Derzelas

Derzelas was a Thracian god of fertility and abundance. He was particularly associated with the underworld, chthonic powers, and the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. Evidence for the worship of Derzelas is primarily found in the area of Odessos (modern Varna, Bulgaria) and along the western Black Sea coast.

While not much is known definitively about the myths surrounding Derzelas, inscriptions and votive offerings suggest he was a powerful and important deity to the Thracian people. He is often depicted on coins and other artifacts as a male figure holding a cornucopia, representing prosperity and the bounty of the earth. His association with the underworld indicates a belief in his power to influence the afterlife and potentially grant regeneration.

The precise rituals and ceremonies associated with Derzelas are not well-documented, but it is likely that they involved offerings of food and drink to ensure the fertility of the land and the well-being of the community. The cult of Derzelas appears to have flourished during the Hellenistic and Roman periods in Thrace, eventually declining with the spread of Christianity.