(2)

Alas, just like every other major religion of the time, the Cult of Isis fell. In the second century A.D., the cult of Isis became a bitter and effective antagonist of Christianity and had among its initiates many prestigious Romans. This hatred stemmed from the similarities between their religions, with Isis carrying the sins of her followers in much the same way Christ did, and her motherly image relates almost exactly with that of Mary, thus similarity drew people from one of the religions to the other and vice versa. With the accession of Constantine as emperor and Christianity becoming the major religion of Rome; the shrines and temples of Isis were everywhere looted and destroyed in order to remove the religious tension. It was not, however, until the time of Justinian, about 560 that the last remnants of her worship at Philae were destroyed and the cult was truly lost. The independent cult of Isis enjoyed an existence of over two thousand years, but in the end was destroyed. It possessed such vigor and longevity because she encompassed within herself the virtues and attractions of all her competitors; her ceremonials were elaborate and solemn; her dramatic presentations convincing and fascinating; her promises scarcely to be outdone; and her discipline delightful to souls burdened with sin and guilt.(2) However, with the despise of the Christians and their coming to power as the major religion of Rome, the cult was forced to die out.

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