CULT IN THE SERVICE OF POWER: SERAPIS, SYNCRETIC GOD OF THE MEDITERRANEAN

Abstract

The present paper approaches a topic between the History of religions and Egypt, like the origin of Serapis, a syncretic deity, and the subsequent worship linked to the monarchy, sponsored by Ptolemy II Philadelphus. Furthermore, we will try to see the impact that this deity had in Graeco-Roman world, emphasizing in Iberian Peninsula’s worships. For addressing this issues, we will analyze the main literary works which mentions about this deity, as well as the use of papyri, epigraphic sources and archeological remains.