Serapis
Serapis ( Sarapis also ) was a Hellenistic -Egyptian god who was established as an integral kingdom to God since Ptolemy I. In it are V.A. Features of the Egyptian deities Osiris, the Apis bull ( of the cult of Memphis dying to Osiris ) merged, and the Greco-Roman gods Zeus - Jupiter main and Hades - Pluto.
Background
Etymology
The name originated from the name of Osiris (Sir / Sar ) and Apis ( Hapi ). In Egyptian mythology, the Apis bull portrayed as a symbol of fertility. According to the traditions of the soul of Osiris in the Apis bull lived on after Seth had cut his body into several pieces.
Emergence of the Serapis cult
The Serapis cult originated in the early Hellenistic period, when Egypt came under Macedonian- Greek rule. The exact date of introduction is unclear, but is a dream vision of King Ptolemy I. in Sinop have been the occasion to instruct the Egyptian priest Manetho and the Eumolpidae Timothy with the "birth" of Serapis.
First, the cult of Serapis was only for the Greek population of Egypt to unite Greek and Egyptian traditions. The inclusion in the Egyptian pantheon, connected with the worship of Serapis and Isis his wife could reach Ptolemy I with the completion of the Serapeum of Alexandria in the year 285 BC, which he had built 287-286 BC.
Appearance and equating
The external appearance was mainly adapted Zeus, since the representation did not meet as a mummified deity to the ideas of the Greeks. Most of Serapis was seen as a bull or as a seated, bearded man. As a god of fertility and its significance of the grain supply, he wears a entwined kalathos of ears, a Greek harvest basket on her head. Other depictions show him as a man standing with a bull's head or with the snake staff of Asclepius. Serapis was fitted in addition to its role as a fertility god of healing and also with the functions of the oracle and the slave liberator. With these features, Serapis became the universal and patron god of the Ptolemies.
As god of the Nile flood, he united beside Osiris the traits of other Greek gods: Hades, Zeus, Helios, Dionysus and Asclepius. In the Jewish religion YHWH personified as the god of the Nile flood the Egyptian Osiris in the appearance of the Serapis.
Although the deities Zeus and Osiris merged, both gods existed during the Hellenistic- Roman period individually on. Under Ptolemy III. learned the hitherto secondary Isis cult in connection with the Canopus Decree considerably enhanced and repressed Serapis in the position that Isis has held previously.
More history
The Serapis cult spread - along with the Isis - rapidly throughout the power range of the Ptolemies, who controlled Egypt in addition to particular parts of Asia Minor and the Aegean. About the year 220 BC existed on Delos already three Serapeen, was famous also the temple of Serapis in Lindos on Rhodes; is is the next cult among other things, in Athens, Corinth and Sparta.
No later than the 1st century BC existed in Rome a temple to Serapis; Emperor Caracalla ( 211-217 ) then gave him a large sanctuary on the Quirinal build. Maximinus Daia ( 305-313 ) apparently tried to promote Serapis as a rival to God especially; but after the introduction of Christianity as the state religion, the Emperor went from Theodosius I ( 379-395 ) against the other religions before, so also against Serapis: The Great Temple in Alexandria was 391 AD destroyed.
Sanctuaries
- In Alexandria
- In Canopus at Alexandria
- In Herakleion
- In Mons Claudianus
- In Mons Porphyrites
- In Tehna el -Gebel
- In Luxor
- In Marathon
- In Corinth - stoa
- In Argos
- In Philippi
- On Delos
- In Lindos
- In Ancient Thira on Santorini
- In Gortyn
- Red Hall in Pergamon
- In Ephesus
- In Sinop
- In Magnesia
- At Priene
- In Miletus
- In solos - Cyprus
- In Rome - Iseum Campense
- In Rome - Iseum Metellinum
- Hadrian's Villa at Tivoli in the
- In Ostia Antica
- In Pozzuoli
- In Aquileia
- In Panóias
- In Ampurias
- In York - Eburacum
- In Cyrene
- In Leptis Magna
- In Sabratha
- In Carthage
- In Timgad
- In Lambaesis