The Ctistae were a group/class in ancient Thracian culture. They led celibate lives, never marrying. They were held in a place of honor by the Thracians, with their lives being dedicated to the gods. They are very similar to the Jewish Essenes in that they were considered by themselves, and by others, as a "separate people".^[1] They were the philosophers, the priests, and the prophets before any of those roles really came to be well defined.

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