The Emergence of the Osiris Cult in the Italian Peninsula and Its Main Features: A Reassessment

In the Roman period, cult of Osiris, together with other Egyptian deities, reached Italian peninsula through sea trade. Here, his watery nature was especially stressed. Following ancient beliefs, Osiris identified yearly flooding Nile, which renewed and fertilized fields, used in lustration rituals to bring dead life as well satiate deceased’s thirst. Since embodied this vital fluid, he perceived a bearer life. Far from aiming collect all evidence found peninsula, goal work is provide an overview forms were mainly worshipped there, what role held funerary contexts beyond, analysis some most relevant sources related examinations worshipped.