Sarapis
/ˈsær.ə.pɪs/noun
A Graeco-Egyptian deity worshiped in the Hellenistic and Roman worlds, associated with healing, the underworld, and royal power.
Did you know?Sarapis is an example of a deliberately syncretic deity: Ptolemaic rulers promoted his cult to bridge Greek and Egyptian religious worlds, giving him a carefully constructed sacred identity.
Etymological Timeline
Hellenistic Period
Greek
Σάραπις (Sárapis)
“A Greco-Egyptian god, especially honored as a healing and chthonic deity”
Hellenistic Period
Egyptian
Wsir-Ḥp
“The Egyptian names behind the syncretic figure, combining Osiris and the Apis bull”
Hellenistic Period
Greek
Σέραπις (Sérapis)
“A common variant spelling of the god’s name in Greek sources”
Roman Period
Latin
Serapis
“The god’s name in Roman religious and literary usage”
Modern English
English
Sarapis
“A learned historical form used for the ancient deity”