Táltos
Encyclopedia
The táltos taːltoʃ is a figure in Hungarian mythology
similar to a shaman.
According to Roman Catholic priest Arnold Ipolyi
, in his book "Magyar mitológia" (Hungarian Mythology) from 1854, a táltos was in direct contact with God during the prenatal period. Once born, the táltos had a special mission in life to cure both body and soul of other members of society. The táltos could be either male or female, and should be born with more bones than the usual, like six fingers (altogether 11 or 12 fingers) or already-grown-in teeth.
During their childhood, they had to be brought up in secret to learn everything to be some kind of shaman.
The táltos was able to go into a deep meditation called "révülés", and in such a state could cure sickness of any kind. The táltos also had a mission to communicate with the entire Hungarian nation in a time of danger, to warn against invading armies or an impending cultural collapse.
The main difference between shaman and táltos:
According to general consensus, the táltos were considered as part of pagan religion, and were persecuted in a witch-hunt during the reign of King Stephen I of Hungary. There is evidence, though, that the táltos were still existing until the Habsburg
era, when this tradition was terminated. Maria Theresa made a law requiring that all babies born with teeth or with six fingers be reported and killed, a deliberate act against surviving táltos. (Sounds fake. Name the law number and date of issue.) The painted ceiling of the church of Székelyderzsi had a figure with six fingers, it was renovated, "correcting" the picture to five fingers.
According to Christian folklore tradition, the égi táltos (or heavenly táltos) is Jesus Christ.
taitaa meaning "to know, understand", or from the derivative of Turkish
talt meaning "unconsciousness".
Kampó had "iced body" ("jégtestű"), he was short and had thick legs, he lived in Temesvár (present-day Timişoara
). He ate lunch in Buda
at the same table as King Matthias, and was always poorly dressed. King Matthias was asked several times why a pauper was eating at the same table as the king, but King Matthias insisted on this tradition. When the Turkish
army attacked the Kingdom of Hungary
, Kampó reportedly spilled fire from his mouth and he "fought with his iced body against Turkish metal", redeeming a "moonly" ("holdas") horse of King Matthias from the Turks.
Göncöl, (also Döncöl, Güncü) on the other hand, had tremendous knowledge. He spoke with animals, understood the meanings of the stars, invented the coach, having a coach which was pulled by multiple horses, reportedly having had its perch broken and bended. His death was not seen, but instead it is thought that he "disappeared into the stars". Everybody may see the 'coach of Göncöl' in the sky which is known in astronomy as Ursa Major
(Great Bear), where the tail of the bear is the perch of the coach.
When they met, only the táltos could ride the horse, and it was always "flying like thought". This way the táltos is able to meditate (révül).
In the folk tales the true form of the táltos horse has 5 or 6 legs, could have gold, silver or copper hair, and many times eats hot cinders before going to mission. It can fly to anywhere but has no wings.
Experts say the táltos horse is a symbol of the drum of the táltos. They heated it over fire (see hot cinders) to make it suitable to play and used the drum to meditate (fly away).
Hungarian mythology
Hungarian mythology includes the myths, legends, folk tales, fairy tales and gods of the Hungarians. Many parts of it are thought to be lost, i.e. only some texts remained which can be classified as a myth. However, a significant amount of Hungarian mythology was successfully recovered in the last...
similar to a shaman.
According to Roman Catholic priest Arnold Ipolyi
Arnold Ipolyi
Arnold Ipolyi was a Hungarian bishop and historian.-Life:Ipolyi was born in Kosihy nad Ipľom, Hungary...
, in his book "Magyar mitológia" (Hungarian Mythology) from 1854, a táltos was in direct contact with God during the prenatal period. Once born, the táltos had a special mission in life to cure both body and soul of other members of society. The táltos could be either male or female, and should be born with more bones than the usual, like six fingers (altogether 11 or 12 fingers) or already-grown-in teeth.
During their childhood, they had to be brought up in secret to learn everything to be some kind of shaman.
The táltos was able to go into a deep meditation called "révülés", and in such a state could cure sickness of any kind. The táltos also had a mission to communicate with the entire Hungarian nation in a time of danger, to warn against invading armies or an impending cultural collapse.
The main difference between shaman and táltos:
- The shamans learn to be shamans, while táltos get their power during prenatal period, they "know" everything once born.
- The shamans use external materials to go into meditation, táltos can do "révülés" without anything.
- The shamans usually do some kind of acting (dancing, mumbling, etc) when they are in "operation", while táltos are always without any movement or sound.
- The shaman tradition is without horse, while táltos tradition is tied to "táltos horse".
- The táltos has a personalised mission in life from God.
According to general consensus, the táltos were considered as part of pagan religion, and were persecuted in a witch-hunt during the reign of King Stephen I of Hungary. There is evidence, though, that the táltos were still existing until the Habsburg
Habsburg
The House of Habsburg , also found as Hapsburg, and also known as House of Austria is one of the most important royal houses of Europe and is best known for being an origin of all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1438 and 1740, as well as rulers of the Austrian Empire and...
era, when this tradition was terminated. Maria Theresa made a law requiring that all babies born with teeth or with six fingers be reported and killed, a deliberate act against surviving táltos. (Sounds fake. Name the law number and date of issue.) The painted ceiling of the church of Székelyderzsi had a figure with six fingers, it was renovated, "correcting" the picture to five fingers.
According to Christian folklore tradition, the égi táltos (or heavenly táltos) is Jesus Christ.
Origin of the word
The name "Táltos" is of unknown origin, but most probably correlating to "tát", which is to "open wide"; i.e. they "opened themselves to the world." Other theories state it comes from UralicUralic languages
The Uralic languages constitute a language family of some three dozen languages spoken by approximately 25 million people. The healthiest Uralic languages in terms of the number of native speakers are Hungarian, Finnish, Estonian, Mari and Udmurt...
taitaa meaning "to know, understand", or from the derivative of Turkish
Turkish language
Turkish is a language spoken as a native language by over 83 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Northern Cyprus with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo,...
talt meaning "unconsciousness".
Göncöl and Kampó
In folk tales we may meet táltoses often, for example Göncöl and Kampó.Kampó had "iced body" ("jégtestű"), he was short and had thick legs, he lived in Temesvár (present-day Timişoara
Timisoara
Timișoara is the capital city of Timiș County, in western Romania. One of the largest Romanian cities, with an estimated population of 311,586 inhabitants , and considered the informal capital city of the historical region of Banat, Timișoara is the main social, economic and cultural center in the...
). He ate lunch in Buda
Buda
For detailed information see: History of Buda CastleBuda is the western part of the Hungarian capital Budapest on the west bank of the Danube. The name Buda takes its name from the name of Bleda the Hun ruler, whose name is also Buda in Hungarian.Buda comprises about one-third of Budapest's...
at the same table as King Matthias, and was always poorly dressed. King Matthias was asked several times why a pauper was eating at the same table as the king, but King Matthias insisted on this tradition. When the Turkish
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
army attacked the Kingdom of Hungary
Kingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
, Kampó reportedly spilled fire from his mouth and he "fought with his iced body against Turkish metal", redeeming a "moonly" ("holdas") horse of King Matthias from the Turks.
Göncöl, (also Döncöl, Güncü) on the other hand, had tremendous knowledge. He spoke with animals, understood the meanings of the stars, invented the coach, having a coach which was pulled by multiple horses, reportedly having had its perch broken and bended. His death was not seen, but instead it is thought that he "disappeared into the stars". Everybody may see the 'coach of Göncöl' in the sky which is known in astronomy as Ursa Major
Ursa Major
Ursa Major , also known as the Great Bear, is a constellation visible throughout the year in most of the northern hemisphere. It can best be seen in April...
(Great Bear), where the tail of the bear is the perch of the coach.
The Táltos Horse
The táltos always had a horse, frequently appearing in Hungarian folk tales. However, the Táltos Horse always was ugly, causing them to be mocked by everybody. It is said in myths, that only the táltos could see the real powers hidden in the horse. And the heroes of the folk tales.When they met, only the táltos could ride the horse, and it was always "flying like thought". This way the táltos is able to meditate (révül).
In the folk tales the true form of the táltos horse has 5 or 6 legs, could have gold, silver or copper hair, and many times eats hot cinders before going to mission. It can fly to anywhere but has no wings.
Experts say the táltos horse is a symbol of the drum of the táltos. They heated it over fire (see hot cinders) to make it suitable to play and used the drum to meditate (fly away).
External links
- A Nagy- és Kis Göncöl és a Sarkcsillag ( html and pdf) by Várhegyi Péter, part of MCSE's pages about history of astronomyHistory of astronomyAstronomy is the oldest of the natural sciences, dating back to antiquity, with its origins in the religious, mythological, and astrological practices of pre-history: vestiges of these are still found in astrology, a discipline long interwoven with public and governmental astronomy, and not...
See also
- Hungarian mythologyHungarian mythologyHungarian mythology includes the myths, legends, folk tales, fairy tales and gods of the Hungarians. Many parts of it are thought to be lost, i.e. only some texts remained which can be classified as a myth. However, a significant amount of Hungarian mythology was successfully recovered in the last...
- Hungarian shamanism
- Hungarian neopaganism