Serapis: Difference between revisions
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{{WP-REAL}} | [[File:Statue_of_Serapis.jpg|thumb|250px|A statue of Serapis in the Library of Alexandria]] | ||
'''Serapis''' was a [[Greece|Greco]]-[[Egypt]]ian god worshipped in ancient Egypt. | '''Serapis''' was a [[Greece|Greco]]-[[Egypt]]ian god worshipped in ancient Egypt. | ||
Serapis was introduced to Egypt by [[Ptolemy I Soter]], the founder of the [[Ptolemaic Kingdom|Ptolemaic dynasty]], who sought to accommodate the beliefs of both Greek and Egyptian culture in order to avoid potential conflict, highlighting their similarities. To this end, he amalgamated the names of [[Osiris]] and [[Apis]], forming the name "Serapis".<ref>''[[Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt]]'' – [[Tours: The Serapeion of Alexandria]]: "Creation of Serapis"</ref> Serapis was paired with the goddess Isis, with whom he had a son, {{Wiki|Harpocrates}}.<ref name="Mines">''[[Le Secret des Mines]]''</ref> | |||
By the 1st century BCE, the cult of Serapis was widespread across Egypt, with various towns and cities containing a temple or | ==Influence and legacy== | ||
By the 1st century BCE, the cult of Serapis was widespread across Egypt, with various towns and cities containing a temple, shrine, or statue dedicated to him, the most notable being the [[Serapeum of Alexandria]] and a statue in the city's [[Library of Alexandria|library]].<ref name="ACO">''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]''</ref> | |||
== | At some point before 48 BCE, the [[Sais]]ian [[blacksmith]] [[Sokar]] crafted a fine [[spear]] he named the [[Serpent of Serapis]] out of {{Wiki|Meteoric iron|meteorite metal}}, wrapping its shaft with water-hardened [[leather]], for one of [[Apollodorus]]' captains at his [[Apollodorus' Estate|villa]]. The captain was killed and the spear stolen by one of [[Sefetu]]'s men, however, and Sokar fled Sais fearing for his own life.<ref name="Fair Trade">''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]'' – [[Fair Trade]]</ref> | ||
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]'' | |||
In the years leading up to 48 BCE, an old Egyptian temple in the [[Faiyum]] region town of [[Karanis]] was converted to a [[Sarapeion of Karanis|temple]] to Serapis, leading to tensions and violence between the native Egyptians and the settled Greeks.<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Origins'' – [[Murder in the Temple]]</ref> | |||
In 48 BCE, Sokar met the [[Medjay]] [[Bayek]] of [[Siwa]], who heard the tale of the spear, and offered to find the [[thief]] and take back the spear. Appreciating his offer, Sokar let him have the spear.<ref name="Fair Trade" /> | |||
Around 48 BCE, the [[Cult of Serqet]] used a [[Shrine of Serapis|shrine]] dedicated to Serapis in northern [[Kanopos Nome]] to perform one of their gruesome ceremonies, guided by their 'mission statement' that deemed they should gather ''"facets of the four gods—[[Sekhmet]], mistress of the desert, Serapis, lord of transition, [[Sobek]], lord of the [[Nile]], and [[Horus]], lord of the sky. Their followers will be initiated into our order in their holy places."''<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]'' – [[Taste of her Sting]]</ref> | |||
==Behind the scenes== | |||
While the name Serapis was an amalgam of Egyptian deities Osiris and Apis, in full he was a syncretism of them and some Greek deities as well, namely [[Hades]] and [[Dionysos]]. According to Plutarch the first statue of Serapis erected in Alexandria by Ptolemy I Soter was similar to that of Hades even including [[Cerberus]] because the Greek ruling class had little respect for animal-headed deities. That said, the statue of Serapis most commonly used in ''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]'' was also used in ''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'', albeit for Hades. It is based on a {{Wiki|File:Hades-et-Cerberus-III.jpg|statue}} of Hades and Cerberus. | |||
==Gallery== | |||
<gallery position="center" widths="180"> | |||
ACO Bust of Serapis.PNG|A bust depicting Serapis | |||
File:ACO - Shrine of Serapis.png|Shrine of Serapis in Kanopos Nome | |||
File:Serapis - Concept art.jpg|Unused Serapis concept art | |||
File:DTAE Pendant with Serapis, Isis and Harpocrates.png|Pendant depicting Serapis | |||
DTAE Bust of Serapis.png|A bust of Serapis | |||
</gallery> | |||
==Appearances== | |||
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]'' {{io|sc}} | |||
*''[[Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt]]'' | |||
*''[[Le Secret des Mines]]'' {{Mo}} | |||
==References== | |||
{{Reflist}} | |||
{{DTAE}} | |||
[[Category:Egyptian deities]] | [[Category:Egyptian deities]] | ||
[[Category:Greek deities]] | [[Category:Greek deities]] | ||
[[Category:Roman deities]] | |||
<!--[zh:塞拉皮斯]--> | |||
Latest revision as of 03:55, 14 May 2026
Serapis was a Greco-Egyptian god worshipped in ancient Egypt.
Serapis was introduced to Egypt by Ptolemy I Soter, the founder of the Ptolemaic dynasty, who sought to accommodate the beliefs of both Greek and Egyptian culture in order to avoid potential conflict, highlighting their similarities. To this end, he amalgamated the names of Osiris and Apis, forming the name "Serapis".[1] Serapis was paired with the goddess Isis, with whom he had a son, Harpocrates.[2]
Influence and legacy[edit | edit source]
By the 1st century BCE, the cult of Serapis was widespread across Egypt, with various towns and cities containing a temple, shrine, or statue dedicated to him, the most notable being the Serapeum of Alexandria and a statue in the city's library.[3]
At some point before 48 BCE, the Saisian blacksmith Sokar crafted a fine spear he named the Serpent of Serapis out of meteorite metal, wrapping its shaft with water-hardened leather, for one of Apollodorus' captains at his villa. The captain was killed and the spear stolen by one of Sefetu's men, however, and Sokar fled Sais fearing for his own life.[4]
In the years leading up to 48 BCE, an old Egyptian temple in the Faiyum region town of Karanis was converted to a temple to Serapis, leading to tensions and violence between the native Egyptians and the settled Greeks.[5]
In 48 BCE, Sokar met the Medjay Bayek of Siwa, who heard the tale of the spear, and offered to find the thief and take back the spear. Appreciating his offer, Sokar let him have the spear.[4]
Around 48 BCE, the Cult of Serqet used a shrine dedicated to Serapis in northern Kanopos Nome to perform one of their gruesome ceremonies, guided by their 'mission statement' that deemed they should gather "facets of the four gods—Sekhmet, mistress of the desert, Serapis, lord of transition, Sobek, lord of the Nile, and Horus, lord of the sky. Their followers will be initiated into our order in their holy places."[6]
Behind the scenes[edit | edit source]
While the name Serapis was an amalgam of Egyptian deities Osiris and Apis, in full he was a syncretism of them and some Greek deities as well, namely Hades and Dionysos. According to Plutarch the first statue of Serapis erected in Alexandria by Ptolemy I Soter was similar to that of Hades even including Cerberus because the Greek ruling class had little respect for animal-headed deities. That said, the statue of Serapis most commonly used in Assassin's Creed: Origins was also used in Assassin's Creed: Odyssey, albeit for Hades. It is based on a statue of Hades and Cerberus.
Gallery[edit | edit source]
-
A bust depicting Serapis -
Shrine of Serapis in Kanopos Nome -
Unused Serapis concept art -
Pendant depicting Serapis -
A bust of Serapis
Appearances[edit | edit source]
- Assassin's Creed: Origins (sculpture only)
- Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt
- Le Secret des Mines (mentioned only)
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt – Tours: The Serapeion of Alexandria: "Creation of Serapis"
- ↑ Le Secret des Mines
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Origins
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Assassin's Creed: Origins – Fair Trade
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Origins – Murder in the Temple
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Origins – Taste of her Sting