Serapis

Serapis, SARAPIS, or OSARAPIS, an Egyptian deity, whose worship was introduced from Greece by Ptolemy (I.) Soter. He was identical with the Greek Hades, the ruler over the underworld. The name is said to be contracted from Osiris-Apis - i.e. the dead Apis (q.v.), worshipped as Osiris. The Egyptians who had remained unhellenised refused to acknowledge the new god or to allow Serapea (temples of Serapis) to be built within the walls of their cities. The worship of Serapis gradually spread through Asia Minor, and in 146 A.D. was formally established at Rome by Antoninus Pius, but only to be abolished soon afterwards by the Senate.