Isis Worship

Isis worship was a mystery religion which became popular in the Roman world in the first century AD and this is indicated by the splendid sanctuary at Pompeii. Isis was an Egyptian goddess who had given new life to her husband, Osiris, by collecting his dismembered limbs after he had been murdered. The religion became popular in the Roman world because it offered the opportunity of life after death which was something that the traditional Olympian deities did not.

To become a follower of Isis you would have to undergo an initiation ceremony and repent for your past sins. Once you had become a follower you were required to keep its secrets and you could participate in the ceremonies which involved music and singing. The services held for Isis began in the morning, at dawn, and included songs and the shaking of the sacred rattle or 'sistrum'. Other ceremonies involved the fertile water from the river Nile. In the sanctuary at Pompeii, there was a vault built especially to house this sacred water.

The Sanctuary of Isis

Isis worship was a popular mystery religion in Pompeii. The Temple of Isis was first built during the second century B.C. and, after being badly damaged in the earthquake of 62 AD, was rebuilt. The temple precinct is surrounded by a high wall which prevented any 'outsiders' from seeing what went on in the secret ceremonies. The temple stands on a raised platform and consists of a porch and cella. Near to the temple steps is an altar and also a room for the storage of the sacred water which was specially imported from the river Nile.

In 79 AD when Mount Vesuvius erupted the priests of the Temple of Isis were having a meal. The food that they were eating - eggs and fish were famously preserved. The priests who believed that the worship of Isis offered the opportunity of an afterlife did not rush to escape when the volcano erupted but instead they were eager to get the holy treasures out of the temple and rescue them.