<em>Serapis</em>, 30 B.C.E.–395 C.E. Marble, 25 x 14 1/2 x 14 1/2 in., 260.5 lb. (63.5 x 36.8 x 36.8 cm, 118.16kg). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Robert B. Woodward, 13.1070. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.13.1070_connectingcultures_2015.jpg)

Serapis, 30 B.C.E.–395 C.E. Marble, 25 x 14 1/2 x 14 1/2 in., 260.5 lb. (63.5 x 36.8 x 36.8 cm, 118.16kg). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Robert B. Woodward, 13.1070. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.13.1070_connectingcultures_2015.jpg)

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Well it is interesting that it has two faces, but I wonder if the front is Serapis, who is on the side I photographed?

There are many theories about who exactly is being depicted on each side and our curators are still researching this. But one of our Egyptologists has told us: "various sources claim that one face is the male Serapis (Osiris/Zeus) while the other face is his consort, Isis/Hera. Another theory interprets these faces as Egyptian and Greek, i.e. Osiris on one side and Zeus/Helios on the other."

It is a wonderful example of the cosmopolitanism of the ancient world--the Greek/Egyptian religious references and stories and stylistic techniques combining to create interesting forms.

We are looking at Serapis. Could you tell us more about this statue?

You may have read this on the label, but Serapis was a composite god created early in the Ptolemaic (Greek) rule of Egypt to unite Greeks and Egyptians. The deity combined aspects of Egyptian gods (especially Osiris, the ruler of the Underworld) with Greek deities (particularly Zeus, the king of the gods). Worship of Serapis continued in the Roman period and eventually spread to Europe.

This particular Serapis is interesting because it's two heads seem to suggest a male/female duality: The horns point to Zeus/Amun (an Egyptian creator or sun deity on one side), And Hera on the other.

I love the Serapis figure! Do visitors ever try to put coins in his mouth?

Not that we know of although people often stop to look carefully at its two faces.

Did the exhibit curator actively conceive of its placement like that?

Well, Connecting Cultures was actually curated by a group of curators with Kevin Stayton, our Chief curator in charge. It is an interesting juxtaposition that we get many questions about for the curators, but with group curation, we are not sure exactly who placed it.

What is the difference between the two sides?

That sculpture is a Serapis figure. You may have read this on the label, but Serapis was a composite god created early in the Ptolemaic (Greek) rule of Egypt to unite Greeks and Egyptians. The deity combined aspects of Egyptian gods (especially Osiris, the ruler of the Underworld) with Greek deities (particularly Zeus, the king of the gods). This particular Serapis is interesting because it's two heads seem to suggest a male/female duality: The horns point to Zeus/Amun (an Egyptian creator or sun deity on one side), And Hera on the other.

What is Serapis?

Serapis was a combination of Egyptian and Greek deities. This work was made at a time of Greek rule in Egypt, and it combined aspects of Egyptian gods with Greek gods in order to unify the local Greeks and Egyptians.

This particular Serapis is interesting because its two heads seem to suggest a male/female duality. The horns point to Zeus/Amun (an Egyptian creator or sun deity on one side), and Hera (a Greek queen of the gods) on the other.

Two faced statue?

Yes! That is a statue of Serapis who is a composite version of Zeus, and an Egyptian god, Amun (which is why he has ram's horns). On the other side is the Greek goddess and wife of Zeus, Hera. It is actually a rare sculpture in that it depicts two faces - generally this is not the case. If you head into 'Double Take,' the African Art installation in the adjacent gallery, you can find another version of Serapis, a more common version, with only one face-the composite Zeus/Amun.

Tell me more.

You're looking at one of the faces of the Statue of Serapis. Serapis is be a composite deity primarily of the Greek god Zeus and the Egyptian god Osiris.

This composite deity was created during the Ptolemaic (Greek) rule of Egypt. The idea was that a composite god would unite the Greek and Egyptian people! It has been suggested that this head shows either a younger and an older face or a man and a woman. Either way, it clearly tells viewers that the god is multifaceted.

Is this Zeus? Who is the figure on the other side?

This one. Who is he?

The whole sculpture shows Serapis, a hybrid deity that included elements of Zeus and Osiris, in addition to others like Dionysus.

The identity of both sides is actually up for debate, but one of our curators has said, "various sources claim that one face is the male Serapis (Osiris/Zeus) while the other face is his consort, Isis/Hera. Another theory interprets these faces as Egyptian and Greek, i.e. Osiris on one side and Zeus/Helios on the other."

Very interesting. Thanks

Serapis

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

Originally from Greece, Egypt’s Ptolemaic rulers (332–30 B.C.E.) sought to unite their kingdom’s Greek and Egyptian populations. They created Serapis as a god both populaces could worship. Millennia later, in urban Sierra Leone, newcomers similarly created a transcultural masquerade to appeal to blended neighborhoods. Serapis fused the Greek and Egyptian “kings of the gods” (Zeus and Amun) with Osiris, Egyptian Lord of the Underworld. This unusual two-headed bust of Serapis combines human and animal features. It has the horns of Apis (the Egyptian bull god, who became Osiris-Apis upon death) and the curls of Greek gods. The female figure may be his consort (Isis/Hera). Bearing both Greek and Egyptian elements, this sculpture had transcultural appeal.

MEDIUM Marble

DATES 30 B.C.E.–395 C.E.

PERIOD Roman Period

DIMENSIONS 25 x 14 1/2 x 14 1/2 in., 260.5 lb. (63.5 x 36.8 x 36.8 cm, 118.16kg) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

ACCESSION NUMBER 13.1070

CREDIT LINE Gift of Robert B. Woodward

EXHIBITIONS

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view

CAPTION Serapis, 30 B.C.E.–395 C.E. Marble, 25 x 14 1/2 x 14 1/2 in., 260.5 lb. (63.5 x 36.8 x 36.8 cm, 118.16kg). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Robert B. Woodward, 13.1070. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.13.1070_connectingcultures_2015.jpg)

IMAGE installation, CUR.13.1070_connectingcultures_2015.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2015

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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