Identifier: cu31924092320518 (find matches)
Title: The gods of the Egyptians : or, Studies in Egyptian mythology
Year: 1904 (1900s)
Authors: Budge, E. A. Wallis (Ernest Alfred Wallis), Sir, 1857-1934
Subjects: Mythology, Egyptian
Publisher: Chicago : Open Court Pub. Co.
Contributing Library: Cornell University Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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od of the Under-world. As soon as the god Avho was nowcalled Serapis had been established inhis new home, his former worship andrites were greatly modified, and hisservices and processions were made toresemble those of the Egyptians, whonaturally expected their main featuresto be brought into harmony withthose of the cult of Osiris, theirnational god. It appears to havebeen to the interest of all parties towelcome Serapis, and all must admirethe astute action of Ptolemy, whosucceeded in making the Greeks thinkthat in worshipping this god they wereadoring one of their own native deities,and who persuaded the Egyptians thatthey were maintaining the supremacyof Osiris-Apis in spite of the fact thatthe Macedonians were the rulers andmasters of the country. Some doubthas been cast upon the identification ofthe Sinope mentioned by Plutarch with the Sinope of Pontus, butwith insufficient reason. The Serapeum which Ptolemy repaired, orfounded, was probably near Raqetit ^^Mc^s;)() ^, and was a
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Aaar-Hapi (Serapis). very remarkable building; its main plan seems to have resembledthat of the famous Serapeum at Memphis, but parts of it wererichly painted and gilded, a,nd it possessed a fine library which was SERAPIS 199 said to contain some 300,000 volumes. The following is Plutarchsaccount of the introduction of the god of Sinope into Egypt:— After this, say they, both Isis and Osiris, on account of their eminent virtue, were translated from the order of good Demons to that of Gods, as in after ages were Hercules and Bacchus ; and therefore the honours which are paid them are very properly of the mixed kind, such as are due both to Gods and Demons, their power being very great, not only upon earth, but in those regions likewise which are under the earth. For, say they, Osiris is none other than Pluto, nor is Isis different from Proserpine, as Arche- machus the Euboean asserts, and as appears likewise to have been the opinion of Heraclides of Pontus from his declaring the orac

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