Apis Bull

The Apis was considered the animal manifestation of the god Ptah of Memphis (the ancient capital of Egypt). The bullish characteristics of virility, fertility, strength and aggressiveness are depicted in Apis. He represented also the River Nile and Hapy, the god of inundation (or flooding of the Nile), essential for the fertility of the land. Only one living Apis bull can be represented at any time. The Apis bull was revered like the king. When it died, it became Osiris, the god of the dead. At Sakkara, there is a necropolis (cemetery) for more than a hundred Apis bulls. Upon the death of the Apis bull, the priests of Memphis scoured the country for the reincarnation of the dead Apis bull. This must be a new-born calf with a white triangle on his forehead. Other indications also needed to be present. Then the new Apis bull was brought in triumphal procession to the Apis House, a magnificent temple located in Memphis, where worshippers would come and view the live Apis bull as it stood at a special window dressed in royal bull attire. this continued for about eighteen years until the death of the Apis bull and the cycle would start all over again. So powerful was the Cult of the Apis that it continued into Hellenistic times as the Cult of Serapis.

In the biblical account, Exodus 32:4-5, the Israelites reverted to their Egyptian superstitions when Moses stayed too long on Mt Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments from God. They worshipped an Apis bull with much debauchery and Moses made the offenders drink the powderised remains of the Apis bull statue which they had worshipped.

In Jeremiah 46:15 the word "warriors" (NIV) or "valiant men" (KJV) is leterally in Hebrew "strong ones" and it is the same word used in Isaiah 34:7 (and other passages) for "bulls". The sense here is: "Why did your Apis bulls fall? Why could they not stand? Because the LORD push them down.:

Hundreds of years later, Kng Jeroboam wanted to maintain his independence from Judea and set up two golden Apis bulls in the northern kingdom of Israel (1 Kings 12:28-29).

APIS BULL
3 x 2 x 5 cm.
An understanding of the Apis bull will help us understand why Israel worshipped the golden calf in the desert of Sinai. The example before us is a small representation of what must have been a larger representation of the Apis ... The Apis was considered the animal manifestation of the god Ptah of Memphis (the ancient capital of Egypt). The bullish characteristics of virility, fertility, strength and aggressiveness are depicted in Apis. He represented also the River Nile and Hapy, the god of inundation (or flooding of the Nile), essential for the fertility of the land. Only one living Apis bull can be represented at any time. The Apis bull was revered like the king. When it died, it became Osiris, the god of the dead. At Sakkara, there is a necropolis (cemetery) for more than a hundred Apis bulls. Upon the death of the Apis bull, the priests of Memphis scoured the country for the reincarnation of the dead Apis bull. This must be a new-born calf with a white triangle on his forehead. Other indications also needed to be present. Then the new Apis bull was brought in triumphal procession to the Apis House, a magnificent temple located in Memphis, where worshippers would come and view the live Apis bull as it stood at a special window dressed in royal bull attire. this continued for about eighteen years until the death of the Apis bull and the cycle would start all over again. So powerful was the Cult of the Apis that it continued into Hellenistic times as the Cult of Serapis. In the biblical account, Exodus 32:4-5, the Israelites reverted to their Egyptian superstitions when Moses stayed too long on Mt Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments from God. They worshipped an Apis bull with much debauchery and Moses made the offenders drink the powderised remains of the Apis bull statue which they had worshipped. In Jeremiah 46:15 the word "warriors" (NIV) or "valiant men" (KJV) is leterally in Hebrew "strong ones" and it is the same word used in Isaiah 34:7 (and other passages) for "bulls". The sense here is: "Why did your Apis bulls fall? Why could they not stand? Because the LORD push them down.: Hundreds of years later, Kng Jeroboam wanted to maintain his independence from Judea and set up two golden Apis bulls in the northern kingdom of Israel (1 Kings 12:28-29). The rabbis of old spoke of the three greatest tragedies in Israel: when Adam adn Eve ate the forbidden fruit, when Israel worshipped the golden calf, and when the Tanach (the Old Testament) was translated into Greek!. fm Egypt and the Bible: a guided tour of the special exhibition of selected pieces from the British Museum's Egyptian galleries, prepared by Dr Quek Swee Hwa, Biblical Graduate School of Theology, p. 4.

The rabbis of old spoke of the three greatest tragedies in Israel: when Adam adn Eve ate the forbidden fruit, when Israel worshipped the golden calf, and when the Tanach (the Old Testament) was translated into Greek!.

fm Egypt and the Bible: a guided tour of the special exhibition of selected pieces from the British Museum's Egyptian galleries,
prepared by Dr Quek Swee Hwa, Biblical Graduate School of Theology, p. 4.

APIS BULL