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'''Derzelas''' (''Darzalas'') was a [[Dacia]]n or [[Thracians|Thracian]] [[chthonic]] god of abundance and the underworld, health and human spirit's vitality.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Gočeva|first=Zlatozara|title=Organization of Religious Life in Odessos|journal=Kernos|year=1996|volume=9|pages=121–127}}</ref>
Darzalas was the god of [[Hellenistic period]] Odessos (modern [[Varna, Bulgaria|Varna]]) and was frequently depicted on its coinage<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/greece/thrace/odessos/|title=Thrace, Odessos - Ancient Greek Coins - WildWinds.com|website=www.wildwinds.com}}</ref> from the third century BCE to the third century CE<ref>{{cite book|author1=C. J. Howgego |author2=Volker Heuchert |author3=Andrew M. Burnett |title=Coinage and Identity in the Roman Provinces|year=2008|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780199237845|page=110}}</ref> and portrayed in numerous [[terracotta]] figurines, as well as in a rare 4th century BC lead one found in the city.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20070720025014/http://www.varna-bg.com/museums/archaeology/pictures/musexibit/darsalas.jpg {{Bare URL image|date=August 2024}}</ref> Darzalas was often depicted in [[himation]], holding [[cornucopia]]e with [[altar]]s by his side. There was a temple dedicated to him with a cult statue, and games (''Darzaleia'') were held in his honor every five years, possibly attended by [[Gordian III]] in 238 CE.
Another temple dedicated to Derzelas was built at [[Histria (ancient city)|Histria]] - a [[Colonies in antiquity#Greek colonies|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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://data.aad.gov.au/aadc/gaz/scar/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125233248/http://data.aad.gov.au/aadc/gaz/scar/|url-status=dead|title=SCAR Composite Gazetteer|archivedate=November 25, 2010|website=data.aad.gov.au}}</ref>{{citation needed|reason=not specified|date=June 2016}}
== Notes ==
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{{Dacia topics}}
[[Category:History of Varna, Bulgaria]]
[[Category:Culture in Varna, Bulgaria]]
[[Category:Thracian gods]]
[[Category:Dacian gods]]
[[Category:Health gods]]
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