaming all-gleaming gold / Chosen from his former spoils when, unyielding he has wasted the Getae with his spear / But you, lord of the dark clouds, grant him the power / Gloriously to complete this Achaimenian conflict / So that your heart may be twice warmed by the sight / Of the spoils, those of the Getae and those of the Arsacidians romanisation By Ioana Adina Oltean [56] Dacia: landscape, colonisation and romanisation
The specificity religion of the Getae-Dacians The peculiar distinction of the people with respect to religion, individualized Getae-Dacians Getae-Dacians from the Thracians [11] There are 160 god-names, sacred name for Thracians, attested by the Greek and Latin writers. Only one out of these, Zalmoxis is specifically North Thracian (Getae-Dacian) [12]
As synthesized by S. Paliga, the essence of the religion of the Getae-Dacians consisted in: 1. monotheism – belief in Zalmoxis 2. aniconism (including the interdiction of writing) 3. the important role of the music 4. the cyclic resurrection" of the supreme god 5. rites connected to immortality immortality and 6. inititation
First records about Getae-Dacians’ religion In 440 BC, Herodotus (Ionian Geek) gave us the first pieces of information regarding to their religion [4], as collected from the Greek Ionians living living at Black Sea Coast He said about Getae-Dacians: 1. They are “athanatizing” It means the ones who knew to become immortals; 2. They do not believe that there is any god but their own own 3. They believe they do not die as those who die go to Zalmoxis a divine being (daimon) 4. Each 5 years years they were were sending a messenger to Zalmoxis. He He was sacrificed sacrificed so that he will reach reach God 5. During storm and thunder, the same Thracians named named Getae-Dacians Getae-Dacians were shooting toward the sky Herodotus told us the version f the Greek Ionians regarding to Zalmoxis but also he told us h is opinion In the version of Greek Ionians Zalmoxis was a man, slave of Pythagora who escaped and played resurrection in front of the Getae-Dacians by hiding in a secret chamber and reappearing after 3 years In his opinion, if Zalmoxis were a man, I believe Zalmoxis to have lived long before the time of Pythagoras [4] Without committing himself himself to the Greeks or to the Getae versions of resurrection, he considered Zalmoxis a Getae-Dacian Deity He wrote: “Whether there was ever really a man of the name, or whether Zalmoxis is nothing but a native god of the Getae, I no w bid him farewell” •
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Herodotus also asserted that Zalmoxis traveled to Egypt and had a tattoo-mark on his forehead about which Greeks, unaware of its religious significance, said it was a slave sign His tatoo was a god sign [13] Pliny also said that Getae-Dacians practiced tattooing. tattooing. The other Thracians practices of sacral tattoing was known to Greek vase-painters, where some are tattooed with a snake. Agathyrsi from Dacia at the time of Herodotus used the sacral tattooing of their body •
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Terizi and Krobizi believe that “dead are believed to return [63] Beside Herodotus, Hellanicus had reported of Zalmoxis the Getic god [59] Affinities of the Greek and Latin languages to the Gothic by John Jamieson, 1814 [11] Hermes Scythicus or Radical Affinities [12] La divinité suprême des Thraco-Daces by Ph D Historian Sorin Paliga in Dialogues d’histoire ancienne (Persee revue) 1994, Volume 2 By Luis Ballesteros Ballesteros Pastor, Centre de recherches d'histoire d'histoire ancienne [13] Herodotus is the first one to includes Getae among Thracians ”the Getae are the most brave and the most fair of the Thracians” but also specifying they have different customs and beliefs
[59] Lore and science in ancient Pythagoreanism by Walter Burkert [63] Ion Popescu Pu ţuri, Magazin istoric XXII 1988 Znamenski. Also, in the same book, Znamenski [13] As it was quoted in the book “Shamanism” by Andrei A. Znamenski. relates that something similar happened with Epimenides of Knossos (a semi-mythical 6th century BC Greek seer and philosopher-poet) He also was considered a disciple of Pythagora even thug he lived before him (Also, Epimenides skin was found tattooed when he ded, fact that surprised Greeks who considered tattoo as a slave sign) [4] The History of Herodotus By Herodotus Written 440 B.C.E Translated by George Rawlinson (I believe Zalmoxis to have lived long before the time of Pythagoras)
Traits of the Getae-Dacians religion Monotheism "...and they do not believe that there is any god but their own" (Herodotus) [4] • Ancient sources don’t present any other God of Getae-Dacians than Zalmoxis[12] [71] • Among others, Jean Coman, R.Pettazzon, E.Rohde and S. Paliaga consider that Getae –Dacians religion is • monotheistic Others, consider it a henotheistic religious system or even polytheistic
Getae-Dacians are not polytheists like the other Thracians. They are henotheists (Vasile Parvan, Getica). Until at least the apparition of Christianity, Zalmoxis Zalmoxis remained Getae-Dacians' only one supreme god [12] [68] In Herodotus writing appears an epithet of the Zalmoxis that is Gebeleizis (also spelled Beleizis and Beleixs). But, Herodotus is the only on e ancient mentioning this alternative name The second name of this supreme god of Getae-Dacians, "Gebeleizis" / “Beleizis” are arguably epithets of the Zalmoxis and not another god as advanced by some scholars. [12] The Herodotus testimony is self-explanatory “Zalmoxis, who is called also Gebeleizis by some among them" [4] •
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Gebeleizis was only an appellative (explanatory attributes) for the same God, an appellative not absolutely identical with Zalmoxis and it was used just by some Getae-Dacian tribes from the right of the Danube that were influenced by the South South Dyionisian concepts [71] The scholar Vasile Pârvan speaks about the Supreme God Zalmoxis in his Getica. Vasile Parvan didn’t agree with including Zbelturdos within Getae-Dacians’ religious believes. [71] He asked a revising of the opinions that Zbelturdos and Gebeleizis are epithets of one and the same Uranian and Dionysian and Chthonic god where they also mix the Thracian Ares He also mentioned that today, modern historians of the antic Balkan religions want at any cost to expand the Thracian Ares in all this henotheist syncretism to all Thracians, including all the Getae-Dacians Getae-Dacians •
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Nothing points out to an orgiastic cult of Getae-Dacians like the one of the Southern Thracians . Not from Thracia but from Egypt Decaeneus took his teachings, too. He reformed his nation with divine signs that he learnt from Egypt and not with Dionysian teachings or Phrygian orgies [71] Getae-Dacians priests had predicated puritan abstinence. The success of Decaeneu religious propaganda is o the destruction of wine and abstinence Decaeneus acts are just repeats of the prophet Zalmoxis [71] Because of the confusion between Southern Thracians and Danube’s Getae Dacians (relatives but not the same people) there are so many Thracians’ believes and institutions arbitrarily attributed to Getae-Dacians
The only exception is the one of the so-called deity the "Thracian Knight" under the Greek Influence. [12] Darzelas /Derzelas is one of the names of the so-called deity the "Thracian Knight In the opinion of the researcher, without trying an etymology it can not be ignored the attested o Getae-Dacian king Duras, the later word “darz”and PIE languages changes GH>D, that makes plausible a form *Gherghelas corresponding corresponding to the Christian Saint Gheorghe •
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After Roman conquest (after 107 AD) it appears some representations of the Romans assimilated local deities (see Diana-Bendis)
[4] The History of Herodotus By Herodotus Written 440 B.C.E Translated by George Rawlinson (I believe Zalmoxis to have lived long before the time of Pythagoras) [12] La divinité suprême des Thraco-Daces by Ph D Historian Sorin Paliga in Dialogues d’histoire ancienne (Persee revue) 1994, Volume 2 By Luis Ballesteros Ballesteros Pastor, Centre de recherches d'histoire d'histoire ancienne [68] The Oxford illustrated history of prehistoric Europe by Barry Cunliffe 2001 ISBN13: 9780192854414 Edited by Barry Cunliffe, one of the world's leading archaeologists [71] Getica by Vasile Parvan
The unique supreme god of the Getae-Dacians had just explanatory attributes But even these attributes are just Zalmoxis and Gebeleizis o
Gebeleizis was only an appellative for the same God, an appellative not absolutely identical with Zalmoxis and it was used just by some Getae-Dacian tribes from the right of the Danube that were influenced by the South Dyionisian concepts [71]
The archaism of Zalmoxis's religion points out to a heritage from before the times of Indo-Europeans [12] Herodotus said that Zalmoxis traveled around the world and mostly to Egypt. This also supports that Zalmoxis is included among those lawgivers who took teachings from Egypt [27] •
Diodorus Siculus in 1 st century BC mentions Zalmoxis among lawgivers who took teachings from Egypt Ionians considered him contemporaneous with Pytagora because of the similarities with his doctrine •
Aniconism It was a specific characteristic of the Getae-Dacian religion. This trait is similar to Judaism and Islamism. • Because of the aniconism despite the force and power of the Greeks and Romans, Getae-Dacians never • adopted the phonetic writing But, most likely they had a symbolism and initiation system of graphic [12]
The total interdiction of visual representation included the writing [12]. Druids had a similar trait and it should remembered here that Hippolytus said that the druids learned Pythagorean philosophy from Zalmoxis [34] [35] Such an interdiction couldn’t function without a strong religious substratum, so-called Zalmoxis religion [12] This mentality survived until the 17th century within "Jus Valachicum" (Lex lachorm) a juridical and traditional system always oral [15] •
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[12] La divinité suprême des Thraco-Daces by Ph D Historian Sorin Paliga in Dialogues d’histoire ancienne (Persee revue) 1994, Volume 2 By Luis Ballesteros Ballesteros Pastor, Centre de recherches d'histoire d'histoire ancienne [15] Sachelarie and Stoicescu 1988 and , Discussion at Paliga 1991 [27] See The antiquities of Egypt: a translation with notes of book I of the Library of History of Diodorus (Siculus) by Edwin Murphy [34] The Cornish language and its literature By Peter Berresford Ellis [35] Shamanism by Andrei A. Znamenski [71] Getica by Vasile Parvan
Immortality • • •
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"They think that they do not really die, but that when they depart this life they go to Zalmoxis" [4] Getae-Dacians belief in immortality was often mentioned by various sources [12] The ritual of sending a messenger to Zalmoxis (every five years) is explained by this belief. "The messages are given while the man is still alive"(4) Zalmoxis cult was a mystery cult conferring blessed immortality [65]
Vasile Parvan says we find in the work of Pomponius Mela II a collection collection of the rationales of the old and archaic Getae-Dacians belief in immortality: immortality: metempsychosis, metempsychosis, popular Platonism and popular pessimism epicurean epicurean [71] In fact, Getae-Dacians believed, similar with with Nordic people, in a kind of Walhall, where, after the death of the body they will meet their Supreme God and will live forever [71] The Getae-Dacian belief in immortality is different than the one on Mediterranean areas where the old chthonic cult (pre-indo-Germanic) (pre-indo-Germanic) were talking about a sad dark underneath place [71] •
Dacian Priests •
Similar to the monks of the Christian era following, they combined the duties of priest, judge, scholar, and teacher[17]
Josephus (37 –100 AD mentions Getae-Dacian priests when it is coming to describe the sect of Essenes: “They none of them differ from others of the Essenes in their way of living, but do the most resemble those Dacae who are called Polistae [dwellers in cities] such as are good men and priests, who are to get their corn and their food ready for them. They live all in the same manner, and are especially like those whom the Dacians call Polistae"[dwellers Polistae"[dwellers in cities]. Todd S. Beall in his Description of the Essenes Illustrated by the Dead Sea Scrolls stated that the Josephus's Greek manuscript was “those called the majority of the Dacians” Dacians” [30] Note that, according to M.A. Larson, the Essenes were Jewish Pythagoreans who lived as monks •
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Pious people are the ascetics who give up the carnal pleasure and dedicate themselves to the good thinking and to the immortality after the life of the body Vasile Parvan said that we can talk about Getae-Dacians priests as being a really monk / hermit order. Ordinary people named them pious and clouds travelers. Nobody harmed them. Getae –Dacians from the o right of Danube named them ctistae and Getae-Dacians from the left of Danube named them polistae The fact that Poseidonios and Josephus used Getae-Dacian priests and their manner of life and believes to explain organizations less known, prove the oldness and seriousness of the Getae-Dacian religious institution. institution. Vasile Pravan opinion is that even tough Getae-Dacians priests names appear to be double, yet these o correspond to a unique and the same Getae meaning Ctistae = ctitor = founder and Polistae= Polistae= cities founders [71] Since Herodotus until Julian the Apostate, the antiquity was unanimous in recognizing a deep and severe religion of the Getae-Dacians, that determine their national life it doesn’t matter the situation, either daily praying the supernatural powers or the out of ordinary union with the immortal divinity divinity [71] The soul is immortal. The body is an obstacle for the soul to enjoy the immortality. immortality. They don’t have to o listen to the carnal body desires. When it is war, they can sacrifice the body without regret The human being cannot reach immortality without cleaning its carnal desires, the wine, and women o Any of the Dionysian orgies of the Thraco-Phrygian is not accepted by Getae-Dacians [71]
[4] The History of Herodotus By Herodotus Written 440 B.C.E Translated by George Rawlinson [12] La divinité suprême des Thraco-Daces by Ph D Historian Sorin Paliga in Dialogues d’histoire ancienne (Persee revue) 1994, Volume 2 By Luis Ballesteros Ballesteros Pastor, Centre de recherches d'histoire d'histoire ancienne [65] The fate of the dead: studies on the Jewish and Christian apocalypses by Richard Bauckham [71] Getica by Vasile Parvan
The important role of the music
The scholar Vasile Parvan specified that, for Getae-Dacians, lyre is an instrument just for religious purposes, and in the same time they used guitars and sing all the time with them when formed deputation. The other instruments flute, pan flute and “bucium” were for general purpose [71] A custom of the Geto-Dacians, was to put on music and to recite the unwritten laws, to sing them like psalms, and so, to learn them by heart [24] The specific musical and dance part of Zalmoxis teachings domain corresponds to the special importance given by Getae-Dacians to the music. Hesych said that Zalmoxis gave his name to a particular type of singing and dancing •
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In Platon’s Charmides, we find thracian doctors disciples of Zalmoxis who taught them how to make people immortals through Zalmoxis incantations incantations and medicine medicine [71] Incantation and medicine had been based on plants, among which we give just an example: smoking with hemp seeds . Zalmoxis gave his name to a particular type of singing and dancing (Hesych) Initiation Zalmoxian doctrine like the Pythagorean doctrine was a doctrine of initiation [12] o •
Chthonic character This characteristic proves the archaism of the Getae-Dacians doctrine It was an essential trait of the • religious systems that existed before Indo-Europeans [12]
Zalmoxis temple and chamber is in a cave, similar with Minoic god of the double dagger the Thunder God, in a cave from Ida mountain [71] The god is in the sky and not on the earth. The god is the clear sky. The bad demons and storms, clouds are threatening the temper of the God. [71] This is the reason the Getae-Dacians are helping their Supreme God for calming the word by shooting the arrows against the clouds that are hiding and darkening the face of the God from the Sky [71] This is the reason that the God is venerated on the high mountains, in the lonely places where just the eagles but not humans can climb. [71] The high priest is staying at that highness where only the king is allowed to ask advise in the war situations or troubles. [71] And the people [Getae-Dacians] took up the notion that the mountain was sacred and they so call it, but its name is Cogaeonum, like that of the river which flows past it Strabo " [18] Vasile Parvan opinion is also confirmed by Lactantius [22} who said that Zalmoxis supreme god of Dacians, was worshiped on the peak of the mountains [22] •
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The Southern Thracians were tempted mostly toward chthonic and naturist cults, they have a supreme god of Uranian, Solar and Healing that they name Zeus, Apollon or Asclepios and give to him multiple descriptive attributes. or mostly regional attributes Their South Thracian God was so chthonian and naturist that it was equated with Dionysos-Sabazios on one hand and with the underearth Heros on the other hand [71]
[12] La divinité suprême des Thraco-Daces by Ph D Historian Sorin Paliga in Dialogues d’histoire ancienne (Persee revue) 1994, Volume 2 By Luis Ballesteros Ballesteros Pastor, Centre de recherches d'histoire d'histoire ancienne [24] Zamolxis—the first lawgiver of the Getae" by the Swedish Carolus Lundius Translation, notes and summary by Maria Crisan (M.A.) [71] Getica by Vasile Parvan [4] The History of Herodotus By Herodotus Written 440 B.C.E Translated by George Rawlinson Geography of Strabo published Strabo published in Vol. III of the Loeb Classical Library edition, 1924 The text is in the [18] The Geography public domain Christian author 240 – 320 AD) [22] “of the Manner in which the persecutors died” by Lactantius (early Christian The fate of the dead: studies on the Jewish and Christian apocalypses by Richard Bauckham [65]
Religion during the classical period of the Dacia states “…and the king cooperated with him [Zalmoxis], because he saw that the people paid much more attention to himself than before, in the belief that the decrees which he promulgated were in accordance with the counsel of the gods. This custom persisted even down to our own time, because some man of that character was always to be found, who, though in fact only a counsellor to the king, was called god among the Getae” (Strabo) The powerful high priest Deceneu (spelled also Decaeneus) Decaeneus) (70 BC - 44 BC) gives the best example for the institution of religion in Getae-Dacians state. He re-enforced Zalmoxis doctrine and supported the governing of the King Burebista (82 BC-44 BC) as attested by Strabo and Jordanes [17] [18] They assert his travel to Egypt and the fact that gave written laws to Getae-Dacians •
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After Burebista death (44 BC) Deceneu remained king of Dacia [63]. The tradition of high priest to assist the king or to be the king himself continued with 1. Comosicus King and high priest priest (44 (44 BC - 28/29 AD)[17] 2. Coryllus King and high priest (28/29-68/69 AD) [17] Spelling Spelling of Frontinus Frontinus is Scorylo, dux Dacorum [19] Spelling on archeological findings is Scorilo (Decebalus per Scorilo) [20] 3. High priest Vesina who assisted King Decebal The extent of Getae-Dacians belief in Zalmoxis teachings is better explained in the later quotes made by Lactantius (early Christian author 240 – 320 AD) [22] "We have conquered even these Getae (Dacians), the most warlike of all people that have ever existed, not only because of the strength in their bodies, but, also due to the teachings of Zalmoxis who is among their most hailed. He has told them that that in their hearts they do not die, but change their location and, due to this, they go to their deaths happier than on any other journey." •
Religious Instructions •
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Getae are in a special way reverential towards the gods is clearly contrary to reason, whereas the interpretation that zeal for religion is strong in this tribe, and that because of their reverence for the gods the people abstain from eating any living thing, is one which, both from what Poseidonius and from what the histories in general tell us, should not be disbelieved. “the Pythagorean doctrine of abstention from eating any living thing still survived as taught by Zamolxis” (Strabo) [18] Poseidonius goes on to say of the Mysians /Moesians (Getae-Dacian (Getae-Dacian tribe living both sides of Danube)[18] , [23] that "in accordance with their religion they abstain from eating any living thing, and therefore from their flocks as well; and that they use as food honey and milk and cheese, living a peaceable life, and for this reason are called both "god-fearing" and "capnobataeand; there are some of the Thracians who live apart from woman-kind; these are called "Ctistae”" Literally, Literally, "creators" or "founders." But, like "capnobatae," the force of the word here is unknown o (see notes of the translation to English) o Vasile Pârvan considers ktistai = “founders of the cities”; (it cognates with Romanian "ctitor") o I.I. Russu considers ktistai = Getae-Dacian radical meaning "stralucitori” =“the bright ones"
[17] JORDANES THE ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS translated by Charles C. Mierow [18] The Geography of Strabo published in Vol. III of the Loeb Classical Library edition, 1924 The text is in the public domain [19] Strategemata:I;10;4 by Frontinus [20] http:/ / soltdm. com/ langtdm/ thes/ d/ DPS by Oltean [22] “of the Manner in which the persecutors died” by Lactantius (early Christian author 240 – 320 AD) [23] Strabo Geography VII 3.3.Getae lived on either side the Ister, as did also the Mysi, these also being Thracians and identical with the people who are now called Moesi [71] Getica by Vasile Parvan
Getae-Dacians laws Zalmoxis was the first Getae-Dacians legislator [24] but his written laws (as attested by Jordanes 6th century and Iamblicus 3th century) are not available to us. Iamblicus (280-333 AD)“For instructing the Getae in these things, and for having written laws for them, Zalmoxis was by them considered as the greatest of the gods”[26] Jordanes (550 AD) about high priest Deceneu "by imparting a knowledge of physics he made them live naturally under laws of their own, which they possess in written form to this day and call belagines" [17] There was a secrecy involving a written form of religious writings. This is similar to Druids’ laws Caesar noted that Druids make rule of Greek letters and there was a prohibition of images and o writing about everything connected to religion[36] The majority of ancient writings about Dacia that had been acknowledged as being written had been lost/destroyed (In 19 th century historian Al Calimah Calimah made an inventory containing 282 titles titles of such books More than 90 % out of these had not survived to the history) i.e. Ovidius poems, Dacica of Emperor Trajan (equivalent of Cesar’s book in Gaul), Getica about o Roman-Dacian wars written by Trajan’s doctor ….aso) [25] •
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When talking about lawgivers who arose in Egypt Diodorus Siculus (1st century BC) stated that "Zalmoxis received his laws from the Goddess Hestia" [27] , [28] Hestia is "The honored, first born of the Olympian gods who has power over altars, hearths, town halls and states"[29] ) He said: But we must also make mention of the lawgivers who arose in Egypt and who ordained such o strange and marvelous customs. For in primitive Egypt after life had become setted (which according to myth took place I the era of gods and heroes), they say that the first persn who convinced the people to use written laws was Mneves Among the Arians, they record Zathraustes pretended that the God Spirit gave him the laws and among those called Getae, who aspire to immortality, Zalmoxis in like manner credited the familiar Hestia with his revelation and among the Judaeans Moyses attributed them to the God called by the name of Iao." [27] •
17] JORDANES THE ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS translated by Charles C. Mierow [24] Zamolxis—the first lawgiver of the Getae" by Carolus Lundius Translation, notes and summary by Maria Crisan (M.A.) [25] Aurora Petan study about the book of the historian Al. Papadopol Calimah "CARTILE PIERDUTE REFERITOARE LA DACIA ("The lost books regarding Dacia") 1872 si 1876. That book list 282 books, and the fact that 90% out of these had been lost [26] The Complete Pythagoras Edited by Patrick Rousell for the World Wide Web (A full-text, public domain edition) [27] The antiquities of Egypt: a translation with notes of book I of the Library of History of Diodorus (Siculus) by Edwin Murphy [28] Introduction to the Science of Religion By Friedrich Muller [30] Larson, Martin Alfred. The Story of Christian Origins. Washington: J.J. Binns, 1977. ISBN 0883310902
Zalmoxis as viewed by others Others saw Getae-Dacians’ God as a daimon (Herodot), God (Mnaseas), disciple or slave of Pythagora (Ionian Greeks) or prophet or king (Jordanes) Sun-God Carolus Lundius “Zamolxis was also called Bal, Ballur, and Aballur, i.e. Apollo; depending on the context, it can be inferred whom it is dealt with. And by Macrobius too, but also by the ancient ones he was called Sun, too He was also identified with Liber Pater, which is Dionysus - Bacchus. With god Mars and Mercury, their object of cult being not anything else (so, it is about other deities).And also Aesculapius, that means “health” and Isis, even with Serapis, which are the gods, too of the Sun. So, an identification with Adronis, Attin, Osiris and Horus points to nothing else but again the Sun "[24] Note: As a number of scholars have pointed out, that the Essenes also subscribed to a sun-cult. o Note: Pythagoreans prayed twice daily to the sun. Essenes “employ the same daily regime as was o revealed to the Greeks by Pythagoras [67] Saturn The historian Mnaseas of Patrae (3rd century BC) tells us that the Getae venerated Saturn, whom they called Zalmoxis [31] Diogenis Laertius writes that the Getae-Dacians call Saturn Zalmoxis [32] •
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Kronos Hesychius says Zalmoxis o Kronos [12] This identification of Zalmoxis with Kronos is unusual for Greeks since they very rarely equated a foreign • divinity with a Greek divinity [12] Phoenician Okhon and Libyan Atlas by Aristotle (Densusianu) Patroos theos, meaning “parental god” or “ancestral” by Lucian de Samosata (Densisianu) Mystery Gods Strabo (63BC-24AD)grouped Zalmoxis with with Orpheus, Musaeus and Trophonius the Greek God of • Mysteries Epeminedes. Zalmoxis taught Epimenides of Crete [33] • Rhys Carpenter (1946) emphasized the similarities between Zalmoxis legend and those of Epeminedes and • Aristeas
Zalmoxis and Druids Druids learned Pythagorean philosophy from Zalmoxis [34] [35] The Getae-Dacian religious system had certain similarities to the Celtic Druids's one related to Pythagorean doctrine. There are some other striking similarities similarities even between Stonehenge and Sarmisegetuza sanctuaries of Getae-Dacian capital.[37] •
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The study of Sarmisegetusa constructions and Stonehenge revealed similar elements of astronomy. Both seems that measured the movements of the sun, the moon, and perhaps, the stars. Based on researches carried at Sarmisegetusa calendar, the Dacian year began at Winter Solstice[38]
[24] Zamolxis—the first lawgiver of the Getae" by Carolus Lundius Translation, notes and summary by Maria Crisan (M.A.) [33] Celts and the classical world, Part 70 By David Rankin [34] The Cornish language and its literature By Peter Berresford Ellis [35] Shamanism by Andrei A. Znamenski [36] Caesar’s The Gallic war [37] The Dacian capital “Sarmizegetusa-Regia” was sited according to precise astronomic alignments and Pythagorean doctrines by Franz Kerek in Papers from the annual meeting of SEAC (European Society for Astronomy in Culture)
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After Roman occupation of Dacia (107 AD until 6 century) Beside the known Getae-Dacians presence, we give here just briefly some miles stone about Getae-Dacians presence in records as g iven by Roman Emperors titles Dacicus Maximus (meaning great victory against Dacians) Maximinus the Thrax ( 235 to 238) , Decius (249 to 251) Gallienus (260 to 268) Aurelianus (270 to 275) and Constantine the Great titled Dacicus Maximus in 336 AD o Vasile Parvan proved that Constantine’s Dacicus Maximus corresponds with re-including Dacia with Roman empire as appear at that time contemporaneous sources One of the Dacia’s later mentions within Roman empire appear cited in the book “An epitome of the civil and literary chronology of Rome and Constantinople By Henry Fynes Clinton” Theodosius, who in early life had served under his father in Britain, and since the death of his father in 376 o had lived in retirement in Spain, was appointed Augustus by Gratian at Sirmium 19 Jan. 379. Theodosius, now in his 33rd year, governs the provinces administered by Valens, to which are added Dacia and Macedonia (1132 D. Magnus Ausonius Q. Clodius Hermogenianus Olybrius. Gratiani 13 from Aug. 24. Valentiniani II 5 from Nov. 22. Theodosii 1 from Jan. 19.) And, in 483 Theoderic is propitiated [To conciliate (an offended power); appease] by the liberality of o Zeno. Parts of Dacia and Moesia are ceded to him : he is appointed master general of the forces in 483. He is received with distinction at Constantinople, appointed consul elect, and honored with a triumph at the public expense.[13]
Zalmoxis religion after Romans conquest •
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This religious structure had been destroyed in 107 AD by the invaders occupying Romans, because it was so closely to the native kingship [45] This involves suppressing Getae-Dacians priests by the Roman government (They disappeared from the written record by the 2nd century AD, although there may have been later survivals) Romans razed to the ground native Dacian sanctuaries that archaeological work has revealed today [46]
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The religion may have arisen entirely out of local roots. The immortalizing immortalizing monotheism of Zalmoxis may have been one precursor, while hilltop sanctuaries like the Dacian ones were prefigured in the 4th century BC in the Rhodope Mountains of southern Thrace. But, there were many potential external influences at this time too – Buddhism, Judaism, which had just reached the Bosporan kingdom in the Crimea, and Egyptian cults in the Hellenistic cities of southern Thrace
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Whatever the precise form of the Dacian religion, it was clearly powerfully threatening to the Roman conquerors, who systematically razed temples to the ground, leaving only the column bases [68]
In the 3rd century Dacians were still described as votary of the Zalmoxis by Lactantius (early Christian writer) • "As you can see is clear he was from Dacian origin, at least he's mother was, even the fact she worshiped a "god of mountains" remember the old Zalmoxe supreme god of Dacians, who was worshiped usualy on the peak of the mountains" [22]
The sun-cult of the Getae-Dacians The most intriguing evidence in Dacia is the indigenous sun-cult of Dacians[46] :Sanctuaries in elaborate circular patterns were almost certainly connected with the solar calendar[46] This may be related to the common traits between Pythagorean and Zalmoxian doctrine The cult of the sun has very ancient affinities in the Carpatho-Danubian region, for there are very many evidences of it in the remains that have come down to us from the fourth period of Bronze Age • • •
[22] “of the Manner in which the persecutors died” by Lactantius (early Christian author 240 – 320 AD) [45] Dacia by Vasile Parvan and Radu Vulpe [46] Religion in the Roman Empire by JB Rives [68] The Oxford illustrated history of prehistoric Europe by Barry Cunliffe 2001 ISBN13: 9780192854414 Edited by Barry Cunliffe, one of the world's leading archaeologists
Adopting some particular Roman Deities A part of Getae-Dacians seems like they adopted some Rome's mythology. But, the indigenous traditions can be deduced from the Dacia tendencies and particular popularity of certain Graeco-Roman Graeco-Roman gods
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The god "Silvanus" • •
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Silvanus had a particularly striking and tremendous popularity after Roman invasion of Dacia He is attested in some 150 inscriptions Dacia This number is more than twice the number from the rest of empire, including Italy. Scholars have explained this popularity by arguing that Silvanus was in Dacia, a Roman name given to an indigenous deity [46] Nevertheless the popularity of this rustic woodland god must be indicative of local concerns [46]
Diana (Roman deity) with strong connections to woodlands is also widely attested. [46] That confirms the popularity of Silvanus Diana is the pre-Roman Dacian equivalent Bendis o
Even though the written sources didn’t mention about a Getae-Dacians feminine deity, inscriptions from the Roman period (after 107 AD) Diana Regina on the right side of Danube and Diana sancta, potentissima in Dacia (left side of Danube) presents strange elements of syncretism with Nemesis and Iuni Regina that makes very possible the DacoRoman Diana is the Thracian Artemis-Bendis Artemis-Bendis that we know from Herodotus, and it was venerated as a Northern Deity by women from Thracia and Paeonia That means, Getae-Dacian women knew incantations, and treatments, and plant medicine that women from o North of Haemus used currently for the soul and body wounds. Bessi were good neighbors at Haemus as well through their Scytia Minor colonists Other Thracian Deities An apparently similar cult peculiar was the so-called Danubian Rider Gods This cult typically depict a • goddess flanked by two gods in the horseback, with a complex arrangement of other divine images and symbols above ad below. Yet the fact that it apparently originated in southern Dacia shortly after the Roman conquest and was almost entirely restricted to the lands around the Danube suggests that it in some way reflected regional; traditions or concerns
Mithras •
The Mysteries Religion of Mithras expanded in the Roman empire reaching its highest peak around 250 AD. Dacia was the Roman province where Mithraism reached its highest popularity in Europe
Early Christians Christianity existed among some of the Romans at the time Dacia occupation In 304 AD, the first known “Daco-Roman” Christian priest Montanus and his wife Maxima were drowned, • as martyrs. •
[46] Religion in the Roman Empire by JB Rives [71] Getica by Vasile Parvan
Zalmoxis and early Christianity It appears that a synthesis between the Getae-Dacians aniconic religious system and Christianity was • realized in special conditions The survived elements of the Getae-Dacian religious system can be seen with the linguistic and • mythological traces in Romanian and Albanian. Archaism of Romanian mythological system (Vulcanescu, Ghinoiu) Interesting comparisons could be made with Lithuanian mythology • Early Christians presented Trophonius in the image of Pythagoras and Zalmoxis because of the Mysteries • components of their cult [61]
Getae-Dacians contributions to Christianity •
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When the Dacian-born Galerius became Emperor (305-311 AD) he proclaimed freedom for Christians all over the Roman Empire. The Edict of Toleration by Galerius was issued in 311 by the Roman Tetrarchy of Galerius, Constantine and Licinius (Also a Dacian by birth [47] ), officially ending the Diocletian persecution of Christianity.officially Christianity.officially ending the Diocletian p ersecution of Christianity. [48] In the Apostolic letter of the Holy Father John Paul II for the 3rd centenary of the union of the GreekCatholic Church of Romania with the Church of Rome there are mentioned the followings: Apostle Andrew, brother of Peter, Nicetas of Remesiana, John Cassian and Dionysius Exiguus
Niceta the Bishop of Dacia is the patron Saint of Romania Paulinus said "God meant him to be a link between the East and West, a master of more than one people, a • citizen of both Dacia and Rome, a shepherd of his new people and a lover of his old friends" He promoted Latin sacred music for use during the eucharistic worship and reputedly composed liturgical • hymns among which some 20th century scholars number the major Latin Christian hymn of praise and, Te Deum John Cassian John Cassian wrote two major spiritual works, the "Institutes" and the "Conferences." In these, he codified • and transmitted the wisdom of the Desert Fathers of Egypt. Dionysius Exiguus (470– 544 AD He was born in the area known in ancient times as Scythia Minor (modern Dobrogea-Romania). From • about 500 AD he lived in Rome, where translated from Greek into Latin 401 ecclesiastical canons. He is best-known as the inventor of the Anno Domini [AD], which is used to number the years of both the Gregorian calendar and the Julian calendar
Nowadays Solomonari Mythology preserves the characters linked with Dacian priests and Zalmoxis. These are the Solomonari • The form of name Solomonar is corrupted because of Christian influences that supplemented earlier belief (Zalmoxis was esteemed among Getae for his “weather-predictions”) Dacian priests were named by the Greeks as Capnobates – the walkers in the clouds. Calus Ritual It 2006 had been included in the Unesco Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. • The Calus ritual features a series of songs and dances. The oldest documented music used in this ritual • dance dates from no later than 17th century It is considered now that the ritual has elements of ancient purification and fertility rites (some using the symbol of the horse), which was worshipped as an embodiment of the sun. Young men used to be initiated into the ritual by a vataf (master) who had inherited the knowledge of magic charms and the dance steps from his predecessor. Căluşari were thought to be endowed with magical healing powers Brasov's "Junii" Rituals •
Attested no later than 1728, this Fest was presented by the Saxon Julius Teutsch in his chronicle "Junii must be seen like a trace of pagan era, an old springtime fest that celebrates the nature revival, the sun overcoming the cold of winter, the beginning of a new life... and, the fest must be considered a religious cult that existed before Christianity that being confirmed also, by the fact that it takes place only on the top of hills, that was a custom known from Dacians" (Quoted by V. Oltean)
References [1] The term Getae-Dacian is designated the same people named Getae by ancient Greeks and Dacians mostly by Romans at the moment of Roman expansion toward Getae territories and after Roman conquest of Getae lands (both sides of Danube) [2] Mythological images in culture Central and East-European barbarians by Fantalov Alex [3] At the moment where Romans extended their empire to the territory of Getae, ancient Romans since 1 century BD named the Getae with the name Dacians. After Roman conquest of Getae territories they named Roman province Dacia Felix and people only Dacians.The answer about why they did may be related to the etymology of name Dacian. [4] The History of Herodotus By Herodotus Written 440 B.C.E Translated by George Rawlinson (I believe Zalmoxis to have lived long before the time of Pythagoras) [15] Sachelarie and Stoicescu 1988 and , Discussion at Paliga 1991 [16] http:/ / upload. wikimedia. org/ wikipedia/ en/ 8/ 87/ Ruines_Getae-Dacians_sanctuaries. jpg [17] JORDANES THE ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS translated by Charles C. Mierow [18] The Geography of Strabo published in Vol. III of the Loeb Classical Library edition, 1924 The text is in the public domain “ The language of the Daci is the same as that of the Getae. Among the Greeks, however, the Getae are better known because the migrations they make to either side of the Ister are continuous, and because they are intermingled with the Thracians and Mysians” [19] Strategemata:I;10;4 by Frontinus [20] http:/ / soltdm. com/ langtdm/ thes/ d/ DPS by Oltean [21] Vezina Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [22] “of the Manner in which the persecutors died” by Lactantius (early Christian author 240 – 320 AD) [23] Strabo Geography VII 3.3.Getae lived on either side the Ister, as did also the Mysi, these also being Thracians and identical with the people who are now called Moesi [24] Zamolxis—the first lawgiver of the Getae" by Carolus Lundius Translation, notes and summary by Maria Crisan (M.A.) [25] Aurora Petan study about the book of the historian Al. Papadopol Calimah "CARTILE PIERDUTE REFERITOARE LA DACIA ("The lost books regarding Dacia") 1872 si 1876. That book list 282 books, and the fact that 90% out of these had been lost [26] The Complete Pythagoras Edited by Patrick Rousell for the World Wide Web(A full-text, public domain edition) [27] The antiquities of Egypt: a translation with notes of book I of the Library of History of Diodorus (Siculus) by Edwin Murphy [28] Introduction to the Science of Religion By Friedrich Muller [29] http:/ / ancienthistory. about. com/ cs/ g recoromanmyth1/ recoromanmyth1/ p/ Hestia. htm [30] Larson, Martin Alfred. The Story of Christian Origins. Washington: J.J. Binns, 1977. ISBN 0883310902 [31] Photius, Fragm. Hist. Graec. III. p.153 [32] Ancient Diogenis Laertius quoted in Prehistoric Dacia by O Desusianu [33] Celts and the classical world, Part 70 By David Rankin [34] The Cornish language and its literature By Peter Berresford Ellis [35] Shamanism by Andrei A. Znamenski [36] Caesar’s The Gallic war [37] The Dacian capital “Sarmizegetusa-Regia” was sited according to precise astronomic alignments and Pythagorean doctrines by Franz Kerek in Papers from the annual meeting of SEAC (European Society for Astronomy in Culture) [38] Plausible considerations regarding the astronomical modeling of the social and biological life of DaciansGetians by Liviu Sofonea University of Brasov [39] Article Etymologies's Etymologies's Connections,2009 by Baloianu "the name is based on the PIE root "Sal" meaning Sun (Latin Sol) Its semantic corresponds to the Sun-cult of Zalmoxis and Pythagorean doctrines, and to the Carol Lundius connections of Zalmoxis to ancients' Sun-Gods [40] Herodotus (lib. IV. c. 94 and 9 6) calls him daimon epichorios (deus indigena) local god [41] Dacia Preistorica by Ovid Densusianu [42] http:/ / fr. wikipedia. org/ wiki/ Religion_des_Daces [43] Wilhelm Tomaschek [44] Cicerone Poghirc, 1983 based on the Slavic nebo, "sky," and the Greek nephele, "cloud")
[45] Religion in the Roman Empire by JB Rives [46] Religion in the Roman Empire by JB Rives [47] Socrates and Sozomenus Ecclesiastical Histories: "At length Galerius Maximian, who had exercised the chief authority also died, having previously appointed as his successor, his old friend and companion in arms, Licinius, a Dacian by birth" [48] http:/ / en. wikipedia. org/ wiki/ Edict_of_Toleration_by_Galerius Edict_of_Toleration_by_Galerius [49] Rumanian studies – An international international annual of the Humanity and social studies studies 1976 Leiden E. J. Brill [50] Ancient Greeks and some ancient Romans until Dacia conquest 107 AD [51] D. Popescu Objets de parure geto-daces en argent Dacia VII-VIII Bucharest 1941 [52] There is a mention about Getae in the imperial imperial Romans titles titles Geticus received by the Caracalla (211-217 AD). Historia Augusta explains why they named Geticus and not Gothicus: "Getae is a name for the Goths, whom he conquered" [54] The history of Herodotus: A new English version, ed. with copious notes and ... By Herodotus, George Rawlinson [55] The Cambridge ancient history, Volume 3, Part 1 By John Boardman [59] Lore and science in ancient Pythagoreanism by Walter Burkert [60] There is not epigraphically evidence of the Zalmodegicus, Thracian prince Pippidi Studii clasice 1961 [61] Greek mysteries: the archaeology and ritual of ancient Greek secret cults By Michael B. Cosmopoulos [63] Ion Popescu Pu ţuri, Magazin istoric XXII 1988 [64] The shape of ancient thought: comparative studies studies in Greek and Indian by Thomas McEvilley [65] The fate of the dead: studies on the Jewish and Christian Christian apocalypses By Richard Bauckham [67] Qumran and the Essenes: a re-evaluation re-evaluation of the evidence By Lena Cansdale [68] The Oxford illustrated history of prehistoric Europe by Barry Cunliffe 2001 ISBN13: 9780192854414 Edited by Barry Cunliffe, one of the world's leading archaeologists [56] This information is coming from Josephus Antiquities of the Jews “Thiras also called those whom he ruled over Thirasians; but the Greeks changed the name into Thracians
