The Philippi Inscription as a Source on the Ethical Principles and Religious Beliefs of the Bulgars

Authors:

Pages: 140-151
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54664/QQVW1301

Abstract:

This article deals with the famous inscription of the Bulgar ruler Persian (Presian) in Philippi. Its second large extant fragment contains information about the ethical principles and religious beliefs of the Pre-Christian Bulgars. The information is worth another attempt to interpret. In it, the author discerns a layer of Indo-Iranian religiosity, most notably the antithesis of Truth and Lie and the deity of contract Mit(h)ra. However, the latter is not mentioned by name, most likely due to a word taboo on the use of his name.

Keywords:

Philippi inscription; Bulgar ethics and religiosity; truth-lie opposition; god of contract.

Download

NA