Editing Zibelthiurdos

{{short description|Thracian god of storm and lightning}}
{{use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
[[File:Iambadoule.jpg|thumb|right|Photo of an epigraphic dedication to Zberthourdos ([[sic]]) and Iambadoule.]]

'''Zibelthiurdos''' is a [[Thracian religion|Thracian]] [[Sky deity|god of heaven]], [[Storm deity|lightning and rain]], whose name is known mainly from epigraphic monuments. The only known reference to this god so far in ancient literature is in [[Cicero]]'s speech against Pizon, where he is mentioned under the name ''Jovi Vrii'' (''Iuppiter Urius'').{{sfn|Cicero}}{{sfn|Tomaschek|1893a|p=62}} According to Cicero, Jupiter Urius had the most ancient and venerated of the barbarian temples, which was sacked by invading armies and resulted in diseases from which those afflicted never recovered.

There is not enough information to draw clear conclusions about his cult, worship, or functions. The  preserved images give reason to connect Zibelthiurdos with the ancient Greek God [[Zeus]] the Thunderer; he is depicted holding a lightning bolt in his raised right hand, and to his right an eagle with wings spread out. Some scholars consider Thracian Zbelsourdos as an equivalent and partially linguistic cognate of [[Getae|Getic]] [[Gebeleizis]] and [[Albanian paganism|Albanian]] [[Shurdh]], all theonyms used to refer to the Indo-European sky and weather god.

==Names and epigraphy==
In the epigraphic evidence, the deity's name is attested in 12 documents, alternatively written as ''Zbelthiourdes'', ''Zbelthourdos'', ''Zbelsourdos'' or ''Zbersurdos'', ''Zbeltiurdus'', ''Svelsurdus''.{{sfn|Popov|2009|p=23}}

Orientalist [[Wilhelm Tomaschek]] reported three Thracian inscriptions:{{sfn|Tomaschek|1893b|p=60}}

* a dedication from [[Moesia]] made by a Mucaporis to a Διί Ζβελθιούρδῳ;
* an inscription in Skopia to a DEO ZBELTHIURDO;
* an inscription from [[Perinthus]] to a Διί Ζιβελσούρδῳ.

According to epigraphic evidence, the name of Greek god [[Zeus]] is found in Thracian inscriptions associated with ''Zbelthiurdos'' and variations: Zbelturd, Zbelsurd, Zbeltiurd, Zpelturd. This combination is believed to attest a syncretism between the Greek deity and a local Thracian god of thunder and lightning.{{sfn|Kovachev|1997|pp=119–120}}{{sfn|Popov|2009|p=25}}

==Etymology==
His name speculatively means "Lightning Carrier" or "Thunderer",{{sfn|Popov|2009|p=24}} but it is uncertain whether Zibelthiurdos is his name or an epithet. Dimitar Detschew supposed that Zbelturdos and variations are epithets of the Thracian reflex of the [[Proto-Indo-European mythology|Proto-Indo-European]] sky-god ''[[*Dyēus]]''.<ref>{{Cite journal |first=Dimitar |last=Detschev |journal=Bulletin de l'Institut archéologique |volume=18 |date=1952 |page=50 |title=Une triade familiale, dans la religion des Thraces |lang=BG}}</ref>

Tomaschek interpreted that ''Zibel-'' and ''Zbel-'' were the same word, although he believed the former to be the older form (cf. Thracian king Ζιβέλμιος, or [[Ziselmius|Zibelmios]]).{{sfn|Tomaschek|1893c|p=61}} He also derived ''Zbel-'' from a [[Proto-Indo-European language|Proto-Indo-European stem]] ''*ģʰeib-'' "light, lightning".{{sfn|Tomaschek|1893c|p=61}}{{sfn|Eliade|1970|pp=58–60}}  Also the Getic theonym ''[[Gebeleizis]]'' has been explained as a compound of ''gebele'' and ''zis''; ''gebele'' probably is from the same PIE root {{lang|ine-x-proto|ģʰeib-}}; ''zis'' is a reflex of the PIE day-light-sky god [[*Dyēus]], the same as Messapic [[Zis (deity)|Zis]] (cognate and equivalent of the Greek [[Zeus]]). The Thracian theonym Zibelthiurdos or Zbelsurdos appears to contain the same PIE root, but with a different phonetic development – ''zebele'' instead of ''gebele''.{{sfn|Eliade|1970|pp=58–60}} The second part of the theonym ''Zbelsurdos'', ''surdos'', has been equated with the [[Albanian language|Albanian]] theonym ''[[Shurdh]]'' used in some regions of northern [[Albania]] to refer to the [[Zojz (deity)|weather god]], worshiped until the 20th century and presumably preserved since [[Illyrians|Illyrian]] times.{{sfn|Treimer|1971|pp=31–33}}{{sfn|Elsie|2001|p=238}}{{sfn|Lurker|2004|p=172}} This term has been interpreted as meaning either "water donor"{{sfn|Treimer|1971|pp=31–33}} or "bellow, hum".{{sfn|Eliade|1970|pp=58–60}} 

In another line of scholarship, Dimitar Detschew assumed that the particles ''Zber-'' and ''Zbel-'' derived from a [[Proto-Indo-European]] stem ''*ģwer-'' 'briller, éclairer'.<ref name=Detschev>{{Cite journal |first=Dimitar |last=Detschev |journal=Bulletin de l'Institut archéologique |volume=18 |date=1952 |page=50 |title=Une triade familiale, dans la religion des Thraces |lang=BG}}</ref> Furthermore, if the second part of the original form of the Thracian theonym was ''thiurdos'', ''thurdos'', etc. instead of ''surdos'', another etymology has been proposed: derived from a stem ''*twer''/''*tur'' 'to have', while ''*dho'' would indicate a nomen agentis suffix. In this view ''Zbelthiurdos'' would mean 'he who has the lightning'.<ref name=Detschev/>

=== Related words ===
Per Tomaschek, further descendants of ''*ģʰeib-'' would include [[Lithuanian language|Lithuanian]] ''žaibas'' "lightning", verb ''žibėti'' "to shine, to glow", and possibly [[Croatian language|Croatian]] ''zúblja'' "torch" and [[Slovene language|Slovene]] ''zubelj'' "flame".{{sfn|Tomaschek|1893c|p=61}} In the same vein, Bulgarian linguist [[Vladimir I. Georgiev]] proposed a connection to Lithuanian ''Žiburys'' 'light, torch'.<ref>Georgiev, Vladimir I.. "Thrakisch und Dakisch". Band 29/2. Teilband Sprache und Literatur (Sprachen und Schriften [Forts.]), edited by Wolfgang Haase, Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter, 1983. p. 1207. {{doi|10.1515/9783110847031-016}}</ref><ref>Georgiev, Vladimir I.. "Thrakisch und Dakisch". Band 29/2. Teilband Sprache und Literatur (Sprachen und Schriften [Forts.]), edited by Wolfgang Haase, Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter, 1983. p. 1158. {{doi|10.1515/9783110847031-015}}</ref>

Bulgarian linguist {{ill|Ivan Duridanov|bg|Иван Дуриданов}} indicated the word ''Zbel-'' is related to [[Latvian language|Latvian]] ''zibele'' "lightning".{{sfn|Duridanov|1985|p=69}}

==Cultic locales==

Zibelthiurdos shrines have been found near the village of [[Golemo Selo]] in the [[Kyustendil Region]] – an area inhabited by the Thracian [[Dentheletae|Dentellets]] tribe – as well as near Kapitan Dimitrievo village in the [[Pazardzhik Province]]. His image was discovered in a relief from the [[Esquiline Hill]], where he is depicted along with Yambadula (or [[Iambadoule]]), a figure of an unclear nature.{{sfn|Puhvel|1957|p=446.}}

At least three inscriptions to deity ''Zbeltiurdus'' were found in the ancient [[Dardani]]an territory: one in [[Kaçanik]], another in Ljubanac (near Skopje), and the third in Dovezenac, near [[Kumanovo|Kumanovë]].<ref>{{cite journal |title=Vjerovanja i štovanje bogova u predkršćanskoj Dardaniji |trans-title=Cults and Beliefs in Pre-Christian Dardania |first=Naser |last=Ferri |publisher=Akademija Nauka i Umjetnosti Bosne i Hercegovine |journal=Godišnjak Centra za balkanološka ispitivanja |date=2012 |issue=41 |page=138 and footnote nr. 23 |lang=Bosnian |url=https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=157357}}</ref>

==Other uses==
The [[Zbelsurd Glacier]] of [[Antarctica]] is named after the god.

==See also==
* [[Gebeleizis]]
* [[Shurdhi]]

== Footnotes ==
{{notelist}}

==Citations==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin|35em}}
*{{cite web| title = Latin Texts and Translations
 | last = Cicero
 | website = In Pisonem
 | publisher = University of Chicago
 | url = http://perseus.uchicago.edu/perseus-cgi/citequery3.pl?dbname=LatinAugust2012&getid=1&query=Cic.%20Pis.%2085
 | access-date = 1 December 2019
}}
*{{cite book| title = Die Sprache der Thraker
 | trans-title = The language of the Thracians
 | last = Duridanov | first = Ivan | year = 1985
 | publisher = Hieronymus Verlag
 | volume = 5 | series = Bulgarische Sammlung
 | page = 69
 | language = de
 | isbn = 3-88893-031-6
}}
*{{cite book|last=Eliade|first=Mircea|author-link=Mircea Eliade|title=De Zalmoxis à Gengis-Khan: études comparatives sur les religions et le folklore de la Dacie et de l'Europe orientale|publisher=Payot|year=1970|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m14AAAAAMAAJ}}
*{{cite book| title = A Dictionary of Albanian Religion, Mythology and Folk Culture
 | last = Elsie | first = Robert
 | publisher = C. Hurst & Co. Publishers
 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=N_IXHrXIsYkC&pg=PA238
 | date = January 2001
 | isbn = 978-1-85065-570-1
}}
*{{Cite journal | title = Ancient Cults in the Sliven Area in the 2nd - 3rd Century
 | last = Kovachev | first = Georgi
 | journal = Bulgarian Historical Review | via = [[Central and Eastern European Online Library]]
 | year = 1997 | volume = 4 | pages = 111–133
 | url = https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=546805
}}
*{{cite book| title = The Routledge dictionary of gods and goddesses, devils and demons
 | last = Lurker | first = Manfred | year = 2004
 | publisher = Psychology Press
 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Vtj0wSsw1JcC&dq=Shurdi+%2B+Illyrian&pg=PA172
 | isbn = 978-0-415-34018-2
}}
*{{Cite journal | title = Le Dieu Supreme des Thraces. Incarnations et Identifications, Traductions - Notations et Noms - Appellations
 | trans-title = The Supreme God of the Thracians. Embodiments and Identifications, Translations – Notations and Names – Appellations
 | last = Popov | first = Dimitar
 | journal = Thracia | via = [[Central and Eastern European Online Library]]
 | date = 2009 | volume = 18 | pages = 15–33
 | language = fr
 | url = https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=871733
}}
*{{Cite journal | title = Reviewed Work: Die thrakischen Sprachreste by Dimiter Detschew
 | last = Puhvel | first = Jaan
 | journal = Language
 | year = 1957 | volume = 33 | number = 3 | page = 446
 | doi = 10.2307/411167
| jstor = 411167 }}
*{{Cite book| title = Die Alten Thraker. Eine ethnologische Untersuchung
 | trans-title = The Ancient Thracians. An ethnological study
 | last = Tomaschek | first = Wilhelm | year = 1893a
 | publisher = Tempsky | location = Vienna
 | volume = II | page = 62
 | language = de
 | url = https://archive.org/details/DieAltenThraker/page/n191/mode/1up | via = [[Internet Archive]]
}}
*{{Cite book| title = Die Alten Thraker. Eine ethnologische Untersuchung
 | trans-title = The Ancient Thracians. An ethnological study
 | last = Tomaschek | first = Wilhelm | year = 1893b
 | publisher = Tempsky | location = Vienna
 | volume = II | page = 60
 | language = de
 | url = https://archive.org/details/DieAltenThraker/page/n188/mode/1up | via = [[Internet Archive]]
}}
*{{Cite book| title = Die Alten Thraker. Eine ethnologische Untersuchung
 | trans-title = The Ancient Thracians. An ethnological study
 | last = Tomaschek | first = Wilhelm | year = 1893c
 | publisher = Tempsky | location = Vienna
 | volume = II | page = 61
 | language = de
 | url = https://archive.org/details/DieAltenThraker/page/n189/mode/1up | via = [[Internet Archive]]
}}
*{{cite book| chapter = Zur Rückerschliessung der illyrischen Götterwelt und ihre Bedeutung für die südslawische Philologie
 | trans-chapter = On the re-development of the Illyrian world of gods and their importance for South Slavic philology
 | last = Treimer | first = Karl | year = 1971
 | title = Arhiv za Arbanasku starinu, jezik i etnologiju
 | trans-title = Archive for Arbanian antiquity, language and ethnology
 | editor-last = Barić | editor-first = Henrik
 | publisher = R. Trofenik
 | volume = I | pages = 27–33
 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=dTIBAAAAMAAJ
}}
{{refend}}

==Further reading==
{{refbegin}}
* Georgieff, Dimitar (2017). "[https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320083166_The_mysterious_goddess_Iambadule_and_her_consort_god_Sbelsurd The mysterious goddess Iambadule and her consort god Sbelsurd]". 10.13140/RG.2.2.10621.87524.
* {{cite journal |first=K. |last=Vlahov |title=Die thrakischen Gottheiten Zberthourdos, Iambadoula und Asdoula |journal=Bulgarian Historical Review |volume=8 |date=1980 |pages=90-96 |lang=DE}}
* {{ill|Попов, Димитър|bg|Димитър Попов (историк)}} [Popov, Dimitar]. "[http://digilib.nalis.bg/dspviewerb/srv/image_singpdff/89b48411-d7e4-466e-b6a4-089c789903fb Збелсурд]" [Sbelsurd]. In: Годишник на Софийския университет "Св. Кл. Охридски": Исторически факултет, специалност Етнология [ANNUAIRE DE L'UNIVERSITE DE SOFIA "ST. KLIMENT OHRIDSKI", FACULTE D'HISTOIRE – STUDIA ETHNOLOGICA]. Tom 2. София: Университетско издателство "Св. Кл. Охридски", 2012. pp. 113-120. {{ISSN|1312-9406}}.
; Archeology:
* {{cite journal |last=Dobruna-Salihu |first=Exhlale |url=https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=70063 |title=ALTARI I PABOTUAR I PERËNDISË ZBELTIURD NGA KOSOVA DHE PËRKUSHTIMET E TJERA NË DARDANI |trans-title=UNPUBLISHED ALTAR OF THE DEITY ZBELTIURD FROM KOSOVA AND OTHER DEVOTIONS IN DARDANIA |journal=Gjurmime Albanologjike – Seria e Shkencave Historike |volume=41-42 |date=2011 |pages=309–320 |lang=Albanian}}
*{{cite journal | title = A monument dedicated to Zbelsurdos by a gerousiast |last=Jovanova |first=L. |journal=Živa Antika |year=2017 |volume=67|issue=1–2 |pages=125–144 |trans-journal=Antiquité Vivante |url=https://antiquitasvivahome.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/67.1-2.14.-jovanova-l.-a-monument-dedicated-to-zbelsurdos-by-a-gerousiast.pdf |doi=10.47054/ZIVA17671-2125j |ref=none}}
* {{cite journal |title=O încercare de reinterpretare a unui relief descoperit în castrul roman de la Cășeiu (jud. Cluj) |trans-title=An attempt of reinterpretation of a relief discovered in the Roman camp Cășeiu (Cluj county) |first=Radu |last=Ota |journal=Carpica |date=2009 |volume=XXXVIII |pages=60–64 |lang=Romanian |url=https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=1038529}}
*{{cite journal | title = Un Intéressant Monument Représentant Jupiter-Zbelsurdos |last1=Popa |first1=Al |last2=Popa |first2=V. |journal=Latomus |year=1982 |volume=41 |issue=2 |pages=353–355 |lang=fr |jstor=41532498 |ref=none}}
* {{cite book |first=D. |last=Tudor |chapter=Deux dieux thraco-phrygiens à Drobeta |title=Hommages à M. J. Vermaseren |volume=III |series=Études préliminaires aux religions orientales dans l'Empire romain (E.P.R.O.) |location=Leiden |publisher=Brill |date=1978 |pages=1269–1280 |doi=10.1163/9789004295452_020 |isbn=9789004295452 |lang=FR}}
{{refend}}

{{Dacia topics}}
{{Thracians}}

[[Category:Thracian gods]]