The Serapia or Sarapia was a Roman Imperial religious festival devoted to the Greco-Egyptian god Serapis.
Under the epithets Dominus ("Master, Lord"), Magnus ("the Great") and Invictus ("Invincible"), he was cultivated as a deity of success and victory in conjunction with Sol/Helios, Jupiter/Zeus, and Neptune.
One records payments to those performing in the ceremonies at Oxyrhynchus during the late 3rd century,[4] including a comedian, two "Homerists", dancers, and athletes.
[6] Among the Greeks and Romans, Serapis was sometimes identified with the underworld ruler Pluto, and Anubis with Cerberus.
[7] In addition to his payment from the festival organizers, the kynopou was to receive welcome gifts (xenia) from people along the processional route, perhaps to obtain reciprocal hospitality in the afterlife.