GOD HERON AND THE IMAGE OF THE EMPEROR IN ROMAN EGYPT
Abstract
Тhis article examines the comparison of the images of the emperor and that of the god Heron. Heron in Roman Egypt, acting in the form of a rider on a horse, was identified with Horus – the victorious god who defeats enemies. The Thracian deity was contaminated with Osiris – a dying and resurrecting god, which allowed Heron to be a deity contributing to rebirth and the establishment of a just order of things. The idea of rebirth was closely intertwined with the image of a wreath, which was associated with the "wreath of justification" of the Horus in tombs and temples of the Greco-Roman time – a symbol that gives victory over enemies, restoration of justice, rebirth to a new life. This idea was combined with the image of the Phoenix bird who carries the Golden Age and Pax Romana. The victorious image of Heron and his connection with the idea of rebirth corresponded to the image of the Roman ruler, who carried the Pax Romana and the Golden Age to Egypt, and also established Maat. The image of the god Heron, which was given the iconographic features of the emperor, gave the Hellenized Egyptian population a feeling of the invisible presence of the Roman ruler.
About the Author
S. A. KachanMoldova, Republic of
Sergey A. Kachan, independent researcher, history teacher, Chisinau, Independent researcher
Kishinev
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Review
For citations:
Kachan S.A. GOD HERON AND THE IMAGE OF THE EMPEROR IN ROMAN EGYPT. Kazan Bulletin of Young Scientists. 2021;5(2):89-94. (In Russ.)