Sacred bull of the Egyptians. Bull Apis - Memphis god of fertility - Egyptian pyramids forever! Apis bull symbol of fertility

16.01.2021

Apis

Apis(Hapis) - a sacred bull in ancient Egyptian mythology, who had his own temple in Memphis. Apis was considered an initiate, or else acted as a separate deity revered in the Memphis area.

In some separate areas, it was believed that every morning the sky goddess took the form of a cow and gave birth to a calf (Apis). During the day, the calf grew into a bull, and in the evening became the husband of the goddess.

Initially, Apis was revered as an incarnation of Ka Ptah, the god of Memphis. For this reason, it was also considered a symbol of the pharaoh. Since the word Ka in Ancient Egypt also conveyed the word "bull", Apis had to exist in the body of a real bull, and after his death, move into the body of a new bull.

When the previous bull, symbolizing Apis, died, the priests went in search of a new one. Upon finding a new Apis, he was taken to Nikopol, where he was fattened for 40 days. The annual festival of Apis referred to the annual renewal of the water in the Nile. Apis was not supposed to live more than 25 years, and after this time he was thrown from a certain place into the Nile (he was drowned in a well).

According to Plutarch (ancient Greek philosopher, biographer, moralist), Apis was born by the ray of the month; between its signs there is an image of a new month, a new moon, and the number 29 itself indicates the number of days of the month; at moonrise the priests went to Apis. The dead bulls in the Greek papyri are called Ozormnevis and Osorapis, and the 25 years of Apis' life indicate a lunar period in the Egyptian solar calendar, a period in which every 25 years the known phases of the moon fell on the same days. Apis was supposed to be black, except for a few spots that were characteristic of him. The discovery of the new Apis bull was celebrated throughout the country.

In the ancient world, the worship of the bull is recorded everywhere. Egypt was no exception, where there was a sacred bull Apis. Here he became the most revered among all the sacred animals.

Apis - god of fertility in the form of a bull

The understanding of who Apis was varied by time and region. In the Memphis area, he was revered as a separate deity. As the god Apis was responsible for fertility. The ritual run of a bull through the fields symbolized a request for a harvest and prosperity.

In other areas of Egypt, he was considered an animal dedicated to Ptah, Ra or Osiris. At the same time, he was revered as a living symbol of one of the named gods. For example, the connection of Apis with Osiris is manifested in the tradition of depicting a running sacred bull with a mummy on its back on sarcophagi.

In some areas, it was believed that every morning, taking the form of a cow, she gave birth to a golden calf Apis (solar disk), which by the evening became her husband. This belief was reflected in numerous statues of a bull with a solar disk between the horns.

Worship to him arose in the pre-dynastic era. Such a cult was characteristic of almost all the civilizations of the Mediterranean.

How was Apis revered?

A huge number of images of Apis in painting and sculpture have survived to our time, which cannot be said about a number of others. In addition, in ancient times there was always a specific bull, personifying this Egyptian god.

When an animal died, the priests began looking for a replacement. The new bull was supposed to be black. Several spots were allowed in clearly marked places. There were 29 signs to determine the sacred animal. For example, a white square-shaped spot on the forehead, a crescent-shaped spot on the right side, a beetle under the tongue, etc.

The new sacred bull was taken to Nikopol, where they were fattened for 40 days. The discovery of the new Apis was celebrated throughout Egypt. According to the "History" of Herodotus, in the main temple of Apis in Memphis, not only a bull was kept, but also a cow, which gave birth to him. The movements of the animal were interpreted by priests who predicted the future.

It was believed that he could not live for more than 25 years (lunar period in), but if after this time the bull did not die, he was drowned in the Nile. In Memphis, many stone sarcophagi for bull mummies have been found. Some of them weigh 80 tons. A separate holiday was dedicated to Apis, which coincided with the annual renewal of the water in the Nile.

With the onset of the Hellenistic era, the cult of Serapis developed in ancient Egypt. It combined the features of the Egyptian Apis and the anthropomorphic Greek deity. The cult of Serapis lasted until the 4th century. n. e. The last temple of the Egyptian deity was destroyed by the Christians.

December 4, 2017

Sacred bull in ancient Egyptian mythology, who had his own temple in Memphis. Apis was considered dedicated to Ptah or Osiris, or acted as a separate deity revered in the Memphis region.

In some separate areas, it was believed that every morning the sky goddess Nut took the form of a cow and gave birth to a calf. During the day, the calf grew into a bull, and in the evening became the husband of the goddess.

Initially, Apis was revered as an incarnation of Ka Ptah, the god of Memphis. For this reason, it was also considered a symbol of the pharaoh. Since the word Ka in ancient Egypt also conveyed the word bull, Apis had to exist in the body of a real bull, and after his death, move into the body of a new bull.

According to Plutarch, Apis was born by the ray of the moon; between its signs there is an image of a new month, a new moon, and the number 29 itself indicates the number of days of the month; at moonrise the priests went to Apis. The dead bulls in the Greek papyri are called Ozormnevis and Osorapis, and the 25 years of Apis' life indicate a lunar period in the Egyptian solar calendar, a period in which every 25 years the known phases of the moon fell on the same days. Apis was supposed to be black, except for a few spots that were characteristic of him. The discovery of the new Apis bull was celebrated throughout the country.

Apis - the god of fertility, in the mythology of Egypt was depicted as a large bull with a solar disk. The city of Memphis became the center of the Apis cult. The ancient Egyptians considered Apis to be the soul of the god Ptah, the protector of Memphis. The incarnation of God was a black bull with special white marks on the body. The Egyptians believed that it was the ritual run of the bull that fertilized the lands and fields. Apis was associated with the cult of the dead and was considered the bull of Osiris. So on the sarcophagi they often depicted a sacred running bull on the back of which there was a mummy. During the time of Ptolemy, there was an absolute merger of Osiris and Apis into a single deity Serapis.

Apis, in Egyptian mythology, the god of fertility in the form of a bull with a solar disk. Memphis was the center of the Apis cult. Apis was considered Ba of the god Ptah, the patron saint of Memphis, as well as the sun god Ra. The cult of the god of fertility Apis has its roots in the pre-dynastic era. Perhaps it goes back to the image of the sacred bull, the patron of fertility, whose veneration was widespread throughout almost the entire Mediterranean. The Egyptians believed that the ritual run of the sacred bull fertilizes the fields. Apis was associated with the cult of the dead and was considered the bull of Osiris. On sarcophagi, Apis was often depicted running with a mummy on his back.

Of all the sacred animals, Apis was the most revered. His cult repeatedly attracted the attention of ancient authors. According to Herodotus, the sacred bull Apis should be black in color with special white markings on the forehead, the silhouette of a neck on the back, have two tassels on the tail and a mark in the form of a scarab beetle under the tongue. The birth of a bull with such marks was a living embodiment of God and was a holiday for the ancient Egyptians. Apis priests kept at the temple of the god Ptah in Memphis, dressed, fed and revered as a god. The movements of the bull were interpreted by priests who predicted the future. The death of the sacred bull was considered a great grief for everyone. They treated him in the same way as with a person: they removed the insides and put them in canopies, the body was mummified and buried in a huge stone sarcophagus. Granite sarcophagi of sacred bulls weigh up to eighty tons. All but one of the Apis sarcophagi were looted in antiquity. In addition, statues were erected to the bulls with a solar disk between the horns.

Under the Ptolemies, there was a complete merger of Apis and Osiris in a single deity Serapis. To keep the sacred bulls in Memphis, not far from the temple of Ptah, a special Apeion was built. The cow that gave birth to Apis was also revered and kept in a special building. In the event of the death of a bull, the whole country was plunged into mourning, and its burial and the choice of a successor were considered an important state affair. Apis was embalmed and buried according to a special ritual in a special crypt of the Serapenium near Memphis.

God Apis - the sacred bull of the Egyptians

- Egyptian sacred bull. fertility god of Memphis. This cult has very deep roots associated with animal husbandry, which began to be practiced around 7000 BC. throughout the Eastern Mediterranean region.

In ancient Egypt, the cult center of the god Apis was the city of Memphis, one of the most important religious, administrative and cultural centers of Ancient Egypt. For many centuries this city was the capital of the ancient Egyptian state.

Therefore, the cult of the animal, revered in this city, spread far beyond its borders. It is to Apis that the term sacred bull of the Egyptians is most suitable.

in ancient Egyptian mythology, the sacred bull, revered as the earthly incarnation of the god Ptah.

Apis, in ancient Egyptian mythology, the sacred bull. His cult goes back to the pre-dynastic era. Perhaps it goes back to the image of the sacred bull, the patron of fertility, whose veneration was widespread throughout almost the entire Mediterranean. Official veneration of Apis, according to Manetho. introduced under the Second Dynasty at Memphis). The title of the gods and pharaohs included the phrase "strong bull". But before the era of the New Kingdom, very little is known about the cult of Apis. The sacred territory of Apis was located near the temple of Ptah in Memphis. Local priests chose a live bull as Apis, assuming that the god Ptah (Ptah) lives in the body of this bull. But after death, Apis became Osiris-Apis, symbolizing rebirth to a new life after death. This also testifies to the gradual displacement of the cult of Ptah by the cult of Osiris. Apis was identified with ka) Osiris.

Of all the sacred animals, Apis was the most revered. His cult repeatedly attracted the attention of Greek and Roman authors. According to Herodotus. Apis was black with a white patch on its forehead, a silhouette of a vulture on its back, two tufts on its tail, and a scarab beetle mark under its tongue. The birth of a bull with such marks was a celebration. Apis was kept at the temple of Ptah in Memphis, dressed like a god. Each bull was supposed to have a "harem" of cows, which were also considered sacred. The movements of the bull were interpreted by priests who predicted the future. The death of the sacred bull was considered a great grief for everyone. They treated him in the same way as with a person: they removed the insides and put them in canopies. the body was mummified and buried in a huge stone sarcophagus. Granite sarcophagi of sacred bulls weigh 80 tons. All but one were looted in antiquity. In addition, statues were erected to the bulls with a solar disk between the horns. The priests recorded the dates of birth and death of the Apis. The story of Cambyses II is widely popular. who killed Apis and was punished with death, but he is not confirmed by excavations of the necropolis of sacred bulls. The Greeks called the necropolis of Apis Serapeum, hence the name of the syncretic deity of the Hellenistic period - Serapis. The cult of Apis, like that of Serapis, spread throughout the Mediterranean in Hellenistic times.

The excavations of the Serapeum were carried out by the archaeologist O. Mariet. He discovered that separate burials began to be made under the son of Ramesses II. Hami, who was the priest of Apis. Prior to that, burials were held at Saqqara.

In addition to Apis, there were other cults of sacred bulls - Mnevis and Buchis. but Apis was without a doubt the most popular cult. It continued into the Hellenistic era and later, up to 400 AD. e.

Sources: world-of-legends.su, vsemifu.com, godsbay.ru, piramidavorever.ru, dic.academic.ru

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Apis Apis

(Apis, Άπις). The sacred bull worshiped by the ancient Egyptians. He was kept in Memphis, where he had a temple with a vast courtyard, and where numerous priests were assigned to him. His birthday was celebrated annually with great solemnity throughout Egypt. The body of Apis, according to the Egyptians, contained the spirit of the god Osiris. Marks of Apis: black fur, white spot on the forehead, semicircular spot on the right side, black growth in the form of a beetle under the tongue. All Egypt mourned at the death of Apis.

(Source: "A Brief Dictionary of Mythology and Antiquities." M. Korsh. St. Petersburg, edition of A. S. Suvorin, 1894.)

APIS

(hp), in Egyptian mythology, the god of fertility in the form of a bull. The veneration of A. arose in ancient times, the center of his cult was Memphis. A. believed ba(soul) of the god Memphis bird, as well as the sun god Ra. The incarnation of A. was a black bull with special white marks. They believed that the ritual run of A. fertilizes the fields. A. was associated with the cult of the dead (contributed to an increase in the sacrifices made to the dead) and was close to Osiris (he was considered the bull of Osiris). In the late period, sarcophagi often depicted running A. with a mummy on his back. Under the Ptolemies, A. and Osiris completely merged into a single deity Serapise, revered both in the Egyptian and in the Greco-Roman environment. Sometimes A. was identified with Atum(in the name Apis-Atum). Live bull-A. kept in a special room. In the era of the XXVI (Sais) dynasty (7-6 centuries BC) for the maintenance of bulls-A. in Memphis, not far from the temple of Ptah, a special Apeion was built. The cow that gave birth to A. was also revered and kept in a special building. Death of a bull-A. considered a great misfortune. The deceased A. was embalmed and buried according to a special ritual in a special crypt at the Serapeum near Memphis. (The French archaeologist F. O. Mariette discovered 64 mummies of A. during the excavations of the Serapeum.) On the bronze figurines of A., which have come down to us in large numbers, a solar disk is often placed between the horns. Information about the cult of A. is given by ancient authors Herodotus (II 153; III 27-28), Strabo (XVIII 807), Elian (XI 10), Diodorus (I 85).
R. R.

(Source: "Myths of the peoples of the world".)

Apis

(Source: "Myths of Ancient Greece. Dictionary Reference." EdwART, 2009.)

Apis

in Egyptian mythology, the god of fertility in the form of a bull. The veneration of Apis arose in ancient times, the center of his cult was Memphis. Apis was considered the "ba" (soul) of the god Memphis Ptah, as well as the sun god Ra. The incarnation of Apis was a black bull with special white markings. They believed it was a ritual. the god Apis fertilizes the fields; he was associated with the cult of the dead (contributed to an increase in the sacrifices brought to the dead) and was close to Osiris (he was considered the bull of Osiris). Under the Ptolemies, Apis and Osiris completely merged into a single deity Serapis, revered in both the Egyptian and Greco-Roman environments. Sometimes Apis was identified with Atum (in the name Apis-Atum). A live bull, Apis, was kept in a special room. In the era of the XXVI (Sais) dynasty (7-6 centuries BC), a special Apeion was built in Memphis, not far from the temple of Ptah, to keep Apis bulls. The cow that gave birth to Apis was also revered and kept in a special building. The death of the Apis bull was considered a great misfortune. The dead bull Apis was embalmed and buried according to a special ritual in a special crypt near Memphis. On the bronze statuettes of Apis, which have come down to us in large numbers, a solar disk is often placed between the horns.

(Source: Ancient Egyptian Dictionary Reference.)

APIS

in Egyptian mythology, the god of fertility. He was depicted as a bull with a solar disk on his horns. Apis was considered the soul of the god Ptah and the sun god Ra. The Egyptians annually chose a black bull with white marks, believing that he became the living embodiment of the god Ra, who, during a ritual run through the fields, fertilizes the soil and makes a bountiful harvest. Apis was associated with the cult of the dead and was considered the bull of Osiris.

(Source: Dictionary of Spirits and Gods of Norse, Egyptian, Greek, Irish, Japanese, Mayan and Aztec Mythologies.)

Bronze.
7th century BC e.
Leningrad.
Hermitage Museum.

Synonyms:

See what "Apis" is in other dictionaries:

- (ancient Egyptian). One of the most famous deities of Egypt: a black bull with a square white spot on his forehead; he had his own special temple in Memphis; according to some, the apis was a symbol of Osiris, according to others, a symbol of the earth, sun, moon. Dictionary… … Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language

Apis- Apis. Bronze. 7th c. BC. Hermitage Museum. APIS, in Egyptian mythology, the god of fertility in the guise of a bull. … Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

Pta, Serapis Dictionary of Russian synonyms. apis n., number of synonyms: 5 god (375) bull (50) ... Synonym dictionary

They did not perform strictly defined functions and rarely intervened in people's disputes. The names of some gods were not constant and depended on the time of day and on the actions performed at a particular moment.

Cult of Apis

The Egyptian was named Apis. He had the form of a bull. Often a solar disk was depicted between the horns. The cult center was in Memphis. Apis was considered the soul of Ra and the soul of Ptah, the god of Memphis. According to the beliefs of the Egyptians, during the ritual run of the bull, the fields were fertilized. Egyptian associated with the cult of the dead. Images of this god holding a mummy on his back were often found on sarcophagi.

Living personification of Apis

In Memphis, a black bull with white marks on the forehead and two tassels on the tail was considered the personification of Apis. This bull was supposed to have the silhouette of a vulture on its back and the silhouette of a scarab under the tongue. When such a bull was born, it was a great joy for the inhabitants of Egypt. He was assigned a special room. He was clothed and fed. This bull was given honors like a god. They revered not only this bull, but also the cow that gave birth to him. She was also provided with a special room. The priests interpreted all the movements of the bull and based on them they built predictions for the future. When the bull died, it was a great grief, mourning was declared throughout the country. His body was embalmed and placed in a sarcophagus. This sarcophagus was preserved in a special crypt - the serapeum. The sarcophagi of the Apis bulls were plundered in antiquity like the tombs of the pharaohs. Also, in honor of the bulls, statues were erected holding the disc of the Sun between the horns. After the death of the bull, the priests began to search for a new Apis. When he was found, celebrations began throughout the country. Apis should not live more than 25 years. If he lived to this age, then he had to be thrown into the Nile - drowned in a well. Every year, during the renewal of the water in the Nile, the festival of Apis was celebrated.

Bull of Osiris

They said that the sky) every morning was transformed into a cow and gave birth to a bull Apis. Until evening, this bull became an adult, and the goddess made him her husband. Apis and Mnevis were dedicated to Osiris, were considered his bulls. According to the beliefs of the inhabitants of Egypt, Apis is the bull of the moon, and Mnevis is the bull of the sun. During the reign of the Ptolemies, Apis and Osiris merged into a single god Serapis.

Ming - crop producer

Another Ming fertility was considered a producer of crops. He was depicted as a bearded man in a crown with two long feathers and with a standing, disproportionately huge phallus. In his right raised hand, Ming held a whip - a symbol of power over the slave force. At first, he was considered the creator god, the god of cattle breeding and the protector of crops. Later, he turned into the god of roads, the lord of the desert and the protector of travelers. Fertility Ming also gave men sexual power. Ming's main festival was the Festival of the Steps. On this day, the pharaoh personally cut the first sheaf, which the god of fertility took into his hands. Egypt is known for many gods who were often associated with pharaohs.