e_b.txt edits - temples of forge

[Ryg]

This thread contains my edits to e_b.txt temples of forge. Any comments or suggestions are welcome!

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{temple_of_forge_shrine} Temple of Forge Shrine

{temple_of_forge_shrine_desc} WARNING! This baseline description should never appear on screen!

{temple_of_forge_shrine_desc_short} WARNING! This baseline description should never appear on screen!

{temple_of_forge_shrine_armenia} Altar of the Fire

{temple_of_forge_shrine_armenia_desc}
This Altar is dedicated to the Fire. For the Sarmatians, fire is a sort of domestic avatar of the life-giving warmth and brightness of the Sun. In turn, the Sun is a protector of home, family and peaceful enterprises.

{temple_of_forge_shrine_armenia_desc_short}
This Altar is dedicated to the Fire. For the Sarmatians, fire is a sort of domestic avatar of the life-giving warmth and brightness of the Sun. In turn, the Sun is a protector of home, family and peaceful enterprises.

{temple_of_forge_shrine_britons} Bointha Govannon, Lucotos, aie Crodnu

{temple_of_forge_shrine_britons_desc}
In Britain, three “industry” deities are worshipped together. They are always honored at the same temple, which doubles as a forge. While individuals pray to them separately, the religion of the Britons says the three are constantly working together to serve their followers, and their temple always attracts the most skilled craftsmen who come to pay homage and work in the crafting shops within.\n\nGovannon, the master smith and brewer, is a favorite god of the Britons. Fearless, skilled, and kind, he represents a kind of fatherly figure to the Britons. Worshipped in both Britain and Ireland (as Goibhniu), and to a lesser extent Gaul, he has an extensive cult. Clearly, he is favored by smiths and brewers, but his gentle, protective nature makes him accessible to many and a refreshing change of pace from more brutal deities. His main role in British worship, however, is to encourage smiths and brewers in their trades, and devotees of Govannon often work constantly to master their craft. Govannon is also the uncle of Llew, the Celtic god of virtue.\n\nLucotos is a master shipwright and architect. He constructed the great ships of the gods, and battled sea beasts single-handedly. The brother-in-law of Govannon, Lucotos is brash, persistent, and a touch insane. Not as fatherly or loving as Govannon, who cares for all of his followers individually, Lucotos cares only for the whole of his people, and sometimes takes sacrifices for the greater good. In this sense, he is seen as pragmatic, taking one life to spare two. He is often filled with battle lust, and is the only British deity that actually enjoys combat on the sea.\n\nCrodnu, to modern sensibilities, may seem unimportant and easy to overlook. He assists the other two members of the godly forge; he keeps the flames going and cuts wood and performs other menial tasks. This, however, is his appeal. He is a god of the downtrodden or those who may feel their work is unimportant. He reinforces the belief that all duties, no matter how seemingly pointless they may be, have a purpose. Without Crodnu, there would be no fires for Govannon's smithing, or wood for Lucotos's ships. His quiet dignity and value as an assistant makes him highly favored by many lower-class workers and slaves. He encourages them to work hard and diligently, because the weight of the tribe, or even the whole kingdom, could rest on them.\n\nCeltic shrines were often a monolith or pillar that rituals were held around. This spot would be used for dancing, singing, celebrations, and sacrifices. Such a “temple” was open air, and while it would be defended by locals, it was unlikely it would have any dedicated defenders, except the local priests, judges, and maybe local fanatics. These shrines would be located in a sacred grove, planted with trees representing different aspects of worship.

{temple_of_forge_shrine_britons_desc_short}
In Britain, the deities Govannon, Lucotos, and Crodnu are worshipped together. They are always honored at the same temple, which doubles as a forge.

{temple_of_forge_shrine_carthage} Temenos Hieron Mithrou\n(Sacred Precinct of Mithra)
{temple_of_forge_shrine_carthage_desc}
Mithra is the god of the sun, contracts and friendship. He is the Judger of Souls, the protector of truth and the relentless enemy of falsehood. He is omniscient, undeceivable, infallible, eternally watchful and untiring. The divine representative of Ahura Mazda, the god of skies, he is at the forefront among the divinities (yazatas) in ridding the world of the evils of Ahriman, the god of darkness. It is also his duty to protect the righteous from Ahriman’s demons. His battles for good have made him known as a deity of truth and loyalty, which in turn make him god of contracts. He is also a god of air and light, making him a god of vegetation and fertility. Moreover, he is the god who gives victory, and this combined with his omniscient attributes connected to Helios, the Greek god of the sun, makes him a revered god among the Pontic Kings.\n\nMithra was an important Persian god, and Persian occupation and colonization brought his worship to Anatolia. The Greeks identified him with Helios as both were seen as the omniscient god of the sun. His association with truth and loyalty made him a god of contracts and the Indo-Persian word "mitra" can either mean "compact, oath, treaty" or "friend, alliance". The Persian Mithra was different from the Roman Mithras, as the latter was a syncretic religion taking aspects from many other gods and merging them with that of Mithra.\n\nWhen Roman influence grew in Asia, the worship of Mithra became increasingly popular in Anatolia and Pontos. The royal family of Pontos gave his cult support because it presented itself as drawing upon the legitimacy of the Alexandrian tradition of righteous kingship as an alternative to Roman domination. Claming the divine right of Mithra often meant claiming a divine right of rule in the face of Roman hegemony. Mithra was a popular deity among Iranian dynasties and high nobility, as attested by the frequent mentions of persons called Mithradates in Parthia, Armenia and Anatolia. Mithra meant “sun” while –da was “given by”, thus Mithradates meant “given by the sun”.

{temple_of_forge_shrine_carthage_desc_short}
Mithra is the god of the sun, contracts and friendship. He is the Judger of Souls, the protector of truth and the relentless enemy of falsehood. He is omniscient, undeceivable, infallible, eternally watchful and untiring.

{temple_of_forge_shrine_dacia} Alsos Hieron Gebeleizis\n(Sacred Grove of Gebeleizis)

{temple_of_forge_shrine_dacia_desc}
Gebeleizis played the role of the patriarchal-god who presided over the pantheon of the Getai. He was most often represented on horseback and wielding his characteristic staff of power. Gebeleizis’ origin can be traced to Asia Minor but he was worshipped on both sides of the Hellespont by the Thracians, Getai, Phrygians and the Bithynians.\n\nThe Getai and other naturalistic tribes often worshipped places which seemed to them of geographical importance, such as an important river, grove or mountain, and their most sacred place was the mountain of Kogainon. While in some of these sacred locations shrines of some sort were built, many were left as they were or with only inscriptions or descriptions and these were the most common of places of worship for these peoples.

{temple_of_forge_shrine_dacia_desc_short}
Gebeleizis plays the role of the patriarchal god who presides over the pantheon of the Getai.

{temple_of_forge_shrine_gauls} Eponacumill

{temple_of_forge_shrine_gauls_desc}
Epona is the Gallic goddess of statehood and the overflowing coffer, as well as patron of cavalrymen. A popular diety even amongst non-Celtic Romans, she carries the ‘Cornuropia’ (Horn of Plenty) and is said to control her mount with whip as a leader would his people, to give direction and get the most out of any circumstance. By nature of her example and protection, Epona invokes audacity amongst those that follow her closely, most prominent of whom are the cavalryman and the tax collector. But even Epona will not be able to save a leader that becomes overly dependant on the latter.\n\nCeltic shrines were often a monolith or pillar of some manner that rituals were held around. This spot would be used for dancing, singing, celebrations, and sacrifices. Such a “temple” was open air, and while it would be defended by locals, it was unlikely it would have any dedicated defenders, except the local priests, judges, and maybe local fanatics. These shrines would be located in a sacred grove, planted with trees representing different aspects of worship.

{temple_of_forge_shrine_gauls_desc_short}
Epona is the Gallic goddess of statehood and the overflowing coffer, as well as patron of cavalrymen.

{temple_of_forge_shrine_germans} Hárugáz Tiwáz\n(Holy Place of Tiwáz (Shining Heaven))

{temple_of_forge_shrine_germans_desc}
God of war, battle, honor, sky. Tiwáz is believed to have originally been a sky god who also became a god of war. Both Tiwáz and his father Wôdánáz are wargods but there is a key difference between them. Wôdánáz is a god of war in its basic form; he enjoys war and is not concerned with the question of whether it is needed or not. Tiwáz, on the other hand, is a god of battle, courage, honor, and heroism. He will only grant victory to those who fight for a righteous cause, such as a defensive army that fights for its freedom or survival. Armies that fight for wealth, power, or glory usually call upon Wôdánáz for victory. Tiwáz is also the patron god of the sword and many warriors scratch his name in runes on their swordblades for good luck and bravery during battle.

{temple_of_forge_shrine_germans_desc_short}
Tiwáz is the god of battle, courage, honor, and heroism.

{temple_of_forge_shrine_greek_cities} Temenos Hieron Athenas Poliados\n(Sacred enclosure to Athena Polias)

{temple_of_forge_shrine_greek_cities_desc}
Athena Polias. Athena the city-goddess. She is the pre-eminent deity of the protection of the Hellenic cities, in many of which the chief temple is dedicated to her. Sprung fully armed from the head of Zeus after he devoured her mother Metis (Wisdom), Athena always sides with Zeus and fights on his side in war. Often depicted with snakes or snake-adorned equipment, she is always ready for war. Her medusa-adorned shield is terrifying and protects her in battle. She is more associated with knowledge and cunning than the raw rage that is the domain of Ares. Her symbols are numerous, but the owl and olive tree are the most common. Her protection of heroes is well known, with guidance provided to Achilleus, Odysseus, Diomedes, and countless others. Athena is one of the most helpful of all deities that a Hellenic city might seek for protection, and under her guidance their success in war and culture in general should be assured.

{temple_of_forge_shrine_greek_cities_desc_short}
Athena the city-goddess. She is the pre-eminent deity of the protection of the Hellenic cities, in many of which the chief temple is dedicated to her.

{temple_of_forge_shrine_egyptian} Hakdasa Baal-Melquart

{temple_of_forge_shrine_egyptian_desc}
Baal Melquart (Lord Melquart) is among the patron Gods of Tsor and Kart-Hadasht. His heroic exploits are too many to mention, and even the Greeks worship him, albeit under a heretical name. His priesthood honors him by studying the ancient arts of seafaring and trade, bringing glory to Kart-Hadasht. Melquart's temples are airy places, and often not far from the sea upon which the god had his many adventures. The arts of ritual prostitution and sacrifice are not practiced here as they are in other temples, for Melquart demands his sacrifce to be performed in honor of the sea. He is the God of the Underworld, so those eager to curry favor in the afterlife pay special attention to him while living.\n\n
At this level, the temple is no more than a few columns supporting the roof of a small shrine, with a cult statue made of sandstone. The bulls and sheep that are sacrificed here are salted and cured in order to provide sustainance to sailors who practice the art of their God. A lone priest attends the shrine.

{temple_of_forge_shrine_egyptian_desc_short}
Baal-Melquart is the lord of the underwolrd and of trade. His priesthood may hold the key to income beyond your dreams.

{temple_of_forge_shrine_macedon} Temenos Hieron Hermou\n(Sacred Enclosure of Hermes)

{temple_of_forge_shrine_macedon_desc}
Hermes is the god of trade and profit, god of the travelers, the shepherds, the orators and the heralds. Son of Zeus and the nymph Maia, he was born in a cave and while still a child he stole the herd of cows of Apollon, qualifiying him as the god of thieves. To reconcile with Apollon he invented a musical instrument, the lyra, and gave it to him. Hermes is after all a talented inventor; he gave us the musical scale, astronomy, weights and measures, boxing, and gymnastics, and taught us the care of olive trees. He is unmarried but as a lively and amorous god he still has his share of affairs, while finding the time to complete many tasks. Whenever Zeus has a message to deliver, he is the one that does the job. To please his father he must be fast, but fortunately he is strong and has winged sandals to assist him. He is so quick he can bring the dreams to people every day. He is the last god every soul sees before arriving at Hades, the Underworld, as he escorts them. While living, you can see his face everywhere as his altars are in every agora, gymnasio and athletic place while the hermeia, little pillars with his head on top, are used for road and boundary markers.

{temple_of_forge_shrine_macedon_desc_short}
Hermes is the god of trade and profit, god of the travellers, the shepherds, the orators and the heralds. Whenever Zeus has a message to deliver, he is the one that does the job.

{temple_of_forge_shrine_numidia} Temenos Hieron Ptah\n(Sacred Enclosure of Ptah)

{temple_of_forge_shrine_numidia_desc}
Ptah is the creator of the universe. He dreamt creation in his heart and spoke it into being. It was he who created the framework of the universe, the metal plate that was the floor of heaven and the roof the sky, as well as the boats for the souls of the dead to use in the afterlife. He then created the god Atum, who later bacme the sun, to rule and watch over creation.\n\n Ptah is also the patron god of reincarnation, architects and craftsmen, especially stone-based crafts. Because of the connection between the crafts and tombs, the craftsmen regard him highly, and say he controls their destiny. There already existed a god for craftsmen and reincarnation called Seker, so Ptah is also called Ptah-Seker by some. His center of worship is the old city of Memphis, where he is known as the husband of Sekhmet and father of Nefertum, the younger form of Atum. He is usually depicted as a bearded mummifed man, wearing a skull cap and holding an ankh, was and djed, which are the symbols of life, power and stability.\n\nHistorically, Ptah had a massive cult in Ptolemaic Egypt and was popular among the soldiers, especially the Galatians. This was probably why the Ptolemaioi never suppressed his cult, like they did to certain other Egyptian gods.

{temple_of_forge_shrine_numidia_desc_short}
Ptah is the creator of the universe. He dreamt creation in his heart and spoke it into being. It was he who created the framework of the universe, and he is the patron god of architects, craftsmen and reincarnation.

{temple_of_forge_shrine_parthia} Atarsh Dadgah Verethragna

{temple_of_forge_shrine_parthia_desc}
Verethragna, the Persian god of victory and the personification of aggressive triumph, represented as the warrior with a golden blade. He bears the divine glory of Ahura Mazda and it is beneath Verethragna’s wings and the solar disc of Mithra that the shâhân shâh, 'king of kings', would find shelter. Thus did Verethragna come, bearing the Kavaya Hvarenah, the divine light of Ahura Mazda that would light the way for the ancient kings of Iran, for without it they were lesser in the eyes of their people. To the Parthians this was Xwarrah, royal glory, for they too held Verethragna in great honor and saw him as giving the divine sanction of kingship. \n\nThe falcon, associated with the fortune of the king, and the raven, associated with death, were sacred to Verethragna. The royal falcon bore the crown or diadem to all Iranian kings, becoming the bestower of fortune. Verethragna was also the slayer of the terrible dragon Verethra. His name, Verethragna, literally meant "defeater of the enemy".\n\nAdditionally, he is the god of Atash Verethragna, the most sacred of all fires, and a combination of all the lesser fires. In modern Persian this is the Behram fire. These fires as described in the Avesta are Adar Shaidan, Adar Khoreh, Adar Mino Karko, Adar Farnbag, Adar Farah, Adar Gushpasp, Adar Khorda, Adar Burzen Meher, Atash Dara, Atash Berezo-Savangh, Atash Vohu Fryana, Atash Urvazishta, Atash Vazishta, Atash Spenishta, Atash Nairoghanga, and the king’s personal fire of worship, Atash Verethragna. It is to Verethragna that the greatest fire temples are dedicated.

{temple_of_forge_shrine_parthia_desc_short}
Verethragna is the Iranian god of victory.

{temple_of_forge_shrine_pontus} Altar of Hauma

{temple_of_forge_shrine_pontus_desc}
Placeholder description!!\n\n
Very scant info on Hauma

{temple_of_forge_shrine_pontus_desc_short}
Hauma

{temple_of_forge_shrine_romans_brutii} Temenos Hieron Hermou\n(Sacred Enclosure of Hermes)

{temple_of_forge_shrine_romans_brutii_desc}
Hermes is the god of trade and profit, god of the travelers, the shepherds, the orators and the heralds. Son of Zeus and the nymph Maia, he was born in a cave and while still a child he stole the herd of cows of Apollon, qualifiying him as the god of thieves. To reconcile with Apollon he invented a musical instrument, the lyra, and gave it to him. Hermes is after all a talented inventor; he gave us the musical scale, astronomy, weights and measures, boxing, and gymnastics, and taught us the care of olive trees. He is unmarried but as a lively and amorous god he still has his share of affairs, while finding the time to complete many tasks. Whenever Zeus has a message to deliver, he is the one that does the job. To please his father he must be fast, but fortunately he is strong and has winged sandals to assist him. He is so quick he can bring the dreams to people every day. He is the last god every soul sees before arriving at Hades, the Underworld, as he escorts them. While living, you can see his face everywhere as his altars are in every agora, gymnasio and athletic place while the hermeia, little illars with his head on top, are used for road and boundary markers.\n\nHermes watches over all of those who go far away and have business with foreigners. This makes him an ideal patron for Baktrian cities, which are conduits for trade from India, the Far East, Mesopotamia and the Greek world.\n\nAny temple built in Hermes’s honor will help trade, as merchants worship at the temple, usually situated near the agora, before they leave for travels.

{temple_of_forge_shrine_romans_brutii_desc_short}
Hermes is the god of trade and profit, god of the travellers, the shepherds, the orators and the heralds. Whenever Zeus has a message to deliver, he is the one that does the job.

{temple_of_forge_shrine_romans_julii} Temenos Hieron Mithrou

{temple_of_forge_shrine_romans_julii_desc}
Mithra is the god of the sun, contracts and friendship. He is the Judger of Souls, the protector of truth and the relentless enemy of falsehood. He is omniscient, undeceivable, infallible, eternally watchful and untiring. The divine representative of Ahura Mazda, the god of skies, he is at the forefront among the divinities (yazatas) in ridding the world of the evils of Ahriman, the god of darkness. It is also his duty to protect the righteous from Ahriman’s demons. His battles for good have made him known as a deity of truth and loyalty, which in turn makes him god of contracts. He is also a god of air and light, making him a god of vegetation and fertility. Moreover, he is the god who gives victory, and this combined with his omniscient attributes connected to Helios, the Greek god of the sun, makes him a revered god among the Pontic Kings.\n\nMithra was an important Persian god, and Persian occupation and colonization of Anatolia brought his worship there. The Greeks identified him with Helios as both were seen as the omniscient god of the sun. His association with truth and loyalty made him a god of contracts and the Indo-Persian word "mitra" can either mean "compact, oath, treaty" or "friend, alliance". The Persian Mithra was different from the Roman Mithras, as the latter was a syncretic religion taking aspects from many other gods and merging them with that of Mithra. Later, Mithraism further developed into the god Sol Invictus whom both the Roman Emperors Marcus Aurelius and Constantine the Great held in high regard.

{temple_of_forge_shrine_romans_julii_desc_short}
Mithra is the god of the sun, contracts and friendship. He is the Judger of Souls, the protector of truth and the relentless enemy of falsehood. He is omniscient, undeceivable, infallible, eternally watchful and untiring.

{temple_of_forge_shrine_romans_scipii} Surp Tajar Vahagn

{temple_of_forge_shrine_romans_scipii_desc}
The Haikakan god Vahagn was cousin to the Iranian god Verethragna, and was the god of wind and weather in ancient Hayasdan. He was also the god of victory and was invoked as a god of courage. He was later identified by the Greeks with Herakles, and the priests of Vahévahian temple, who claimed Vahagn as their own ancestor, placed the statue of the Greek Herakles in the sanctuary of Vahagn. One of his functions was to battle against demons that attempted to divert the fertilizing flow of heavenly water away from the needy earth. His title Vishabakagh, "dragon reaper/harvester", suggested both his slaying of the dragon and the summoning of the thunder in his role as weather god. He is typically shown with flames in the place of hair, part of the close association with fire which was common to the aryan people.

{temple_of_forge_shrine_romans_scipii_desc_short}
Vahagn is the god of wind, weather, and victory.

{temple_of_forge_shrine_scythia} Eponacumill

{temple_of_forge_shrine_scythia_desc}
Epona is the Gallic goddess of statehood and the overflowing coffer, as well as patron of cavalrymen. A popular diety even amongst non-Celtic Romans, she carries the ‘Cornuropia’ (Horn of Plenty) and is said to control her mount with whip as a leader would his people, to give direction and get the most out of any circumstance. By nature of her example and protection, Epona invokes audacity amongst those that follow her closely, most prominent of whom are the cavalryman and the tax collector. But take heed, even Epona will not be able to save a leader that becomes overly dependant on the latter.\n\nCeltic shrines were often a monolith or pillar of some manner that rituals were held around. This spot would be used for dancing, singing, celebrations, and sacrifices. Such a “temple” was open air, and while it would be defended by locals, it was unlikely it would have any dedicated defenders, except the local priests, judges, and maybe local fanatics. These shrines would be located in a sacred grove, planted with trees representing different aspects of worship.

{temple_of_forge_shrine_scythia_desc_short}
Epona is the Gallic goddess of statehood and the overflowing coffer, as well as patron of cavalrymen.

{temple_of_forge_shrine_seleucid} Fanvm Minervae\n(Holy Site of Minerva)

{temple_of_forge_shrine_seleucid_desc}
Minerva was one of Ivppiters daughters, as well among the earliest Roman goddesses. She was the patron of the arts, the inventor of music, and also the goddess of military prowess, doctors and medicine.\n\n
Minerva was originally an Etruscan goddess, who was assimilated by the Romans. Later, she would be associated with the Greek goddess Athena, and took on much of Athena’s history and personality. Like Athena, she was born from the head of Ivppiter (or Zeus in Athena’s case). Her mother was the Titan goddess of wisdom Metis, who Ivppiter turned into a fly and swallowed. Metis lived in his head, and there forged Minerva’s weapons and armour, all the while giving Ivppiter a rather nasty headache. Eventually, from Ivppiters head sprang a fully grown and clothed Minerva.\n\n
In 207 BC, a guild of poets and actors was created to make votive offerings to Minerva at her temple on the Aventine hill. Minerva was feted on March 19, during a series of celebrations known as the Quinquatria.\n\n
Roman temples were not used to house mass congregations, but to store a statue of the god or goddess the temple was dedicated to and whatever equipment was necessary to the cult of the god. Ceremonies were performed outside of the temple, and usually consisted of some form of ritual sacrifice, offering or feast in honor of the god. Roman priests were generally taken from the ruling class of Rome, and were divided into various sub-groups and colleges, such as augurs (who read the auspices—the flight of birds, thunder, lightning and other signs sent by the gods), haruspices (consulted about prodigies), flamines, pontiffs, and many others. The head of all religion was known as the Pontifex Maximus.\n\nRoman religion was never strictly imposed on her provinces, and throughout most of the Republic and Empire there was free worship in all Roman territories, as long as these religions were not threats to Roman hegemony. For this reason, the Mithraic cult was able to gain widespread following under Rome.

{temple_of_forge_shrine_seleucid_desc_short}
Minerva was one of Ivppiters daughters, as well as one of the earliest Roman goddesses. She was the patron of the arts, the inventor of music, and also the goddess of military prowess, doctors and medicine.

{temple_of_forge_shrine_spain} Treonos Epona

{temple_of_forge_shrine_spain_desc}
Epona is a goddess worshipped all over the celtic-influenced world, and Celtiberia is no exception. She is represented as a woman riding or accompanied by horses, often carrying a Cornucopia or other symbols of plenty. Other representations include a single mare feeding its foals or a aquatic nymph. Her name reveals her role of patron of equines and horsemen (epos is the Gallic word for horse), but she is also a goddess of fertility and richness, making her popular with government officials as well.\n\n
Historically, she was prevalent throughout the Celtic period as well as during Roman occupations, even among non-Celts, as auxiliary alae brought the cult to the borders of the Empire.\n\n
Epona, like other celtic gods, was brought to Celtiberia by migratory waves that occurred in the early 10th century BC. These peoples mingled with the native population and gave enormous cultural contribution to them, creating a distinct sub-culture within the peninsula.\n\nCeltic and other peninsular shrines were often simply places of geographical relevance, such as a cave, stream, crossroad, mountain, hill or grove. Nothing was built, but there were often paintings and inscriptions clearly marking a place of heavy worship by locals or pilgrims. These natural spots were sacred, and many lesser deities were associated with them.

{temple_of_forge_shrine_spain_desc_short}
Epona is a goddess worshipped all over the celtic-influenced world, and Celtiberia is no exception. She is represented as a woman riding or accompanied by horses, often carrying a Cornucopia or other symbols of plenty.

{temple_of_forge_shrine_thrace} Temenos Hieron Sarapidos kai Isidos\n(Sacred enclosure of Sarapis and Isis)

{temple_of_forge_shrine_thrace_desc}
The Epeirotes were among the most devoted followers of Sarapis and Isis on the Hellenic mainland. By the fourth century, the worship of Isis had begun in Hellas at the Athenian port of Peiraieus through Aigyptians living there. Sarapis was originally an Anatolian deity, but was brought to Aigyptos by Ptolemaios, and thence to the rest of the Hellenic world through trade and other contacts. The joint cult of the two deities became very popular, and often had worshippers of other gods and goddesses included within its walls. The cult’s officers soon were drawn from the ranks of other state officials and from the start it was highly Hellenized; even the language of the cult was Hellenic and the practices had a Hellenic character. They included interpretations of dreams, banquets for cult festivals, incubation, and societies for initiated members. A city-state cult and a mystery cult combined thus became extremely popular wherever the Hellenes were exposed to Aigyptians. With the contacts the royal house of the Aiakides had with the Ptolemaioi, it is not surprising that the cult became popular in Epeiros as well. It was very popular with the mercenaries and soldiers fighting under Pyrrhos and also appealed greatly to the lower classes.\n\nBanquets, festivals, and more interaction on a personal level with the god were hallmarks of the worship of Sarapis and Isis. It brought much happiness to the inhabitants of Epeirote cities to have a great cult center of these gods located within their walls. These resulted in a more outward looking frame of mind for those places, with other merchants and traders and mercenaries passing through their gates and bringing more contact with the rest of the Hellenic world.

{temple_of_forge_shrine_thrace_desc_short}
The joint cult of Sarapis and Isis became very popular, and often had worshippers of other gods and goddesses included within its walls. The practices of the cult included interpretations of dreams, banquets for cult festivals, incubation and societies for initiated members.