Exporting Grain and Gods: The Spread of the Cult of Isis and Sarapis on the Ancient Mediterranean Trade Network
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| Year of publication | 2015 |
| Type | Appeared in Conference without Proceedings |
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| Description | The cult of Isis and Sarapis operated in the very competitive environment of Late Antiquity. The reasons behind the success of the cult of Isis and Sarapis are, however, only partially understood. Documented sources for the study of the cult of Isis and Sarapis are often incomplete or otherwise problematic. The problem, however, can be discussed innovatively from the perspective of the network theory. The oldest archaeological evidence related to the presence of the cult of Isis and Sarapis outside Egypt has been found mainly in ancient Mediterranean ports. This leads to the hypothesis that at least at the beginning the cult was spread from Alexandria by naval trade routes. This case study will attempt to uncover the possible advantages of the ancient Egyptian trade network for the successful spread of the cult of Isis and Sarapis during the reign of the first Ptolemies. |
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