Editing Memphis, Egypt (section)

====Temple of Apis====
[[File:Louvres-antiquites-egyptiennes-p1020068.jpg|thumb|A statue of the sacred bull, Apis, found at the Serapeum of Saqqara.]]

The Temple of Apis in Memphis was the main temple dedicated to the worship of the bull [[Apis (deity)|Apis]], considered to be a living manifestation of Ptah. It is detailed in the works of classical historians such as Herodotus, Diodorus, and [[Strabo]], but its location has yet to be discovered amidst the ruins of the ancient capital. According to Herodotus, who described the temple's courtyard as a [[peristyle]] of columns with giant statues, it was built during the reign of [[Psamtik I]]. The Greek historian Strabo visited the site with the conquering Roman troops, following the victory against [[Cleopatra]] in the [[Battle of Actium]]. He details that the temple consisted of two chambers, one for the bull and the other for his mother, and all was built near the temple of Ptah. At the temple, Apis was used as an [[oracle]], his movements being interpreted as [[prophecy|prophecies]]. His breath was believed to cure disease, and his presence to bless those around with virility. He was given a window in the temple through which he could be seen, and on certain holidays was led through the streets of the city, bedecked with jewellery and flowers.

In 1941, the archaeologist [[Ahmed Badawy (archaeologist)|Ahmed Badawy]] discovered the first remains in Memphis that depicted the god Apis. The site, located within the grounds of the great temple of Ptah, was revealed to be a mortuary chamber designed exclusively for the [[embalming]] of the sacred bull. A [[stele]] found at Saqqara shows that [[Nectanebo II]] had ordered the restoration of this building, and elements dated from the [[Thirtieth Dynasty of Egypt|Thirtieth Dynasty]] have been unearthed in the northern part of the chamber, confirming the time of reconstruction in this part of the temple. It is likely that the mortuary was part of the larger temple of Apis cited by ancient sources. This sacred part of the temple would be the only part that has survived, and would confirm the words of Strabo and Diodorus, both of whom stated that the temple was located near the temple of Ptah.<ref>Jones, ''The temple of Apis in Memphis'', pp. 145–147.</ref>

[[File:Siamun’s royal cartouche on a lintel.jpg|thumb|Ankhefenmut kneels before the royal cartouche of Siamun, on a lintel from the Temple of Amun in Memphis]]
The majority of known Apis statues come from the burial chambers known as [[Serapeum]], located to the northwest at [[Saqqara]]. The most ancient burials found at this site date back to the reign of [[Amenhotep III]].