Ancient History, Greek and Roman through Late Antiquity Commons^™

Roman Isis And The Pendulum Of Tolerance In The Empire, D. Jasmine Merced-Ownbey

Inquiry: The University of Arkansas Undergraduate Research Journal

This paper examines the evolution of Isis, ostensibly the "sacred mother," as a political tool in Egypt and (especially) in Rome. Through an analysis of primary and secondary source materials, it is established that Isis' treatment by Roman politicians represented a running discourse on the contemporary political relationship between Rome and Egypt, and, at times, on Rome's complex negotiation of foreign influences on its own society. Following the deaths of the first two Roman emperors, Isis was gradually elevated from the status of pariah to an acclaimed goddess within the Roman pantheon who was deemed worthy of beneficence and protection …