Serapis
/ˈsɛr.ə.pɪs/noun
A Greco-Egyptian god worshiped in the Hellenistic and Roman worlds, associated with healing, fertility, the underworld, and royal power.
Did you know?Serapis was created in the Hellenistic period as a syncretic deity, blending Osiris and Apis with Greek religious forms so a new empire could feel spiritually legitimate.
Etymological Timeline
Hellenistic Egypt
Greek
Σάραπις / Σέραπις (Sárapis / Sérapis)
“A syncretic god combining Egyptian and Greek religious features, especially linked with Osiris-Apis worship.”
Ptolemaic period
Greek
Σαράπις (Sarápis)
“A standardized Greek cult name for the new deity worshiped in Alexandria and beyond.”
Roman Empire
Latin
Serapis
“The Roman form of the god's name, widely worshiped across the empire.”
Late Antiquity
Greek and Latin
Serapis
“A major mystery-cult deity associated with healing sanctuaries and imperial religion.”
Modern English
English
Serapis
“The name of the Hellenistic-Egyptian god.”