ZALMOKSIS

 

           The principal question about the purpose and the cult practices of the rock cult center follows, which for now is unique not only in Dobroudja, but also in the lands of the downstream of the Danube river as a whole. It is almost certain, that the sanctuaries on the river Taban are not connected with the cult to the sun, because none of them is lighted directly by the sun rays and the usual sun disks cut in the rock are missing.
          The rock temples, alters, under-ground galleries and halls on the shore of the half-dried river point the attention to the history of the Thracian-Getae hero,a wise man, a healer, a high priest, a king and god Zalmoksis
While describing the campaign of the Persian king Darius against the Schytians (514 B.C.), Herodotus claimed, that before reaching Istar (The Danube) had conquered The Getae.  They showed greatest resistance, therefore they were nominated for the bravest and fairest of the Thracian. The Getae believed in the immortality (one of the reasons for their incomparable bravery) and they did not think, that they die, but that after death they went to the God Salmoksis, also called Gebeleizis. Every 3 years they chose by lot one of them as a messenger with breves and asks for their needs to Salmoksis. For this purpose they put three pikes, over which they threw the messenger from a height. If he dies pierced, they believe that the god is favorable, but if he does not die the blame is put on him and another messenger is chosen.
           These same Thracians threw arrows to the sky against the god of lights and thunders, in belief that there was no other god than Salmoksis. Apart from that Herodotus found out from the Greek settlers on the Black sea coast, that he (Salmoksis) was a slave of the famous philosopher and mathematician Pythagorus (the second half of the VI century B.C.) on the island Samos. Armed with a lot of knowledge after he had been released from Pythagorus, Salmoksis got rich and finally he went back to his compatriots, where he stands out for his erudition and a fine way of life. He built himself a hall (andreon), in which he received the noble The Getae, he feasted them and taught them that neither he, nor his table-companions, nor their successors will ever die, but after the death they will go to a  sublime place, where they will be buried in luxury. In the same time he made them to build him an underground lodging, where he descended and lived there separated from the world in a full isolation for three years. The Thracians grieved for him and lamented for him, but in the fourth year Salmoksis appeared and stimulated them to think, that he is immortal.
           The living culture tradition is expressed by making mummer festivals in our days too, which are thought to be legacy of the trakian ritualism, connected to the local god Zalmoxis.