Editing Apis (deity) (section)

== Herald of Ptah ==
[[File:The Procession of the Bull Apis by Frederick Arthur Bridgman, 1879.jpg|thumb|The sacred procession of Apis Osiris by F.A. Bridgman]]
This animal was chosen because it symbolized the courageous heart, great strength, and fighting spirit of the king. Apis came to being considered a manifestation of the king, as bulls were symbols of strength and fertility, qualities that are closely linked with kingship. "Strong bull of his mother [[Hathor]]" was a common title for Egyptian gods and male kings, being unused for women serving as king, such as [[Hatshepsut]].

As early as the time of the [[Narmer Palette]], the king is depicted with a bovine tail on one side, and a bull is seen knocking down the walls of a city on the other.
[[File:Faraón ante Apis (British Museum).jpg|thumb|Pharaoh statuette with the Apis bull ([[British Museum]])]]
Occasionally, Apis was pictured with the sun-disk symbol of his mother, Hathor, between his horns, being one of few deities ever associated with her symbol. When the disk was depicted on his head with his horns below and the triangular marking on his forehead, an [[ankh]] was suggested. That symbol always was closely associated with Hathor.

Early on, Apis was the [[Reporter (Ancient Egypt)|herald]] ([[Wikt:wḥm|''wḥm'']]) of [[Ptah]], the chief deity in the area around [[Memphis, Egypt|Memphis]]. As a manifestation of Ptah, Apis also was considered to be a symbol of the king, embodying the qualities of kingship. In the region where Ptah was worshiped, [[cattle]] exhibited white patterning on their mainly black bodies, and so a belief grew up that the Apis calf had to have a certain set of markings suitable to its role. It was required to have a white [[triangle|triangular]] marking upon its forehead, a white [[Egyptian vulture]] wing outline on its back, a [[scarab (artifact)|scarab]] mark under its tongue, a white [[moon|crescent moon]] shape on its right flank, and double hairs on his tail.

The calf that matched these markings was selected from the herds, brought to a [[Egyptian temple|temple]], given a [[harem]] of cows, and worshiped as an aspect of Ptah. The cow who was his mother was believed to have conceived him by a flash of [[lightning]] from the heavens, or from [[moonlight|moonbeam]]s. She also was treated specially, and given a special burial. At the temple, Apis was used as an [[oracle]], his movements being interpreted as prophecies. His breath was believed to cure disease and his presence to bless those around with strength. A window was created in the temple through which he could be viewed and, on certain holidays, he was led through the streets of the city, bedecked with jewelry and flowers.

[[File:Api or Hapi (Apis, Taureau Consacré a la Lune), N372.2.jpg|thumbnail|Api or Hapi (Apis, Taureau Consacré a la Lune), N372.2, [[Brooklyn Museum]]]]