Serapia

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.

Roman Imperial bust of Serapis in silver and gold (mid-2nd century AD, Metropolitan Museum of Art