Definition:
Serapis was a composite god created during the reign of Ptolemy I Soter (305-285 BCE) who combined the Egyptian god Osorapis (previously derived from a fusion of the Egyptian gods Osiris and Apis) with aspects of various Hellenistic gods such as Zeus, Hades and Dionysos.
He was created to provide the Egyptian people with an essential Egyptian deity blended with Greek theology. He presented several aspects, especially those of healing and fertility. The center of the Serapis cult was at Alexandria.
Worship of Serapis lasted through into Roman times and spread well beyond Egypt (a sculpted head of Serapis has been unearthed as far away as London).
