Thracian Cult of Zalmoxis Becomes A World Religion

I think all religions had their heroic parts. What I meant is some of these religions could been used by the rullers as a propaganda mean for war. I think this religion was intense used both by Burebista and Decebalus.

Any religion in history could and were manipulated for preaching warfare. There is nothing exceptionally aggressive about Thracian or Germanic theology in comparison to Judaism.


I didn't know about germans. Have you a source?

It was common practice in the Roman Empire to syncretize provincial deities with Greco-Roman Gods. Germanic auxilliaries in the Roman Army are thought have made votive offerings to Hercules, which they may have conflated with Thunor (Thor).

Yes, but specific informations about dacians and germans suggest their religion were used as a warlike propaganda by their rullers. I think romans knew this, and made distinction between different warlike customs. Zalmoxe and Odin were the main gods.

Roman sources, but none from the Dacians themselves. Plus, "Woden", "Thunor" and "Tiwaz" were the main gods of the Germanic tribes, and with no certain way of knowing if there was any sort of accepted hierarchy among them.

I don't denny it, but Zalmoxis simply dissapeared after 106.

Yes, because Trajan destroyed Dacian civil society, along with its clerical authority.

Yes, my bad! Then Burebista was a pionier;)

Alexander the Great and the Pharoahs would have beaten Burebista to it. And thats assuming IF Dacians believed in god-kings as well.
 
Any religion in history could and were manipulated for preaching warfare.
I can imagine this: some chicken sacrifices to Jehova, followed by lot of prayers to protect their skins.
There is nothing exceptionally aggressive about Thracian or Germanic theology in comparison to Judaism.
I disagree! I don't say judaism was inferior-maybe it was supperior. But the warlike effect was different
It was common practice in the Roman Empire to syncretize provincial deities with Greco-Roman Gods. Germanic auxilliaries in the Roman Army are thought have made votive offerings to Hercules, which they may have conflated with Thunor (Thor).
No, is not the same! First, it was Hercule, and they were roman soldiers-so, roman had all interest they fight well. It is about the remained german civil population, in german teritories, occupied by romans. They could revolt against romans anytime.
Roman sources, but none from the Dacians themselves. Plus, "Woden", "Thunor" and "Tiwaz" were the main gods of the Germanic tribes, and with no certain way of knowing if there was any sort of accepted hierarchy among them.
I think the roman sources are enough to form a probable ideea. Of course, would be wonderful if we'd have dacian sources.
Yes, because Trajan destroyed Dacian civil society, along with its clerical authority.
No, I think this is unlikely. It was imposible to control&destroy an entire teritory, never speaking about non-conquered teritories. IMHO, it is likely they forbiden Zalmoxis, combined with subversive policies: for example training tarabostes and spread them into dacian populations with rewards promising to the ones who choose a given religion(Mithra, Hercule, ....). Probably secundar dacians gods were tolerated, as Bendis, or different forest, mountains spirits...
Alexander the Great and the Pharoahs would have beaten Burebista to it. And thats assuming IF Dacians believed in god-kings as well.
Of course, I've joked! But would be interesting-I know nothing about
 
I disagree! I don't say judaism was inferior-maybe it was supperior. But the warlike effect was different.

In what respect is Judaism "superior"? Judaism is nothing more than the developed Hebrew tribal cult of Yahweh. Its martial preachments were to enslave Gentiles and take their land. The Hebrews were no different in their military objectives than anyone else.

No, is not the same! First, it was Hercule, and they were roman soldiers-so,, in german teritories, occupied by romans. They could revolt against romans an roman had all interest they fight well. It is about the remained german civil populationytime.

Romans did employ Germanic tribesmen, and other ethnic groups, as Auxiliary soldiers. As the Roman Empire incorporated mostly Polytheistic native cultures, it was common for religious syncretism to take place. And sometimes, people would learn about foreign gods, note their similarities with their own gods, and even acquire statues and figurines when they would erect a shrine or alter. And by the Second Century CE, legionaries would be recruited within the province, where the natives and descendents of the first Roman colonists would have homogenized.

No, I think this is unlikely. It was imposible to control&destroy an entire teritory, never speaking about non-conquered teritories. IMHO, it is likely they forbiden Zalmoxis, combined with subversive policies: for example training tarabostes and spread them into dacian populations with rewards promising to the ones who choose a given religion(Mithra, Hercule, ....). Probably secundar dacians gods were tolerated, as Bendis, or different forest, mountains spirits...

I said nothing about destroying either the population of Dacia or its country. The nobles and urban populations would have been killed and enslaved before settlers from Roman territories would have emigrated. The remaining population would have been the rural folk living in villages. After Trajan's conquest, folk beliefs would have remained of the Dacians religion, but without an official priesthood.
 
In what respect is Judaism "superior"? Judaism is nothing more than the developed Hebrew tribal cult of Yahweh. Its martial preachments were to enslave Gentiles and take their land. The Hebrews were no different in their military objectives than anyone else.
I didn't say it-just maybe. A military achievement could be obtained, either, by mobilising masses by a good orator. Hebrews had lot of good orators-dacians only few. But dacians had a more simply and effective instrument-religion.
I said nothing about destroying either the population of Dacia or its country. The nobles and urban populations would have been killed and enslaved before settlers from Roman territories would have emigrated. The remaining population would have been the rural folk living in villages. After Trajan's conquest, folk beliefs would have remained of the Dacians religion, but without an official priesthood.
To kill all the priest?this is a legend, either. This is something posible only 20 century onwards. Remember not all the dacian teritory was conquered. And who says priests could not appear among ordinar people? It is more effective to send missionaries, who know the people well, and advice him to follow more healthy ways, promising some advantages, either
 
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