In Ancient Egypt, both cows and bulls held significant cultural, religious, and symbolic importance, though their roles and perceptions were quite distinct. Numerous cultures throughout the world have honored bulls as sacred. In Ancient Egypt multiple sacred bulls were worshiped.
Of all of the sacred bulls worshipped in Ancient Egypt, the Apis bulls were the most popular. The Apis Bull was a sacred animal in ancient Egypt, revered as a symbol of fertility, strength, and the divine power of the pharaoh. The precision of the details and creativity of the ancient Egyptians appeared in all the engravings of the Apis Bull.
The bull represented strength, fertility, and the rejuvenation of life. It was seen as a living representation of the kingship, symbolizing the pharaoh’s power and divine status. In the Memphite region, the Apis was seen as the embodiment of Ptah and later of Osiris.
The Most Sacred Animal in History? APIS Bull Full Story | Egypt History Podcast
The Cult of Apis
The cult of Apis dates back to at least the 1st dynasty (c. 2925-c. 2775 bce), with the Serapeum’s use spanning from the New Kingdom to the Ptolemaic Period (over 1400 years). The Apis was considered a manifestation of the god Ptah, the creator god of Memphis, but later also linked with Osiris, the god of the afterlife, and thus seen as an intermediary between humans and gods.
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The cult of Apis contributed to the economy, with people making offerings, which could range from food to more valuable items, supporting the temple’s staff and activities. The raising of the Apis bull was a complex blend of religious duty, cultural practice, and royal propaganda, showcasing the intricacy of ancient Egyptian society’s relationship with the divine.
The Apis bull was an immensely significant figure in Ancient Egyptian religion, embodying the concept of divine kingship and fertility.
Physical Criteria for Selection
So the bull chosen to be Apis had to meet specific physical criteria: black with a white triangle on the forehead, an eagle-shaped mark on the back, double hairs on the tail, and a scarab-shaped mark under its tongue. Finding such a bull was considered a divine sign.
Electrum amulet of the goddess Hathor in Sacred Cow form, c. 1539-1075 B.C.Brooklyn Museum.
Life and Treatment of the Apis Bull
The treatment of an Apis bull paralleled that of a pharaoh, including a coronation and divine status, as well as a significant role in the religiosity of the kingdom. Once identified as Apis, the bull was moved to live in a special temple or enclosure in Memphis, the ancient capital closely associated with the god Ptah.
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The bull was housed in opulent conditions, often in a structure known as the “House of Apis”. This included a stable or temple area designed for one bull, offering protection from the elements and comfort. Being fed a diet that was considered fitting for a deity, including special foods like fresh vegetables, fruits, and high-quality grains. As well as priests or dedicated caretakers who would groom the bull, ensuring its coat was pristine, and it was kept in good health. It is thought that each day, priests performed rituals including offerings, prayers, and purification ceremonies for the bull, treating it as a living god.While alive, the Apis bulls were entitled to freely have sex with a harem of cows.
Apis BullBronze figure of a king kneeling before the Apis Bull and offering tribute. Hieroglyphic text naming Peftjauemawyhor.British Museum. EA22920
Death and Burial
When the Apis bull died, its death was treated with great solemnity. The bull was mummified with ceremonies akin to those for a pharaoh, and a new search for the next Apis bull began. The deceased Apis bulls, which were deemed sacred, were identified with Osiris, the god of the netherworld; “like the king and every other human being, the sacred bull became an incarnation of this god after death.”
As with human corpses, the corpses of Apis bulls were embalmed once they were deceased. The funeral processions of the Apis bulls lasted an entire day and were accompanied by several rituals. The earliest known burial in Saqqara was performed in the reign of Amenhotep III by his son Thutmose; afterward, seven more bulls were buried nearby. Khaemweset, the priestly son of Ramesses II (c. 1300 BCE), excavated a great gallery to be lined with the tomb chambers; another similar gallery was added by Psamtik I.
When a new Apis was found, there was a ceremony celebrating its “coronation” or recognition as the sacred bull. The bull was paraded through the streets of Memphis, an event that drew crowds and was part of larger religious celebrations.
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The Procession of the Bull ApisOil on CanvasFrederick Arthur Bridgman (1847-1928), 1879.
The Serapeum of Saqqara
The Serapeum of Saqqara, located northwest of the Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara, near Memphis in Lower Egypt is primarily known as the burial place for the sacred Apis bulls, which were believed to be incarnations of the god Ptah and, after death, became Osiris-Apis (later known as Serapis). Rediscovered by French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette in 1850.
Mariette found that the Serapeum consisted of underground galleries and chambers, with some of the most impressive features being the large, precisely carved granite sarcophagi for the Apis bulls. The engineering feats involved in creating and moving these massive sarcophagi have puzzled researchers, leading to speculation about the methods used by ancient Egyptians for such precision work.
Apis in the Bible and Beyond
Apis also appears theophorically in names across the region (e.g., Aramaic, Phoenician), signaling his cultural reach. Greek sources write Ἆπις, and later Roman authors still note the cult’s vitality. Christian writers often compared Apis with Israel’s Golden Calf (Exod 32) and with Jeroboam’s calves at Bethel and Dan (1 Kgs 12:28-30). Strictly speaking, equating them is historically imprecise; yet the polemical rhyme is obvious.
The worship practices in the Serapea varied. In the Alexandria Serapeum in particular, worshippers were required to climb 100 steps to the sanctuary of the god, where the latest scientific tricks were used to fascinate them; “the expansion of hot air fueled by burnt offerings threw open the temple doors and propelled the statue of the god forward, while hydraulic bellows caused spectral trumpet fanfares.” Another important role the Alexandria Serapeum played involved the Apis bulls.
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