A Cock's Cult in Roman Egypt

The cock played a major role in many ancient religious beliefs. Nevertheless, it was not established as an Egyptian cult until the Roman period, when it played a great role in the Egyptian mythology and outspread into other religions and myths outside Egypt. Despite the great impact of this cult on religion, magic, and art in Roman Egypt; it has not been sufficiently studied by researchers; particularly in dealing with the Egyptian roots of this cult and its effect on the previously mentioned fields. The present research therefore focuses on two main points: the first is concerned with the major role which the cock played in the Egyptian mythology in the Roman period, to comprehend the reasons beyond using this fowl as a symbol of certain Egyptian deities. The second point deals with the cult of the Egyptian cock-headed god Abrasax that appeared in the Roman period to understand his functions, and his connection with magic and different Egyptian deities.