Names of Zeus: Zalmoxis

Zalmoxis is a mysterious and enigmatic deity, venerated primarily by the Getae and Dacians, two ancient Thracian tribes. The accounts of Zalmoxis stem largely from Greek and Roman sources, particularly Herodotus, as Dacian history as a whole has not left us with a lot of written works, and oral traditions were affected by the Christianization of Rome, leaving little time for greater study to be done by pagan Romans.

There are remnants that evolved over time in the area, as the Romans, in truth, only conquered about 15% of what is now Romania, as an early plan to expand beyond the Danube, and to reach a specific gold mine in the Carpathians. Once this was done, the Romans did their usual practice of integrating the territory into Roman culture, which did involve studying the natives and seeing what is of value.

This evolution was cut short by the great Germanic migrations which sent the area into chaos, but a narrative can be constructed if one is spiritually aware of the patterns that took place and can isolate certain elements, which is the aim of this essay.

THE MORTAL ZALMOXIS

Some sources depict Zalmoxis as a divine figure with connections to subterranean realms and chthonic symbolism, while others emphasize his role as a mortal prophet who later achieved apotheosis. His legend has survived in a fragmented and somewhat contradictory manner, leaving scholars with the Herculean task to piece together his true significance.

The question of whether Zalmoxis was originally a human who later became deified or a God who temporarily incarnated as a human remains a point of debate among mainstream scholars. This duality can be understood through two lenses, that we will then try to reconcile.

Some sources suggest that Zalmoxis was a historical sage, philosopher, polymath, or religious reformer who introduced spiritual teachings to the Getae, later being mythologized into a god. This perspective aligns with Herodotus’ claim that he was a former disciple of Pythagoras, spreading the doctrine of the soul’s potential immortality.

If this connection is accurate, it suggests a significant cultural exchange between Greek philosophical traditions and the spiritual practices of the Thracian and Getic peoples.

However, Herodotus himself discredits this as hearsay, and the story of Zalmoxis being specifically a freed slave of Pythagoras doesn't align with the historical timeline we have of the deity.

"Some of them say that this Zalmoxis was once a man and lived among them, while others say he was a divinity of long standing."

This brings us to our first hurdle, which I will address right here, in the section about Zalmoxis' potential theory as a deified human and nothing else. The hurdle being that the Dacian cults acted much like most ancient religions, with a clearly defined exoteric and esoteric side. Dacian priests, much like the Celts, spoke in verbal codes.

The people didn't know much beyond the surface level, as the higher level knowledge was left to initiates. So, after also addressing the exoteric perspective of Zalmoxis as a "long-standing deity", we will then dive into the parallel of exoteric and esoteric as far as his story goes, through the lens of what the Temple of Zeus knows about divinity, ancient religions, and esoteric truths.

The opposite perspective would be that Zalmoxis was not a historical figure but rather a traditional deity, deeply rooted in the religious beliefs of the Getae and Dacians. This interpretation aligns with the idea that Zalmoxis was a long-standing god of the underworld, immortality, and cyclical rebirth, akin to other Indo-European deities associated with death and resurrection, or the cults of Dionysus. His veneration appears to predate any Greek influence, suggesting that his mythological framework was an integral part of Thracian spirituality and truly Divine revelation from the Gods, rather than a later philosophical reinterpretation by the Greeks.

Additionally, the story of Zalmoxis retreating into an underground chamber for three years before reemerging can be seen as a symbolic myth rather than a historical event. This motif of descent and return is common in mythology, often representing the cycle of death and rebirth, similar to the myths of Osiris, Dionysus, or Persephone. In this view, Zalmoxis functions as a chthonic deity, governing the afterlife and promising his followers eternal existence beyond physical death.

Rather than being a deified sage, Zalmoxis may have always been worshipped as a God, with later Greek interpretations attempting to rationalize his existence in terms of familiar philosophical traditions which leaned more heavily into more secular understandings, as the mystical understandings became more and more isolated within the mystery schools.

His cult likely had shamanic and esoteric elements, with priests or spiritual leaders acting as mediators between the divine and mortal worlds. The persistence of his worship and its deep connection to the cultural identity of the Getae and Dacians further supports the argument that Zalmoxis was an indigenous deity, whose mythos evolved independently of Greek influence.

It is known that Zalmoxis was openly equated with the Phrygian God named Sabazios who was associated with thunder, war and rain. Romans equated him with Dies Pater or Jupiter. Sabazios was also known to be a mortal incarnation of Zeus, Zagreus.

The exoteric, mythological Zalmoxis is an archetypal figure embodying themes of transcendence, rebirth, and divine wisdom. His core symbolism is tied to a tripartite nature of material, chthonic and celestial, similarly to Zeus, as a being that had affairs in the underworld, dealt with human material affairs, and also ruled from a higher realm of existence.

Exoterically, reconciliation between these perspectives lies in the recognition that the divine and mortal are not mutually exclusive, even within the mythological perspective of "archetypes". Many ancient traditions held that gods could manifest as humans, and humans could ascend to divinity through wisdom, sacrifice, or initiation. In this way, Zalmoxis serves as a bridge between the human and divine realms, guiding mortals toward transcendence just like most Gods.

GEBELEIZIS

Another God is Gebelezis, who was held to be the God of the Lightning and the Horizon in Dacian and Thracian understanding.

Typically, he was represented as a handsome male who manifested lightning and thunder from his hands. Thrones were associated with his cult and so was being shown as as a horseman, with a bow in his left hand accompanied by a snake descending to the horse's head. Much like Zeus, he often was represented with horned eagle holding a fish in its beak and a rabbit in its claws.

Other times he appears as a warrior horseman accompanied by a dog carrying a spear that he throws at a wild boar from his horse's run, or as a peaceful horseman carrying a torch or a horn of plenty in his hand.

He is also represented as tricephalous (with three heads), or as a blessing God, with the first three fingers of his right hand raised or spread and the others pressed together towards the bridge of the palm. This may show his connection to Sabazios, Belenos or even El-Gabal, another aspect of Zeus from the Arabs.