Zalmoxianism (Romanian: Zalmoxianism) or Zamolxianism[1] (Romanian: Zamolxianism) is a Neopagan movement in Romania which promotes the rebuilding of an ethnic religion and spirituality of the Romanians through a process of reconnection to their ancient Dacian and Thracian roots.[2] The religion takes its name from Zalmoxis or Zamolxe, at the same time the name of the primordial god and the archetype of the enlightened man in Paleo-Balkan mythology. Scholars Bakó and Hubbes (2011) have defined Zalmoxianism, like the other ethnic religious revivals of Europe, as a reconstructionist ethno-paganism.[3]

Origins

The reconstruction of ancient Dacian and Thracian religion and mythology has been strictly connected with the field of dacology.[4] Amongst contemporary supporters of Zalmoxianism, the emigrant dacologist Octavian Sărbătoare even proposed to make it the official religion of Romania.[5]

Organisations

The Gebeleizis Society

The "Gebeleizis Society" (Romanian: Societatea Gebeleizis), though far from being the only Zalmoxian group in Romania, has been the most studied formation.[6] It has 500 members split into 15 branches.[7] The core values of the organisation are expressed by its motto "One Family, One Nation, One Territory" (Romanian: O Familie, Un Neam, Un Teritoriu);[8] for the ideas promoted, the Gebeleizis Society has been subject of media scandal, and accused of extremism.[9]

Zamolxe group

Another group is the Zamolxe, based in Bucharest, whose high priest is Alexandru Mihail. They worship the old Thraco-Dacian pantheon of gods, and claim that the name "Zalmoxis" comes from zamol, meaning "earth".[10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Bakó-Hubbes, 2011, pp. 139-140
  2. ↑ Bakó-Hubbes, 2011, p. 129
  3. ↑ Bakó-Hubbes, 2011, p. 131
  4. ↑ Bakó-Hubbes, 2011, p. 137
  5. ↑ Bakó-Hubbes, 2011, p. 140
  6. ↑ Bakó-Hubbes, 2011, p. 136
  7. ↑ Bakó-Hubbes, 2011, p. 149: quoting Margareta Lupu
  8. ↑ Bakó-Hubbes, 2011, p. 143
  9. ↑ Bakó-Hubbes, 2011, p. 142
  10. ↑ Maras Loks: Zamolxe

Bibliography

  • László-Attila Hubbes. Romanian Ethno-Paganism: Discourses of Nationalistic Religion in Virtual Space. In Native Faith and Neo-Pagan Movements in Central and Eastern Europe. Kaarina Aitamurto, Scott Simpson. Acumen Publishing, 2013. ISBN 1844656624
  • Rozália Klára Bakó, László-Attila Hubbes. Religious Minorities' Web Rhetoric: Romanian and Hungarian Ethno-Pagan Organizations. Journal for the Study of Religions and Ideologies, vol. 10, issue 30, Winter 2011: 127-158. ISSN 1583-0039
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