Essay on The Striding Apis Bull - 826 Words

The Striding Apis Bull The Apis Bull originated in Memphis, cult of Serapis during the reign of Ptolemy I. Serapis was the god whose association with Osiris, the god of the dead, formed the name Asar-Hapi. Asar is the Egyptian name of Osiris and Hapi was the name given to the Apis Bull which was the object of worship at Memphis. The Greeks combined the two together to form Zaparrus. Even though it is not quite clear, it is certain that Serapis is the shape Apis took after death. â€Å"Apis is called the â€Å"life of Osiris, the lord of heaven, tem (with) his horns (in) his head .†He is said to give life, strength, and health to thy nostrils forever.† At the beginning of the new Empire Osiris and Apis are united by priests of Memphis to†¦show more content†¦Once the he was chosen he was brought to Memphis where he was enthroned in his own palace located south of the temple Ptah. Everyday he was let free to roam in the courtyard of the temple for devotees to observe. They believed that the bull’s movements could fortell the future. The Apis Bulls birthday was celebrated with a festival, and on his twenty-fifth birth year he was killed. Devotees drowned, mummified, and entombed the mummy in the Serapeum.† The Serpeum was an underground chamber in the temple. It is also known as Saqqar Necropolis. â€Å"Here he is mourned for seventy days.† This ritualistic killing was probably very symbolic of the sacrificial slaying of the king, which was a rite common in pre dynastic times. â€Å"After the bulls death a new incarnation of the god was sought, and when the right calf was found, the process was begun again.†3 The Striding Apis Bull is 18x22 7/8 inches. It is carved out of Serpentinite and has a dark polished look to it. The body structure of the bull is carved in proportion and has a nice smooth surface. The shape of the bull is very round and natural. However, below its horns on the back of its neck there are rough white lines that have been carved out. I can clearly tell that these lines have symbolic meaning. The lines roughly cross the neck and upper back forming an interesting pattern. The bull looks as