 They draw on ancient authors such as Diodorus Siculus, who states that the Getae worshipped Hestia as well as Zalmoxis.A number of etymologies have been given for the name.In his "Vita Pythagorae", Porphyrius (3rd century) says that he was so named because he had been wrapped in a bearskin at birth, and "zalmon" is the Thracian word for "hide" ().