| Apis Bull | |
| |
| Biographical Information | |
|---|---|
| Name(s) | Apis Bull |
| Age | originated as early as 800 B.C |
| Sex | Male |
| Status | A symbol of strength and virility. Associated with the King |
| Height | Variable |
| Source | |
| Culture | Egyptian |
| Date(s) | |
| Site | Serapeum of Saqqara |
| Current Location | |
| Location | Unknown |
| Catalog # | Unknown |
The Apis Bull was one of the most honored animals of ancient Egypt and it was closely related to the king. It is estimated to have originated during the 800 B.C. The Apis Bull was part animal, part god and was chosen because of the unusual set of markings: a white triangle on his forehead, characteristic patterns on the shoulders and rump and double hairs at the tail end [Source:A.R. Williams, National Geographic, November 2009].
Once the bull was confirmed as the incarnation of god, the bull was kept in a special sanctuary and was pampered with gold, jewelry. The priests drowned the Apis bull when it had reached 25 years old, and anytime after 25 the bull was forbidden to live. When the bull died the search was on for another bull. The body of the deceased bull was transported to the temple and laid on a bed of finely carved travertine. The mummification took a total of 70 days, 40 days for the repository of flesh and 30 days it wrap it. The bull was bandaged, artificial eyes were inserted, the horns and face were covered with a gold leaf mask. The priest, singer and exalted officials shipped the mummified body to the galleries carved into the bedrock of limestone, which they interred the mummy in a wooden or granite sarcophagus.
References
Apis the Bull God - Biblical Archaeology in Egypt (Bible History Online). (n.d.). Retrieved November 04, 2017, from http://www.bible-history.com/archaeology/egypt/apis-the-bull-god.html
The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. (2017, March 03). Apis. Retrieved November 04, 2017, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Apis-Egyptian-deity
Tour Egypt. (n.d.). Retrieved November 04, 2017, from http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/bull.htm
