In this episode, we’ll be visiting the Colossal head of the god Serapis at The Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square, Cairo. Welcome to Art, Culture & Books with me, Anthony King.
This was created during the Roman period, around the 2nd century AD and is made of marble. It represents Serapis, a deity combining attributes of Osiris and Apis. The cult of Serapis became linked to themes of life after death and agricultural abundance, intertwining aspects of both Egyptian and Greek beliefs.
The extensive popularity of Serapis can be attributed to the Greek Pharaoh Ptolemy I, who sought to unify the subjects of the Ptolemaic Kingdom, combining Greek and Egyptian influences. Under Ptolemy I’s orders, a cult statue of Serapis was erected in Alexandria. This statue blended Egyptian and Greek, portraying Serapis in a manner reminiscent of Greek deities such as Zeus. The statue, in particular, depicted a figure reminiscent of Hades or Pluto, figures associated with the Greek underworld.
It is worth noting that the cult of Serapis predates the reign of the Ptolemies in Alexandria. Historical evidence, mentioned by both Plutarch and Arrian, points to the existence of a temple dedicated to Serapis in Egypt as early as 323 BCE.
By Anthony King (c)