Египетските божества Изида и Сарапис в Сердика
Egyptian Deities Isis and Sarapis in Serdica

Summary/Abstract: The paper presents the new evidence on Egyptian deities in Serdica during the Roman period. A fragment of pediment known since the mid-20th century contains a partially preserved inscription pointing to the possible existence of a temple of Serapis in Roman Serdica. The inscription is dated to 161–163 AD and informs that the fragment comes from a temple dedicated to Zeus-Capitolinus-Helios-Serapis, built by the town magistrates. Some new archaeological, epigraphic and numismatic evidence from Serdica attests that in the 2nd century AD, under the Antonines, the cult of Serapis was already well known. Moreover, a newly-found coin of Gallienus, minted in Serdica and bearing a depiction of a temple with a statue of Serapis between its columns, proves the real existence of a temple of this deity. The Goddess Isis has so far been attested in the ancient town only on some coins minted in Serdica from the time of Marcus Aurelius. Our study presents some new evidence about her cult as well. A torso of the Goddess was found during excavations in the centre of Sofia. In addition, the images on a well-known monument coming from Serdica and dated to the first decade of the 4th century AD must be revised. Because of its clearly Eastern elements, the images on it could be related to Isis and not to Cybele, as was supposed. All of the mentioned evidence testifies to the importance of the cults of the Egyptian deities Serapis and Isis in Serdica during the Roman Period.

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