On this page we present an English translation of part of Maria Floriani Squarciapino's book I culti orientali ad Ostia (Leiden 1962), dedicated to the Egyptian deities worshipped in Ostia and Portus.
Next is a list of the relevant buildings, with links to pages on this website and in Françoise van Haeperen's work Fana, templa, delubra. Corpus dei luoghi di culto dell'Italia antica. Regio I: Ostie, Porto (Paris 2019).
The third section is a list of the relevant inscriptions as presented in the Recueil des Inscriptions concernant les Cultes Isiaques. Note that the list leads to PDF's with many photos, and that the photos in the PDF's can be enlarged by clicking on them.
The fourth section is a list of relevant works of art. It is based primarily on the text by Floriani Squarciapino, supplemented especially by Michel Malaise, Inventaire préliminaire des documents égyptiens découverts en Italie (Leiden 1972), Ricardo Mar (editor), El santuario de Serapis en Ostia (Tarragona 2001), and the Lexicon Iconographicum Mythologiae Classicae (LIMC).
The text
Maria Floriani Squarciapino, The cult of Isis, Serapis and of other Egyptian deities, I culti orientali ad Ostia, Leiden 1962, pages 19-36 (English translation by Jan Theo Bakker).
The buildings
- Iseum of Ostia
- In Fana, Templa, Delubra
- Serapeum of Ostia (III,XVII,4)
- On this website
- In Fana, Templa, Delubra
- Shrine of Serapis in the Caseggiato del Serapide (III,X,3)
- On this website
- In Fana, Templa, Delubra
- Iseum on the Isola Sacra
- On this website
- In Fana, Templa, Delubra
- Iseum of Portus
- In Fana, Templa, Delubra
- Serapeum of Portus
- In Fana, Templa, Delubra
- Schola of the cultores Serapis in Portus
- In Fana, Templa, Delubra
The inscriptions
ID RICIS ID other Description Place of discovery Date 503/1101 CIL XIV, 1044 Epistylium of tomb of Flavia Caecilia and Q. Maecius Iuvenalis Ostia, Porta Romana necropolis Late first - early second century AD 503/1102 The temple of Serapis in the Fasti Ostienses Ostia 503/1103 AE 1956, 76 Dedication to Jupiter Serapis Ostia, Serapeum 127 AD 503/1104 AE 2004, 365 Dedication of decoration by Titus Statilius Optatio Ostia, Serapeum Late second - third century AD 503/1105 Dedication to Jupiter Serapis by Titus Statilius Florus Ostia, Serapeum Second - third century AD 503/1106 AE 1971, 63
AE 1988, 216
AE 2004, 366Dedication to Jupiter Serapis Ostia, Serapeum Second century, after 127 AD 503/1107 Dedication by members of the gens Statilia Ostia, Terme della Trinacria Second - third century AD 503/1108 Dedication to Jupiter Sol Serapis Ostia, near Via della Foce Second - third century AD 503/1109 Dedication to Jupiter Sol Serapis Ostia First half of the second century AD 503/1110 Dedication to Jupiter Sol Serapis Ostia Second - third century AD 503/1111 Dedication to the holy Serapis Ostia, area of Via della Fortuna Annonaria 503/1112 Dedication by a physician, member of the gens Statilia Ostia, Serapeum Second century AD 503/1113 CIL XIV, 21 Dedication to Isis Bubastis Ostia, on the banks of the Tiber near the Capitolium Middle of the second century AD 503/1114 CIL XIV, 20 Dedication to Isis, Sarapis, Silvanus and the Lares Ostia, near Tor Boacciana Summer 175 - summer 176 AD 503/1115 CIL XIV, 352 Honorary inscription for Decimus Fabius Florus Veranus Unknown, Albani collection March 16 (?) 251 AD 503/1116 Dedication to Isis and the Genius cenacli Ostia, north side of the Terme del Faro Third century AD 503/1117 Dedication to Fortuna and the great god Serapis Ostia, Horrea V,XII,2 Second - third century AD 503/1118 CIL XIV Suppl., 4290 Dedication to Isis Regina Ostia, Terme di Nettuno Second - third century AD 503/1119 CIL XIV, 343 Funerary inscription of Cornelia Cocceia Marcianis Ostia Second - third century AD 503/1120 CIL XIV Suppl., 4291 Reference to a duovir and tabernae Ostia, on the banks of the Tiber between the navalia
and the Piccolo MercatoSecond century AD 503/1121 CIL XIV, 302 Funerary inscription of Arruntia Dynamis Ostia Middle of the first - middle of the second century AD 503/1122 AE 1991, 312 Sarcophagus, perhaps with depiction of the temple of Isis Ostia Second half of the third century AD 503/1123 CIL XIV, 429 Funerary inscription of Lucius Valerius Fyrmus Ostia Second half of the first or second century AD 503/1124 CIL XIV Suppl., 4667 Funerary inscription, perhaps of a priest of Isis Ostia, Horrea V,XII,2 Second - third century AD 503/1125 CIL XIV, 437 Sarcophagus of Marcus Ulpius Faedimus Ostia, Horrea V,XII,2 Second - third century AD 503/1126 CIL XIV Suppl., 4325 Fragment mentioning a neocorus Ostia, on the Decumanus near the Terme di Nettuno Third century AD 503/1127 CIL XIV Suppl., 4672 Funerary inscription of a priest of Isis Ostia 503/1128 CIL XIV Suppl., 4722 Harpocrates, proper name? Ostia, Sabazeo 503/1129 AE 1988, 213 Dedication to Jupiter Serapis and the Dioscures Ostia, Serapeum Late second - early third century AD 503/1130 AE 1988, 215 Dedication to Jupiter Serapis and Hercules Ostia, Terme della Trinacria Late second - early third century AD 503/1131 AE 1988, 214 Honorary inscription for M. Umbilius Maximinus Ostia, Serapeum March 1 200 AD 503/1132 CIL XIV, 2028 Painting of the ship Isis Giminiana Ostia, Porta Laurentina necropolis Second - third century AD 503/1133 AE 1999, 405 Dedication to Jupiter Sol great Sarapis Ostia, area of the Terme di Nettuno Third century AD 503/1201 AE 1981, 180 Dedication to Jupiter Sol great Sarapis Isola Sacra, San Ippolito Reign of Hadrian or a little later 503/1202 AE 1981, 181 Dedication to Serapis? Isola Sacra, San Ippolito Reign of Hadrian or a little later 503/1203 IG XIV, 960 Dedication to Antinous Via Portuensis, Torlonia collection 130-138 AD 503/1204 IG XIV, 1005 Dedication to Isis Pharia Portus Late second - early third century AD 503/1205 CIL XIV, 47
IG XIV, 915Dedication to Jupiter Sol great Sarapis Portus Second half of the second century AD 503/1206 IG XIV, 916 Dedication to Jupiter Sol great Sarapis Portus 200 AD or a little later 503/1207 IG XIV, 917 Dedication of a statue of Adrastia Portus, locality called "Traianello", Trajan's basin 201 AD 503/1208 IG XIV, 919 Dedication by neocorus Serenos Xiphidios Portus Early third century AD 503/1209 IG XIV, 920 Dedication by neocorus Serenos Ostia Late second - early third century AD 503/1210 IG XIV, 921 Dedication by neocorus Serenos Portus, found together with 503/1207 Early third century AD 503/1211 IG XIV, 914 Dedication to Jupiter Sol great Sarapis Unknown 222-226 AD 503/1212 Dedication to the most holy god Sarapis Portus Second - third century AD 503/1213 IG XIV, 924 Dedication to ancestral gods Portus Third century AD 503/1214 Dedication to Jupiter Sol great Sarapis Portus End of the reign of Trajan or reign of Hadrian 503/1215 IG XIV, 923 Dedication by a navicularius Portus Early third century AD ? 503/1216 IG XIV, 922 Dedication by Felicissimus Portus, in the Fossa Traiana near the Episcopium 211-217 AD 503/1217 IG XIV, 918 Dedication by the navicularii of Alexandria for Commodus Unknown, villa of pope Julius III 177-192 AD 503/1218 CIL XIV, 123 Dedication to Isis (?) and Magna Mater Portus Third century AD 503/1219 CIL VI, 3709 Dedication by an actor to Serapis and Isis Portus ? Second century AD 503/1220 CIL XIV, 188 Funerary inscription of a neocorus of Jupiter great Sarapis Ostia, said to belong to the Campana collection Second - third century AD 503/1221 CIL XIV, 18 Dedication by a priest of Isis Portus Late second - early third century AD 503/1222 CIL XIV, 19 Dedication by Calventia Severina and Aurelia Severa Portus Late second - early third century AD 503/1223 AE 1961, 152
AE 1968, 86
AE 1971, 67Dedication of the restoration of the temple of Isis Portus, in the Fossa Traiana near the ancient beach Early 376 AD
The works of art
Inv. nr.
Object
Deities - description
Place of discovery
Literature
Marble pedestal
Pedestal for a basin containing water from the Nile.
Found in the area of Via della Fortuna Annonaria.
Photo: Jan Theo Bakker.
RICIS 503/1111. EDCS-24300038.Funerary stele
Boy with "Horus lock", initiate in the cult of Isis.
"Dal fondo di una vasca sotto un portico fronteggiante il lato sud dell'ultimo tratto occidentale del Decumanus Maximus verso Porta Marina."
Photo: Becatti, 1938, Tav. 34.
Guida Museo Ostiense p. 83 nr. 14.
Early fourth century AD.Statue
Isis with diadem and ureus
Body from a wall in the Terme del Foro, head from the old collection in the castle.
Photo: ICCD E027166.
Guida Museo Ostiense p. 25 nr. 26.Small stone bust
Serapis
Piazzale della Vittoria
Photo: Hornbostel 1973, Pl. CLXXVIII,288.
Hornbostel 1973, 281.201
Small marble bust
Serapis
202
Small marble bust
Serapis
Piazzale della Vittoria
203
Statuette
Serapis
204
Small marble head
Serapis
Decumanus
205
Small marble head
Serapis
Near Porta Laurentina
206
Small head
Serapis
Via dei Vigili
Is this the head that was placed on inv. 1210?
207
Basalt statue
Headless statue bearing hieroglyphs without meaning.
Via della Foce
Torso of statuette of grey granite
Stelophoros covered with hieroglyphs.
Photo: Roullet 1962, fig. 242.
Donadoni 1955 and 1986.
Floriani Squarciapino 1962, 26.209
Small headless marble bust
Serapis
Via della Foce, "Taberna della Pollivendola"
210
Torso of a statuette
Serapis
211
Marble statuette
Isis or a priestess of Isis
Via della Foce
216
Marble statuette
Isis
Horrea di Hortensius
222
Remnant of sculpture of marble
Probably a kneeling person, with inscription 503/1108.
Via della Foce
225
Statue
Bes
Along the Cardo Maximus
228
Marble headless small bust
Isis
Tempio di Bellona
Marble
Four columns supporting a perirrhanterion (water-basin used for ritual washing) or a statue of Isis. Harpocrates with mantle over the shoulder and uraeus. On the opposite side Anubis wearing a mantle. Two sacred bulls, one with a solar disc.
Schola del Traiano
Photos: Archivio Fotografico Ostia.
Guida Museo Ostiense p. 23 nr. 21.545
Marble head
Isis or a girl in the cult
Sacellum (= ?) in the Casa degli Aurighi
969
Marble statuette
Isis Agraria or a port deity seated on an overturned basket, or on a roll of rope. It bears the dedication: BAEBIA THALLVSA | ET TEODOTVS D(onum) D(ederunt) | HILARIONI PATRI (AE 2001, 626). If pater is not to be understood in the sense of "father" of the two dedicators, it would suggest links with the cult of Mithras.
Via della Foce
Statuette
Serapis with Cerberus
Via della Foce, bottega "di fruttivendolo".
Photo: Archivio Fotografico Ostia.
Guida Museo Ostiense p. 45 nr. 2.Alabaster statuette, without arms and head (of marble?).
Isis
Via della Foce
Photo: Parco Archeologico di Ostia.
Guida Museo Ostiense p. 45 no 3.Statue
Serapis
Body found in north-easternmost shop in the façade of the theatre (not near the temple on the Piazzale delle Corporazioni). Head from Via dei Vigili?
Photo: ICCD E027146B.
NSc 1881, 120.
Guida Museo Ostiense p. 22 no 16.Headless marble herm with bust.
Serapis, with inscription 503/1107.
Via della Foce, "Taberna della Pollivendola".
Photo: Hornbostel 1973, Pl. XII, 14.
Antefix of marble. H. 0.25.
Adorned with urei, surmounted by the solar disc, which frame a lotus flower, between two feathers, also surmounted by the solar disc. Identical to an antefix now preserved in the Museo Gregoriano Egizio (inv. 94), so that Romanelli put forward also for this one the hypothesis of an Ostian origin.
Found in a room to the south of the Piccolo Mercato.
Photos: Roullet 1972, figs. 27, 28.
NSc 1912, p. 133; Guida Museo Ostiense p. 25 nr. 27.
G. Botti - P. Romanelli, Le sculture del Museo Gregoriano Egizio, Città del Vaticano 1951, 125, nrs. 208-209.1898
Three fragments of a sacrificial table.
Egyptian sacrificial table with inscription of hieroglyphs with the name of Psammetichos I. In II-III AD an enthroned deity was added, with eagle and sceptre with snake: Serapis – Aesculapius - Jupiter.
Via del Serapide
Malaise 1972, nr. 92b.
Fl. Squarciapino in FA 17 (1962), no 4875, p. 337.Oil lamp
Isis and Serapis on the handle, Serapis-Helios on the disc. Stamp of Annius Serapiodorus.
Isola Sacra necropolis
Photo: V. Tran Tam Tinh, Isis et Serapis se regardant, RA 1970, fasc. 1, 55-80, fig. 9.
Guida Museo Ostiense p. 85.2204
Oil lamp
Busts of Isis and Serapis.
Stamp B (CIL, XV, 6334 a).
Tran Tam Tinh in RA 1970, fasc. 1, p. 76.2415
Oil lamp
Busts of Isis and Serapis.
Stamp C IVN BIT (CIL, XV, 6502).
Tran Tam Tinh in RA 1970, fasc. 1, p. 76.2478
Oil lamp
With the symbol from the cult of Isis of the moon on the solar disc, like 2831.
Stamp C IVN DRAC.
Oil lamp
Bull Apis
Malaise 1972, pl. 8a.
Oil lamp
Anubis
Malaise 1972, pl. 8b.
3178
Oil lamp
Serapis on the handle.
3179
Oil lamp
Serapis on the handle.
3180
Oil lamp
Bust of Isis on the handle.
3181
Oil lamp
Bust of Isis on the handle.
3182
Oil lamp
Bust of Isis on the handle.
3190
Oil lamp
Serapis on the handle.
3191
Oil lamp
Handle surmounted by a crescent moon on which is a bust probably of Isis (perhaps the oil lamps 3193, 3195, 3196 also belong to this type).
3192
Oil lamp
Handle surmounted by a crescent moon on which is a bust probably of Isis (perhaps the oil lamps 3193, 3195, 3196 also belong to this type).
3197
Oil lamp
Sphinx on a crescent.
Terracotta lamp for ten wicks. L. 0.36.
Boat-shaped. In the centre, between two columns, Isis with sistrum and basket with snake. On the bow Serapis in an aedicula. On the stern Harpocrates in an aedicula, touching his mouth and holding a cornucopiae.
Caupona di Fortunatus / room to the east of the caupona
Photo: Archivio Fotografico Ostia.
NSc 1909, 117-119.Terracotta bust
Serapis with cup instead of modius.
Photo: ICCD E027337B.
3227
Terracotta figurine
Serapis
3232
Small terracotta head
Isis
3233
Small terracotta head
Isis
3234
Small terracotta head
Isis
Vase neck
Bes-shaped
Photo: ICCD E027337B.
Small bronze bust
Serapis
Caseggiato dei Molini
Photo: Parco Archeologico di Ostia.
Guida Museo Ostiense p. 102.Small bronze bust
Serapis
Corridor to the north of the Piccolo Mercato.
Photo: ICCD E027274B.
NSc 1908, 248.Small bronze bust
Serapis emerging from a chalice.
Via della Foce, "to the south-west of the large barrel vaulted rooms (towards the Palazzo Imperiale)".
Photo: ICCD E027274A.
Guida Museo Ostiense p. 102.Small bronze bust
Serapis
Photo: Arachne 60105.
Museo Gregoriano Profano.Green basalt.
Scarab. The hieroglyphs have no meaning.
Photos: ICCD E027293A, E027293B.
Guida Museo Ostiense p. 46 nr. 6.Statuette
Osiris. In the cartouche is the name of Psammetichus.
Photos: ICCD E027293A, E027293B.
Guida Museo Ostiense p. 46 nr. 5.Terracotta statue
(Isis-?)Fortuna, with traces of gilding.
Caseggiato del Sacello
Photo: Archivio Fotografico Ostia B511.
Floriani Squarciapino 1947.4368
Oval carnelian
Serapis with Cerberus
4370
Carnelian
Serapis
4622
Small terracotta bust
Isis
5419
Oil lamp
Serapis on the disc.
Terracotta slab with pumice inlay (0.49 x 0.60)
The bull Apis
Caseggiato III,XVI,6
Photo: Archivio Fotografico Ostia, B706.
Floriani Squarciapino 1956.Terracotta oil lamp
On the disc Isis with ureus and lotus flower, holding patera and sistrum, flanked by Anubis with caduceus and palm leaf, and Harpocrates with lotus flower, holding cornucopiae and palm leaf. On the crescent-shaped handle Jupiter-Serapis above an eagle.
From the fullonica near the Caserma dei Vigili.
Photo: Archivio Fotografico Ostia.
Guida Museo Ostiense p. 85.
First half of the first century AD (LIMC).36561
36562
36563Fragments of statue of black basalt
Fragments of an Egyptian statue.
Via del Serapeo, in front of the entrance of the Serapeum
Presumably in Vatican Museums
Statue of basalt
Kneeling pastophoros or naophoros carrying an aedicula with the image of Isis.
Found in 1860 “near the bank of the Tiber”.
Visconti 1864, CXXXIV.
Paschetto 1912, 165, 402, 549 nr. 394.V10615
Epistylium of tomb
Relief of Harpocrates, bovines, sistrum, uraeus, with inscription 503/1101.
Porta Romana necropolis.
Museo Gregoriano Profano.
Relief
Date palm and leaf
On the bank of the Tiber.
Photo: Arachne 68232.
Paschetto 1912, 402-403.
Museo Gregoriano Profano.Small bronze bust
Serapis
Photo: Arachne 60105.
Museo Gregoriano Profano.Mosaic
The bull Apis
Portal of the Serapeum
Photo: SO IV, nr. 290, pl. CI.
Painting
Shrine with stucco relief of Serapis, paintings of Fortuna (left wall) and Isis (right wall).
Caseggiato del Serapide
Photos: ICCD E040713 and Jan Theo Bakker.
Bakker 1994, 225-226.Painting
Isis, Harpocrates
Sacello del Silvano
Photo: Archivio Fotografico Ostia.
Bakker 1994, 255-256.Painting
“Priestess of Isis”
Porta Laurentina necropolis, tomb 18
Photo: ICCD E035631.
Painting
The navigium Isidis?
Near the Campus of the Magna Mater
Nogara, Nozze Aldobrandine
Painting
The ship Isis Giminiana.
Porta Laurentina necropolis
Photo: Vatican Museums.
Support of red porphyry
Bust of Isis-Hathor supported by Bes.
Portus
Photo: Museo Torlonia.
Capital of grey granite
In Egyptian style.
Portus
Photo: Visconti 1884 (Museo Torlonia).