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The earliest mention of a Serapis is in the disputed death scene of Alexander (323 BC).[3] Here, Serapis has a temple at Babylon, and is of such importance that he alone is named as being consulted on behalf of the dying king. His presence in Babylon would radically alter perceptions of the mythologies of this era, though fortunately it has been discovered that the unconnected Babylonian god Ea (Enki) was titled Serapsi, meaning 'king of the deep', and it is possible this Serapsi is the one referred to in the diaries. The significance of this Serapsi in the Hellenic psyche, due to its involvement in Alexander's death, may have also contributed to the choice of Osiris-Apis as the chief Ptolemaic god.
According to Plutarch, Ptolemy stole the cult statue from Sinope, having been instructed in a dream by the “unknown god” to bring the statue to Alexandria, where the statue was pronounced to be Serapis by two religious experts. One of the experts was of the Eumolpidae, the ancient family from whose members the hierophant of the Eleusinian Mysteries had been chosen since before history, and the other was the scholarly Egyptian priest Manetho, which gave weight to the judgement both for the Egyptians and the Greeks.
Plutarch may not be correct, however, as some Egyptologists allege that the Sinope in the tale is really the hill of Sinopeion, a name given to the site of the already existing Serapeum at Memphis. Also, according to Tacitus, Serapis (i.e., Apis explicitly identified as Osiris in full) had been the god of the village of Rhakotis before it expanded into the great capital of Alexandria.
The statue suitably depicted a figure resembling Hades or Pluto, both being kings of the Greek underworld, and was shown enthroned with the modius, a basket/grain-measure, on his head, since it was a Greek symbol for the land of the dead. He also held a sceptre in his hand indicating his rulership, with Cerberus, gatekeeper of the underworld, resting at his feet, and it also had what appeared to be a serpent at its base, fitting the Egyptian symbol of rulership, the uraeus.
With his (i.e. Osiris's) wife Isis, and their son Horus (in the form of Harpocrates), Serapis won an important place in the Greek world,[4] reaching Ancient Rome, with Anubis being identified as Cerberus. In Rome, Serapis was worshiped in the Iseum Campense, the sanctuary of the goddess Isis located in the Campus Martius and built during the Second Triumvirate. The Roman cults of Isis and Serapis gained in popularity late in the first century thanks to the god's role in the miracles that the imperial usurper Vespasian experienced in the city of Alexandria, where he stayed prior to his return to Rome as emperor in 70 AD. From the Flavian Dynasty on, Serapis sometimes appeared on imperial coinage with the reigning emperor. The great cult survived until 385, when a Christian mob destroyed the Serapeum of Alexandria, and subsequently the cult was forbidden by the Theodosian decree.
The early Alexandrian Christian community appears to have been rather syncretic in their worship of Serapis and Jesus and would prostrate themselves without distinction between the two.[5] A letter inserted in the Augustan History, ascribed to the Emperor Hadrian, refers to the worship of Serapis by residents of Egypt who described themselves as Christians, and Christian worship by those claiming to worship Serapis, suggesting a great confusion of the cults and practices:
The land of Egypt, the praises of which you have been recounting to me, my dear Servianus, I have found to be wholly light-minded, unstable, and blown about by every breath of rumour. There those who worship Serapis are, in fact, Christians, and those who call themselves bishops of Christ are, in fact, devotees of Serapis. There is no chief of the Jewish synagogue, no Samaritan, no Christian presbyter, who is not an astrologer, a soothsayer, or an anointer. Even the Patriarch himself, when he comes to Egypt, is forced by some to worship Serapis, by others to worship Christ.[6]
The identification of Apis with Osiris was easy enough, because one of the most common names of Osiris was “Bull of the West,” and the identification once made the shrines of Osiris were regarded as the proper places at which the worship of the double god should be paid. Apis was, in fact, believed to be animated by the soul of Osiris,and to be Osiris incarnate, and the appearance of a new Apis was regarded as a new manifestation of Osiris upon earth; but he was also an emanation of Ptah, and he was even called the “son of Ptah,” The double god Asar-Asar, is depicted in the form of a bull, which has the solar disk and a uraeus between its horns.
The movie “the ten commandments”, the gold bull fits this description exactly.
http://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/static.panoramio.com/photos/original/3183646.jpg
When I searched this, and was about to post it, I noticed in the adress “googleapis”. Apis is the diety worshipped in ancient Memphis Egypt.
Mike
by the time you finished to search,you will see that really not much has change since the Egyptian time,we just have improved our ways at the least in the west.and so you are going in a circle.
Pierre
Hi Mark,
I hope you would reconsider leaving.
God bless
Ed J (Joshua 22:34)
http://www.holycitybiblecode.orgMark
if your faith can not stand as a rock ,then it was not built on the right rock,the faith in Christ and his father are the true rock
Pierre
Hi Mark. Just ignore that last comment. Why do you say thing's like that to people Terrarica ? Mark has strong faith. I dont see why you say that.
Mark, the days we are in are bad. Elvis though? lol. I remember when I first read the Bible (properly) I thought the beast of Rev could be the television. I remember first reading one of your post's, about a year ago. I have more to post but I have no time right now.
To expand on Pierre's thought: Faith in Christ and his GOD is the true Cornerstone and Rock.
I'm disappointed that you didn't want to defend all those “Jesus is God” scriptures you posted. I hope you saw enough from the first 3 I rebutted to know how easily that man-made house of straw burns to the ground by the fire of scripture.
Each and every one of those other “proof texts” are just as easily burned as well Mark. There is nothing in scripture that teaches “Jesus is God”. On the other hand, there are scriptures after scriptures that teach that Jesus is the Son, Priest, Mediator, Messiah, Messenger and Servant of God.
Mark, God cannot be His own Son. God cannot be His own Priest. God cannot be His own Mediator between Himself and another party. God cannot be His own Anointed One. God cannot be His own Messenger. God cannot be His own Servant.
I am in 1 Peter on my third time through the Bible right now. And today I thought about you when I read:
1 Peter 1 NIV
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!Jehovah is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Mark. God doesn't have a God. And that got me to thinking about the many times a NT writer says something like, “Praise be to God and our Lord Jesus Christ”. Over and over in scripture, they mention “God” AND “Jesus Christ”. They mention TWO COMPLETLY DIFFERENT PERSONS, but only ONE OF THEM IS “GOD”.
I hope you start to see these things as you read the Bible Mark. I pray that you start to believe the scriptures over the words of men. I pray that the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ grants you eyes to see and ears to hear…..so you can understand that “for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.” I pray you come to understand it AND believe it, Mark.
Peace and Love to you my friend,
mike
Quote (shimmer @ Dec. 07 2010,11:24) Hi Mark. Just ignore that last comment. Why do you say thing's like that to people Terrarica ? Mark has strong faith. I dont see why you say that. Mark, the days we are in are bad. Elvis though? lol. I remember when I first read the Bible (properly) I thought the beast of Rev could be the television. I remember first reading one of your post's, about a year ago. I have more to post but I have no time right now.
shimmer! Pierre said nothing wrong, in fact I will second or third that….by faith through Christ who is our mediator, we are under grace,. Christ is the rock we depend on. Without Jesus we all would be doomed. However I don't worship Jesus. I worship Jehovah God ONLY. Shimmer, you should not encourage someone who thinks that it is right to worship Jesus. Scripture is plain about the trinity, it is a man made doctrine and not of God….Mat 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching [for] doctrines the commandments of men.
Peace Irene
Quote (terraricca @ Dec. 07 2010,13:38) Mike by the time you finished to search,you will see that really not much has change since the Egyptian time,we just have improved our ways at the least in the west.and so you are going in a circle.
Pierre
Marksorry i have said Mike,it is for you Mark
Pierre
Quote (Ed J @ Dec. 07 2010,06:39) Hi Mark, I hope you would reconsider leaving.
God bless
Ed J (Joshua 22:34)
http://www.holycitybiblecode.org
Ed,I had to get on to see what, if anything was said. Much of it was exactly as I thought it would be. I was most pleasantly suprised by your comment. Thank you and God bless you. I will check from time to time, but I have got to let go of most of it. It is causing me to have judgemental/bad feelings which can't be good. Godbless-Mark
Quote (shimmer @ Dec. 07 2010,11:24) Hi Mark. Just ignore that last comment. Why do you say thing's like that to people Terrarica ? Mark has strong faith. I dont see why you say that. Mark, the days we are in are bad. Elvis though? lol. I remember when I first read the Bible (properly) I thought the beast of Rev could be the television. I remember first reading one of your post's, about a year ago. I have more to post but I have no time right now.
Shimmer, It is a horrible time now. I can hardly stand to read the paper or watch the news. I really believe this. I have read more and more to either discredit or support it and the more I get into it the more I know it's true. It is such a subtle but horrible thing. The devil is smart enough to know he couldn't make the world turn away from God with anything obvious, and this is under the world's radar. He thought he was a God in the end. His money and fame from being idolized all of those years bent his mind along with all the drugs, I watched it happen. Along with everything else, consider this- The scribes and parasees protested when Pilate put the sign up that read “This is Jesus King of the Jews”. They said “you should have written “he claimed to be the King of the Jews” “. But all the Jews in Isreal, and the world at large, have no problem with this, or say a word about it. To them, like Jesus said, they will be judged by the law they claim saves them. This is adultry and fornication to God. They don't have the hope of forgiveness in Jesus, because they don't consider him as anything but a man referred to in the talmud who did wonders “by magic”. And the rest of the world referrs to him as “The King”. In reading the bible, notice how many times God is called “The King”. Not king of spain, king of whatever, simply “The King”. I believe that is an incommunicable name, referred to in Wisdom ch 14.
I remember us talking about this a long time ago, and you mentioning you had thought the second beast was the T.V.. I think you are right, but in an expanded view of that, I think the media at large. Things are broadcast worldwide in seconds. I don't claim to understand it all, but the causes seem to be obvoius to me. I will come on from time to time and check the members who seem genuine, loving and understanding, and your one of them. Godbless you shimmer-Mark
Quote (mikeangel @ Dec. 08 2010,22:27) I will come on from time to time and check the members who seem genuine, loving and understanding,
Hi Mark,And because I believe the scriptures, and the scriptures never say Jesus is God……..am I disingenuous and unloving?
mike
Mark! You seem to think that all hangs on Love. That is part right, because God is Love. However Jesus also has taught us to do the will of His Father who send Him. We are to become like Jesus. He is our example to follow…..
Jhn 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
I second Mike's question, and hope you will answer it……..You know quitting here is not the answer to your problem….You seem to have something against those that disagree with you, WHY?
this forum is to debate Scriptures, and hopefully learn from them. It is easy to love those that are kind and loving, but again what does Jesus say to that. Love those that despise you and pray for them……
Peace IreneNo, I don't have a problem with people who disagree with me. I do not like when people take THEIR INTERPRETATIONS of scriptures, and say things to others like “YOU WORSHIP IN VAIN'. You both think that the rcc is bad and on man made doctrines. YOU ARE BOTH RIGHT, and I am telling them the things I do not agree with. BUT THEM YOU BOTH HYPOCRITICALLY JUDGE PEOPLE FOR BELIEVING HOW THEY DO, AND JUDGE THEM, JUST LIKE THE RCC. You are just as guilty as they are. You don't know everything and all of your interpretations are not infallible, but you act like they are. You might as well be popes! IMO you both have a severe case of spritual rectal crainial inversion. LOVE IS ABOVE ALL THINGS.GOD IS LOVE. Look on all the post that I have made on here an you wont find me declaring to anyone absolutely how God will judge them, and It is too easy for me for me to look up where both of you judged me. You scripture gurus are so convinced of your own doctrines you miss the big picture. Please please please leave me alone. I will check on a few members and this topic but I will not cross your paths.
P.S. I forgive and pray for my enemys, but if they still want to attack and judge me I would rather avoid them. MY LORD AND GOD never said to forgive your adversarys and then go back and let them abuse you repeatedly. I Love you-Mark
Shimmer and Ed,
When I get a day to myself, I will copy the letters I sent to the Diocese of Memphis to the bishop and three other priest. Theres several pages so it will take a while. Also the new one I am composing since I discovered that there is a statue of Serapis in the Vatican Museum. Love to Ya'll-Mark
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