The Name of Zalmoxis and Its Significance in the Dacian Language and Religion
Şerban George Paul Drugaş
Hiperboreea Journal of History December 1, 2016 DOI: 10.5325/hiperboreea.3.2.0005 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that Pythagoras was influenced by Thraco-Dacian beliefs present in Zamolxianism, that Zalmoxis relates to an initiatory mystery cult and shamanic practices, and that the forms Zalmoxis and Zamolxis reflect a word game opposing mystery cult to shamanism and solar-uranian to chthonian cult. |
Abstract
Abstract In order to write about the significance of the name of Zalmoxis in the Dacian language and religion, I begin with the displaying of the sources. Afterwards, there are presented three debates, about: (1) the relation between Zalmoxis and Pythagoras, showing that the philosopher was definitely influenced by the Thraco-Dacian beliefs which were also present in Zamolxianism; (2) “immortalization” as an initiatic mystery cult, shamanic practices; (3) an exploration of the forms Zalmoxis and Zamolxis. The first form, of Zalmoxis, attested in Herodotus, with witnesses in inscriptions, could be related with some terms and practices found in Siberian peoples, used for hunting and shamanism (cf. sϵl, at Ket and Yugh). These practices are connected to the Dance of the Bear and others in the Romanian folklore. The second part of the term Zalmoxis could have come from *mo(i)š) (skin, sack, i. e., shamanic mask), which could lead to the Romanian autochtonous word moş (old, elder, ancestor). The second form, Zamolxis, was connected to the Indo-European satem *sem- < PIE *dheghom- (earth > man). The theonym could end up with two forms by a word game, due to the oppositions between the mystery cult and shamanism, and between the solar-uranian cult from Sarmizegetusa and a chthonian cult, supported mainly by the southern Thracians (Semele, Dionysos).