Cows & Bulls in Ancient Egypt

In Ancient Egypt, both cows and bulls held significant cultural, religious, and symbolic importance, though their roles and perceptions were quite distinct.

Bulls were used in religious ceremonies not only because of their association with deities but also due to their symbolic representation of strength, fertility, and life’s renewal. Their sacrifice was a way to appease gods or celebrate significant events, embodying the cyclical nature of life and death.

Cows, particularly, were linked to goddesses like Hathor, who was often depicted with cow horns or as a cow herself, symbolizing motherhood, love, and nourishment. Isis was also associated with cow imagery, especially in her protective maternal role towards Horus.

Unlike bulls, cows were generally not sacrificed because of their sacred status. They were symbols of fertility, life, and protection. The reverence for cows is evident from historical accounts, like those by Herodotus, who noted the Egyptians’ aversion to harming cows.

The act of sacrifice was part of a broader ritualistic system where offerings were made to appease gods, ensure fertility, and maintain the balance of life and death. The bull’s death was considered a sacred act that could purify or renew sacred spaces, like temples.

Apis Bull

The cult of Apis dates back to at least the 18th Dynasty (c. 1550–1292 B.C.), with the Serapeum’s use spanning from the New Kingdom to the Ptolemaic Period (over 1400 years). 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 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. 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.

The Apis bull was an immensely significant figure in ancient Egyptian religion, embodying the concept of divine kingship and fertility, and 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.

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. 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.

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.

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.

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. Some theories even suggest alternative uses for the Serapeum, including ideas about it being a site for ancient technology or rituals beyond mere burial.