Marble
100-200 CE
Rome, Italy
The British Museum
Details
Culture/Civilisation
Ancient Egypt, Ptolemaic (Greek-ruled) Egypt, Roman-ruled Egypt
Theme
Two Great Centres of Learning
Subtheme
Great Library of Alexandria in Roman Egypt
Display Location
Coomaraswamy Hall
Findspot
Rome, Italy
Measurements
59 x 31 x 33 cm
Accession Number
1805,0703.51
Description
Serapis, god of healing and lord of the underworld, was particularly worshiped in Greek and Roman Alexandria. His cult purposefully fused Greek and Egyptian religious traditions. With features of Zeus / Jupiter, father of the gods, he wears a basket-shaped headdress associated with abundance. His main temple, the Serapeum was part of the famous library in Alexandria.
