Tag: apis bull

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Apis Bull

This artifact is a seemingly bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of an Apis Bull π“Ž›π“‘π“Šͺ𓃒 that is dated to either the Late Period or the Ptolemaic Period (c. 664 – 200 B.C.E.). The worship 𓇼𓄿𓀒 of the Apis Bull π“Ž›π“‘π“Šͺ𓃒 can actually be traced back to as early as the First Dynasty!Β 

The Apis Bull in statue form

The Apis Bull π“Ž›π“‘π“Šͺ𓃒 was associated with fertility and rebirth π“„Ÿπ“Ώπ“…± and was mostly worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀒 in Memphis π“ π“ˆ–π“„€π“†‘π“‚‹π“‰΄π“Š– near the Ptah π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“± Temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰. People would travel from various locations to the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ just to worship 𓇼𓄿𓀒 the Apis Bull π“Ž›π“‘π“Šͺ𓃒, and the mother 𓅐𓏏 of the Apis Bull π“Ž›π“‘π“Šͺ𓃒. 

While Hathor 𓉑 is probably the most famous of the cow 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 deities π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ, the Apis Bull π“Ž›π“‘π“Šͺ𓃒 was also very widely worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀒 and represented eternity π“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž›and the harmonious balance of the whole universe. The Apis Bull π“Ž›π“‘π“Šͺ𓃒 was usually associated with the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 (hence why a lot of pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 were referred to as the β€œstrong bull 𓂑𓃒”) were used to represent the strength 𓄇𓏏𓂝𓏭 and vitality of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. 

Usually a live bull π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ–π“ƒ’ was used to be worshipped, and the bull π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ–π“ƒ’ needed to have special markings on it such as a triangle shape on its forehead, or patches that represented wings π“‚§π“Œ³π“π“†ƒπ“¦ on its body. When the bull π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ–π“ƒ’ that was being worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀒 as the Apis Bull π“Ž›π“‘π“Šͺ𓃒 died, it was embalmed π“‹΄π“‚§π“π“…±π“Ž and buried elaborately. A new bull π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ–π“ƒ’ would then take its place. 

One of the easiest ways to recognize the Apis Bull π“Ž›π“‘π“Šͺ𓃒 in statuary is by looking for the sun disc 𓇳 on its head, and the elaborate cloth that is decorating the back of its body. You can easily see the details of this decorated cloth on this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 at the MET! See if you can spot the triangle on his forehead!

The Apis Bull
The Apis Bull in statue form
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Egyptian Artifacts

Late Period Faience Amulets

These are some Late Period faience amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ! Amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ were protective symbols that could be used by either the living π“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“ or the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱 and each amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† had its own power based on the image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 it represented.Β 

The first amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† on the left is Shu 𓇋𓅱𓀭, the god π“ŠΉ of the air and atmosphere. In the Egyptian creation myth, Shu 𓇋𓅱𓀭 raised the atmosphere from the Earth’s 𓇾𓇾 surface, separating the two 𓏻. Shu 𓇋𓅱𓀭 was often worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀒 by sailors, who were looking for favorable winds π“‡‹π“‡¬π“ˆ–π“…±π“Š‘π“¦! 

The next two 𓏻 amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ are different representations of the god π“ŠΉ Khnum π“ŽΈπ“π“€­. Khnum π“ŽΈπ“π“€­ is usually represented as a ram and is one of the oldest Egyptian deities π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ – evidence of worship 𓇼𓄿𓀒 dates back to the First Dynasty!! Khnum π“ŽΈπ“π“€­ is the god π“ŠΉ of the Nile River π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί and fertility. In the creation myth, Khnum π“ŽΈπ“π“€­ is said to have created all of the world’s people on his potter’s wheel. He is associated with Ptah π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“±, who created the heavens π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯 and Earth 𓇾𓇾 on a potter’s wheel. 

The next two 𓏻 amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ are a hare 𓃹𓏺 and an Apis Bull π“Ž›π“‘π“Šͺ𓃒. The hare 𓃹𓏺 amulet was thought to have regenerative powers, and in a funerary context, would help the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 be reborn π“„Ÿπ“Ώπ“…± in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. The Apis Bull π“Ž›π“‘π“Šͺ𓃒 was associated with fertility and rebirth π“„Ÿπ“Ώπ“…± and was mostly worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀒 in Memphis π“ π“ˆ–π“„€π“†‘π“‚‹π“‰΄π“Š–. 

Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 is a fierce Egyptian goddess π“ŠΉπ“ who is associated with childbirth. Women who were pregnant would wear amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ of Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 for protection. Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 is always represented as a pregnant hippopotamus π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― and was a household deity – she didn’t have any temples π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰π“ͺ dedicated to her specifically.