Powerful Zalmoxian Religion?

Before and during Roman times, the Dacians were known to be Henotheists that worshiped Zalmoxis (amongst other deities). Could it be possible for either Dacia or Roman Dacia to develop the worship of Zalmoxis into a powerful religion spreading militaristic converts across central and eastern Europe (as a counter to Christianity and other pagan cults?)

(I was inspired by both Lux Invicta and this page of such a hypothetical religion)
 
Assuming we can rely on the accuracy of the historical record, I don't see why not. And fortunately, the historical record is rather scant, which means plenty of leeway for invention.

The ancient Dacians however did worship other gods as well, as far as I know. One would need to reduce these other gods in stature or in the number of adherents. Dacian society would need to be able to accommodate some sort of charismatic, prophetic or mystical figure who could make certain changes to the religion, in all likelihood.

From there you'd probably have a good shot assuming the religion could cross ethnic barriers, which, seeing as it was in all probability influenced by Greek thought anyways, seems likely.
 
Was worship of Zalmoxis that of an henotheistic belief, though?
It seems that he was an important god out of many worshipped by the same people, as Gebeleizis or Sabazios (during roman period).

Herodotus, for exemple, doesn't tie him to a particular Gaetic/Dacian subgroup which generally structurate the special belief, and I'm not sure other ancient scholars did. Admittedly, it was in the Vth BC, but it doesn't seems to have been contradicted later.

As for becoming a Mithraic cult equivalent...Why not indeed. I'd expect it to be largely romanized (maybe instead of Sabazios, as a Mars Gaeticae or Mars Zalmoxia?). It could hint the importance of Danubian Legions (maybe trough the victory of their candidates against, say, Severians?) and maybe being propelled as an imperial cult instead or parallel (up to mixing, maybe) Mithran cult? After all Zalmoxian worship as a mysterion seems quite established, at least as an interpretation.

(As an aside, a website that held Magic as a real force may not be the wisest source)
 
The Weighted Scales: The World of an Aborted Rome (Multi-page thread 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ... Last Page)
Errnge

Blood & Gold: A History of the Argead Empire (Multi-page thread 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ... Last Page)
Endymion

Suebi Superpower (Multi-page thread 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ... Last Page)
Lysandros Aikiedes

What pagan religions could be turned into monotheism? (Multi-page thread 1 2 3)
Zioneer

WI: Burebista's Getae kingdom survives?
Lysandros Aikiedes

Thracian Cult of Zalmoxis Becomes A World Religion (Multi-page thread 1 2)
Lysandros Aikiedes



All deal with this, at least in passing.
 
The Weighted Scales: The World of an Aborted Rome (Multi-page thread 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ... Last Page)
Errnge

Blood & Gold: A History of the Argead Empire (Multi-page thread 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ... Last Page)
Endymion

Suebi Superpower (Multi-page thread 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ... Last Page)
Lysandros Aikiedes

What pagan religions could be turned into monotheism? (Multi-page thread 1 2 3)
Zioneer

WI: Burebista's Getae kingdom survives?
Lysandros Aikiedes

Thracian Cult of Zalmoxis Becomes A World Religion (Multi-page thread 1 2)
Lysandros Aikiedes



All deal with this, at least in passing.
And none of those are anywhere near active.
 
Top