Religious Cults - The Eruption of Mount Vesuvius 10/12/18 11:48

The Eruption of Mount Vesuvius (/)

Background (/) Pliny the Younger (/pliny-the-younger.html) The Excavations (/the-excavations.html)
Pompeian Dogs (/pompeian-dogs.html) Religious Cults (/religious-cults.html)
Classical Studies
Roman Eroticism (/roman-eroticism.html) Herculaneum Skeletons (/herculaneum-skeletons.html)
Streets in Pompeii (/streets-in-pompeii.html) Bibliography (/bibliography.html)

The Worship of Isis

This fresco was found in Herculaneum from an unrecorded site and
was discovered during the 18th century. It is most likely that it was
found in a house of one of the rich rather than in a temple. The
Egyptian references in this artefact like the two sphinx's, the palm
trees, the Egyptian horned alter and the ibis birds are important
details as they show the cult's origins as Isis an Egyptian goddess and
this shows how the Romans embraced certain aspects of foreign
cultures. Notice how the high priest is white while most of
the priestly attendants are black as this could show some exoticism
and how black people in the ancient world traditionally held an
af!nity with the Isis cult. The jar of Nile water held by the high priest
is an important symbol in the cult of Isis and Isis herself is often
shown holding a situla (a pail containing water from the sacred Nile).
In the High Priest's jar there would also be sacred Nile water which
symbolised the "ooding of the Nile. Many other priestly !gures also
hold sistrums. This is important to observe because sistrums were
rattle-like instruments often associated with the worship of Isis and
Isis was often depicted holding a sistrum as the sistrum's were
shaken to ward off the "ooding of Nile (therefore balancing the
symbolism of the situla) and to frighten away Set (who
A fresco of the rite of the goddess Isis found in Herculaneum
killed dismembered Isis's husband). During the services for the cult
of Isis, the sistrum would usually be shaken by the worshipers, the would be songs, music (as shown by the "utist) and dancing. A great deal of the
congregation in this artefact seem to be women and this is important as this cult particularly appealed to women since they could aspire to be as great a
wife and mother as Isis and because the cult offered them rights and privileges traditional cults did not grant women.

Analysis
This fresco depicting the worship of Isis adds to out knowledge of religion and religious cults in Roman life while shedding light on what went on in
ceremonies for the cult of Isis. The cult of Isis was a foreign cult and also a mystery cult as there were secret truths to be told during initiation which
members were never allowed to reveal to those outside the cult.1 The depiction of a ceremony or ritual from the cult of Isis gives us an intimate view on

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how that cult operated and what they valued. The artefact also shows us the decorous ways of Isis worship which also reveals to us that one reason for
people to join the cult of Isis was because they liked the more re!ned and ceremonious approach to worship a foreign god/goddess. All of the Egyptian
symbols in this artefact show how frequent contact with the East led to rites and worship of Eastern gods/goddess' like Isis in!ltrating Roman towns. The
spread of the Roman Empire through Egypt was also a contributing factor. This highlights how Romans were intrigued by mysterious and exotic
activities and religion and so Egyptian goddess' like Isis became very popular.
Others reasons for the popularity of the cult of Isis were because the cult offered a more personal connection with the deity being worshipped
(compared to relying on someone else like a paterfamilias for their spirituality) and there was also an emphasis on the individual follower as each
member was able to achieve individual deliverance for themselves. This religious cult also attracted many due to the promise and belief in life after
death, something which was hardly looked over with much hope in the worship of the traditional Roman deities. This was especially appealing to slaves
and those in lower classes who had not had such a fortunate life on earth.2 This reveals to us how different people in Roman society became members
of different religious and foreign cults based on their background, what they coveted in life and after life and how they reacted to the 'mysterious.'

The cult of Isis was also prevalent in Pompeii. In fact, the temple of Isis is very well-preserved
and was the only temple to be fully restored by the Roman people in Pompeii after the harmful
earthquake in 62AD. Above the main entrance-way there is an inscription: 'Numerius Popidius
Celsinus, son of Numerius, restored the Temple of Isis with his own money from the ground up
after it had been destroyed by an earthquake. Because of his generosity, the town councillors
enrolled him into their membership without charge when he was only six years old.'
More benefactors of the temple are listed below. This gives us insight into how Romans used
religion and benevolence towards religious cults can be used for social advancement, as Popidius,
the Father had clearly got his son into and elite group in society through benefaction. We can also
conclude that the honour also shows the political in"uence held by devotees of Isis at this date.3
The temple is situated next the Large Theatre and the walls were covered in frescos and also
artwork showing other Roman deities. Isis does not demand exclusive worship, you could be a The temple of Isis in Pompeii
follower of Isis but also sacri!ce to Jupiter.4 The temple was also not open to public view as the cult of Isis was really a religion for initiates.5 Daily rituals
and ceremonies were taken part in at the temple at dawn and in the afternoon.
The cult of Isis is just one example of a religious/foreign/mystery cult in ancient Rome, others include the cult of Dionysius, the cult of Cybele and
Mithraism but the cult of Isis was especially established in the towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum.

Conclusions
The evidence of the religious cult of Isis and the worship of Isis in Herculaneum and Pompeii is unique as it shows us exactly at the speci!c time of 79AD
that this foreign religious cult in particular was widespread and this proves that the eruption of Mt Vesuvius was signi!cant as it preserved these
artefacts so we know which cults were prevalent at this time and our knowledge of how this cult worships is expanded even further with the
preservation of a fresco showing a ceremony of the cult of Isis. Religion and being part of religious cults was an important part of Roman social life and
were accepted in Roman society. From the preserved fresco in Herculaneum we can discover how Romans took part in religious worship rituals and
what these rites involved. It is a unique piece of evidence as since Isis was also a mystery cult not much was known about their secret ceremonies and
rituals and this would limit our understanding but thanks to this fresco we are able to see some of the important symbols of the cult and how they
conducted some of their worship ceremonies. We can dissect how priests lead the worship ceremonies and how many symbolic objects, sacred to the
goddess Isis were used, like the jar of sacred Nile water. Without the signi!cant event of the eruption of Mt Vesuvius we would never have been able to
look upon such an artefact revealing unique details of the rituals of a religious cult from the classical world. From studying the cults and their beliefs we
can also see what fascinated the Romans such as exoticism and mystery, justifying their attraction to foreign mystery cults. We can also understand how
different practises in different religious cults appealed to different Romans of different classes and backgrounds. This allows us to comprehend how
religion was important to Romans in everyday roman social life, for example many women became members of the cult of Isis as they looked up to Isis
as a model Mother and Wife and they utilised their religion for guidance in their own lives, so everyday life and religion were intricately interconnected.
It would be impossible to uncover all these unique contributions on ancient Roman religion and social life if it weren't for the eruption of Mt Vesuvius
which signi!cantly preserved the artefacts where we source our knowledge from. In Pompeii the temple of Isis is unique as it has much cultural
diversity since it is dedicated to the worship of an Egyptian goddess and has structural features of Greek architecture like the "uted pillars, this is a
unique contribution as it shows us how other cultures in"uenced the Romans. Since Pompeii had a port it is evident that there was such a wide range of
religious cults and foreign cults like the cult of Isis as travellers could easily arrive at Pompeii and bring their culture and religion with them. The
preservation of the temple revealed how the cult had more of an extravagant nature, with high walls surrounding the temple (for secrecy), and initiation
hall and a chamber below for storing holy water from the Nile river. The writings inscribed in the temple also show how religious places also supported a
wider social, economic and political setting since people could direct their benevolence at these religious places and thereby secure themselves or them
family positions in elite groups. If the eruption had not preserved the temple then we would be unaware of this wealth of knowledge, such as
advancement through being a benefactor, in"uential foreign cults and the structure of cult temples that come from studying the temple of Isis. The
presence of religion in Pompeii and Herculaneum, in general show us how they believed in some sort of 'bigger picture' and there worship of gods and
goddess' show us how they believed in greater or superior beings. The fact that there were temples tell us about Roman social life and how worshiping at
the temples and practises like sacri!ces and religious symbolism was a part of daily Roman life.
If Mt Vesuvius had not erupted then it is very likely that later on with the introduction of a new religion - Christianity, many temples, religious cults and
religious artefacts/relics would be destroyed as the Christians would want to set up their religion and eradicate the signs of old religions. The Romans
beliefs in many different gods and goddess' would have gone contrary to the strict Christian belief in one God and this would have been extra fuel for the

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destruction of Roman temples and artefacts. Practically all Romans people would soon become enamoured with their new religion and been great
supporters of Christianity so they too would have soon supported this destruction of their old ways. And so, the eruption of Mt Vesuvius was a very
signi!cant event as it preserved the artefacts and evidence of religion and religious cults in the classical world and saved them from being wiped out as
Christianity came along. Otherwise, if the eruption of Mt Vesuvius had not occurred, then our understanding of Roman social life and religion would be
limited.

_____________________________________________________________________________________
1 M. Beard, The Fires of Vesuvius
2 R. Ling, Pompeii: history, life & afterlife
3 P. Zanker, Pompeii Public and Privite Life
4 M. Beazley, The History of Europe
5 M. Beard, The Fires of Vesuvius

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