Zalmoxis

Zalmoxis (Greek: Ζάλμοξις) is a divinity of the Getae (a people of the lower Danube), mentioned by Herodotus in his Histories IV, 93–96.

In later interpretations, which began with Jordanes (6th century AC) and proliferated during the 19th and 20th century, mainly in Romania (where it is known by the name of Zamolxis), he was regarded as the sole god of the Getae or as a legendary social and religious reformer who, according to Herodotus, taught the Getae a belief in immortality, so that they considered dying merely as going to Zalmoxis. Herodotus states that Zalmoxis was also called by some of the Getae Gebeleizis, which led some researchers to conclude that Getae were actually henotheists or even polytheists. Another discussion exists about the chthonic (infernal) or uranian (heavenly) character of Zalmoxis.