Naming, Defining, Phrasing Strong Asymmetrical Dependencies by Jeannine Bischoff Stephan Conermann Marion Gymnich

Author:Jeannine Bischoff, Stephan Conermann, Marion Gymnich
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: De Gruyter
Published: 2023-03-03T12:18:17.816000+00:00

Herodotos presents two narratives here. The first is that told by the Getai themselves, who believed that Salmoxis is their god and that he had taught their ancestors that they do not die but go to him. Additional sources retell the cult of Salmoxis. Plato, for instance,9 attributes to the Thracians the belief that Zalmoxis is their god and that they possess charms that make them immortal. The same is known from other texts, some of which also mention the Greek tale of Salmoxis’ servile status.10 Scholars who have studied this cult and the ancient peoples of Thrace and Dacia interpret the cult of Salmoxis as chthonian or as associated with Asian shamanism, whereas others point to features similar to Pythagorianism – possibly explaining the connection of Salmoxis with Pythagoras in the Greek narrative.11 Be its features as they might, the cult appears to have been very much esteemed by the Thracians, who worshipped Salmoxis as a powerful god.

Some scholars base their interpretation of the cult on the etymology offered by Porphyry, who traces the variant Zalmoxis to the Thracian word zalmos, “skin” or “fur,” because, according to an anecdote, Zalmoxis was wrapped in bearskin at birth.12 Hence, it has been suggested that he was a “Bear-God”; others infer that he was part of, or the founder of, a mystery cult of warriors. Yet another etymology derives the name from the Thracian word zemelen, “earth,” and identifies Zalmoxis as a chthonic god.13 But it is worth noting what Dana writes:

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