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Document Details : Title: Vom ägyptischen Lokalgott zur griechischen Universalgottheit Subtitle: Sarapis als Heil- und Orakelgott in der Prolemäerzeit Author(s): HERKLOTZ, Friederike Journal: Ancient Society Volume: 48 Date: 2018 Pages: 9-48 DOI: 10.2143/AS.48.0.3285195 Abstract : This paper is a detailed study of the development of Sarapis into an oracular and healing god during the Ptolemaic Period (320-30 BCE). It tries to answer the question why a god with obvious Egyptian roots could gain such popularity among the Greeks. Sarapis developed from the Memphite local god Osorapis who was especially an oracular deity. He was very popular amongst the Ionian and Carian people who had been living in Memphis from the sixth century BCE onwards. However, the god took on a Greek persona. Furthermore, Sarapis adopted features from different other gods. Among them was the healing god Imhotep-Asclepios who had great significance in Memphis. The cult spread rapidly into the Mediterranean world. In different places, Sarapis was honoured as a healing and oracular god, alone or together with Asclepios. The local inhabitants perceived Sarapis as an Egyptian god because very often Egyptians led the cult and some cultic sites were organized according to the Egyptian model. |
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