![]() | Title | The Fertility god |
---|---|---|
Cult Center | Alexandria | |
Gender | Male | |
Patron - Dominion | fertility - healing - the underworld | |
Dedicated temples | Serapeum of Alexandria The temple of Serapis in Memphis Burial of Apis Bulls in Serapeum of Saqqara | |
Appearance | Wears the modius (a small pot indicating fertility) on his head bearded figure seated on a throne with the three-headed dog of Hades, Cerberus, at his feet. | |
Historical Developments |
Serapis was created by the Ptolemaic Pharaoh Ptolemy 1, he was a composite of several Egyptian and Hellenistic deities who was introduced at the beginning of the Ptolemaic Period
- His name was Aser-hapi (i.e. Osiris - Apis ), which became Serapis, - Married to Isis and father of Horus - His cult quickly spread from its center in Alexandria, reaching Ancient Rome. - The cult of Serapis survived into and Roman period - The destruction of Serapeum in Alexandria by early Christians in 385 A.D. that marked the end of his cult. |