Derzelas

Derzelas
Great God of Odessos God of abundance, the underworld, health, and human spirit's vitality
A coin depicting the Great God of Odessos holding a patera over an altar in his right hand and a cornucopia in his left
Venerated in	Odessos
Equivalents
Greek	Orphic Dionysus
Roman	Pluto
Graeco-Egyptian	Sarapis

Derzelas, also called Darzelas and Derzis,¹ was a Dacian or Thracian chthonic² god of abundance, the underworld, health, and human spirit's vitality.³⁴ Derzelas was associated with the Roman Pluto, the Orphic Dionysus,² the Graeco-Egyptian Sarapis,⁵ and was one of the many gods associated with the Thracian Horseman.⁶

During Roman rule of Dacia, Derzelas became associated with the Great God of Odessos (modern Varna), and thus was called Theos Megas Darzalas (the Great God Derzalas).¹³⁷ However, his worship never fully replaced the earlier dominant cult of Apollo in Odessos.⁷

Derzalas was also referred to as theō epēkoō Derzei (the god who listens to prayers).¹

There was a temple dedicated to him with a cult statue, and games (Darzaleia) were held in his honor every five years,⁸ possibly attended by Gordian III in 238 CE.

Another temple dedicated to Derzelas was built at Histria - a Greek colony on the shore of the Black Sea in the third century BC.

Darzalas Peak on Trinity Peninsula in Antarctica is named after the god.⁹

There is debate among scholars whether Derzelas was an indigenous Thracian god,¹⁰ if he had Greek origins, or if he was the result of religious syncretism.⁸ The name Darzalas itself is of Thracian origin,² while Theos Megas is a Roman term, usually given to Pluto.⁸

Derzalas was frequently depicted on the coinage of Hellenistic period Odessos¹¹ from the third century BCE to the third century CE¹² and portrayed in numerous terracotta figurines, as well as in a rare 4th century BC lead one found in the city.¹³ He was also depicted on the coinage of Tomis (modern day Constanța).¹⁰

Derzalas was depicted on the reverse side of coinage for Roman Empires such as Caracalla, Septimus Severus, Elagabalus, Severus Alexander, and Gordan III.¹⁴ He was also sometimes depicted on the obverse of coins, with the Thracian Horseman on the reverse²¹⁵, on either side as the central figure of a triad, between Heracles and Athena,⁵ and on the reverse of coins, with Heracles on the obverse. In Tomis coinage, Derzelas was also sometimes shown with an eagle between Castor and Pollux.¹⁰

Derzalas was often depicted in himation, holding cornucopiae with altars by his side.²

From 281-250 BCE, Derzelas was featured on three out of four of Odessos' countermarks.¹⁶

One relief, estimated to be from the 1st - 3rd centuries BCE, discovered in Metodievo, depicts the Thracian Horseman refers to the Horseman as Derzis, who the Roman creator (Aelius Diogenes) is making an offering to.²⁸

Some scholars believe that the Thracian Horseman's association with Derzalas gave him a role as a guide for souls in the underworld.²