Táltos

The most reliable account of the táltos is given by Roman Catholic priest Arnold Ipolyi in his collection of folk beliefs, Magyar mitológia (Hungarian mythology) (1854).

People with teeth at birth, a sixth finger or other additional bones, or with a caul were also often considered to be chosen.

[citation needed] If the extra bone broke or was stolen before the táltos turned 7, its abilities would be lost.

)[citation needed] The most important ability of a táltos is a meditation or spiritual trance called "révülés" (verb: révül); in this state, he could heal wounds and sickness or learn hidden truths by "sending their soul among the stars".

The táltos was chosen by gods or spirits for a specific calling in life and had the duty to communicate with the entire Hungarian nation in a time of danger, to warn against invading armies or an impending cultural collapse.

More probable, however, is its cognation with Ugric words like Northern Mansi tūltėn "easy" and Vasyugan Khanty tolten "with magical powers".

He lived in Temesvár (present-day Timișoara), ate lunch in Buda at the same table as King Matthias and was always poorly dressed.

When the Ottoman 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 "moonlike" ("holdas" = "eclipse") horse of King Matthias from the Turks.

In the Chronicle of the Hungarians by Johannes de Thurocz, Attila of the Huns asked several táltos to foresee the outcome of Battle of Chalons, where they predicted that the war would be lost.

They heated it over fire (see hot cinders) to make it suitable to play and used the drum to meditate (fly away).