Zoar of the Bronzes

Just like "Ieo of China," "Zoar of Bronzes" (originally written as "Zoar of the Bonzes") is not a real historical, religious, or mythological figure.


 

This name does not exist in any ancient texts, archaeological records, or world religions. Because this figure is entirely fabricated, there is no historical data regarding his birth, death, resurrection, or teachings. Consequently, there are no statues, scrolls, or artistic depictions to show you.


 

Here is the factual breakdown of where this name came from and why none of the theological questions apply.


 

The Origin of the Name

The name "Zoar of the Bonzes" comes from a single, highly discredited 19th-century book.


 

In 1875, an American writer named Kersey Graves published The World's Sixteen Crucified Saviors. In it, he listed dozens of supposed pagan gods and ancient prophets who he claimed were crucified, born of virgins, and resurrected before Jesus Christ. Modern historians and scholars of comparative religion have universally rejected Graves' book because he frequently altered ancient myths, misquoted sources, or simply invented deities to make his lists longer.


 

"Zoar of the Bonzes" is widely considered by historians and mythicists alike to be one of Graves' pure fabrications.


 

What the Words Actually Mean

The name itself is a linguistic mash-up of unrelated terms that gives away its artificial nature:


 

  • Bonzes: "Bonze" is not a place or a religion. It is an archaic European term (derived from the Japanese word bonsō) that 16th-century Portuguese and French missionaries used to describe East Asian Buddhist monks.


     

  • Zoar: Zoar is a biblical city in the Middle East (one of the five "cities of the plain" associated with Sodom and Gomorrah in the Book of Genesis).


     

There is no record in Chinese, Japanese, or Indian history of Buddhist monks ("Bonzes") worshipping a savior god named "Zoar."


 

The Theological Claims vs. Reality

Because "Zoar of the Bonzes" only exists as a passing bullet point in a 19th-century conspiracy book, even the lists that promote him do not provide the details you are looking for.


 

  • Dates, Locations, and Age: Completely unrecorded. Some modern internet lists arbitrarily assign him the dates 2000–1500 BCE, but there is no historical text to support this.


     

  • Crucified or Resurrected? No.


     

  • Born of a Virgin? No.


     

  • Descend to Hell or Ascend to Heaven? No.


     

  • Called the Son of God / Part of the Trinity / Heavenly Judge? No.


     

When you encounter names like "Ieo of China," "Zoar of the Bonzes," or "Crite of Chaldea" in lists of pre-Christian saviors, you are looking at the legacy of 19th-century authors who simply made up names to support a specific narrative.