The Apis Bull

The Apis bull was far from being an ordinary bull. Regarded as the embodiment of Ptah, the creator god of Memphis, there was only one Apis at any given time. The bull enjoyed a lavish lifestyle within what could be likened to a palace, officiating at festivals, adorned with its own jewelry, and making public appearances through a special window during notable events. The bull resided in pampered luxury within the precincts of the vast temple of Ptah in Memphis.

According to the creation myth from Memphis, the god Ptah, known as the “Father of the gods from whom all life emerged,” was the creator of the universe, and was served by a specialized group of priests.

The sacred bull was revered as a source of oracles and prophecies, with certain behaviors deemed significant for these purposes. During the heb sed, or royal jubilee festival, depictions usually portray the Pharaoh running alongside the Apis bull, validating his fitness to rule, before being re-crowned as the ‘King of the Two Lands.’

The selection of the Apis bull was based on specific markings and color. The bull needed to be black with a distinctive white diamond-shaped mark on its forehead. When a potentially suitable calf was found, the priests would deliberate. Once consensus was reached that the correct calf had been identified, it was brought back to the Apis Temple amidst joyous processions.

In a strategic public relations maneuver, Alexander the Great demonstrated respect for the Egyptian religion by offering sacrifices to the Apis bull following his triumph over the Persian Empire in Egypt.

The death of a bull was a matter of national concern, inciting widespread mourning. The bull’s demise was treated with many of the rituals accorded to a Pharaoh’s passing. After being mummified, the bull was interred in a location known as the Serapeum, the catacombs of which house numerous empty limestone sarcophagi, each weighing more than 80 tonnes.

Furthermore, the bull symbolized safe passage to the afterlife. The bull’s likeness can be seen on the footboards of many Theban coffins from the mid-Third Intermediate Period and beyond. However, examples, such as the one below, with a mummified human passenger, are most prevalent from Dynasties 25 and 26. The Apis bull, crowned by a rearing cobra (uraeus) between its horns, was believed to ferry the deceased towards either the western tomb or the eastern dawn horizon, guaranteeing their safe passage to eternal rebirth.

Bibliography

Freeman, C. and Ray, J. D. (1997) The legacy of ancient Egypt. Oxford: Andromeda Oxford.

Oakes, L. and Gahlin, L. (2003) . London: Ultimate Editions.

Global and Book, G. (2005) Egypt: Land and lives of the pharaohs revealed. 1st ed. Australia: Global Book Publishing.

Watson , A. (2010) Ancient Egypt. 1st edn. Brisbane, Australia : Watson’s Education Publishing/Lulu.