Sacred animals of Egypt. A sacred bull in ancient Egypt. The sacred bull of the ancient Egyptians Apis

The mysterious Ancient Egypt has presented mankind with many discoveries and beautiful legends. The beliefs of the Egyptians differed in delicacy and always attracted by their unusualness. The Egyptians extolled our smaller brothers, portraying their gods with the heads of animals. However, there were also animals that were considered gods. One of these rare animals was the black bull Mnevis. This sacred bull in ancient Egypt was considered the embodiment of the god Ra. In different areas of Egypt, various animals or gods were worshiped. Because of this, often there were religious wars.

When the sacred animal died, his body was embalmed, put in a sarcophagus and buried. Curiously, some animals were buried in a special way. For example, cats were buried in Bubastis in a sacred crypt, dead crocodiles were thrown into the Nile, Ibis - exclusively in Hermopolis, and bulls always exactly where they died. Surprising finds of sarcophagi of fish, beetles, snakes, ichneumon.

The Holy Bull in Ancient Egypt

Since an important part of the Egyptians' life was occupied by agriculture, it was simply impossible to do without an animal like a bull. Apparently, thanks to him and made sacred. Many will be interested in the name of the sacred bull of Ancient Egypt. In fact, there are several names. Bulls were used in complex agricultural work, without them it would be very difficult to get a good harvest and properly cultivate the land. The sacred bull in Ancient Egypt personified fertility. Also revered cows, as nurse, representatives of the sky, which is closely connected with the cult of Hathor and Isis, as a result, a separate cult of the sacred Heavenly Cow was formed.

Apis - the god of Egypt

By the god of the regenerating nature, the Egyptians considered Apis. Who is Apis, what is he in Egypt? Apis is considered the god of fertility, he according to legend fertilizes the sacred cow, from their copulation a golden calf (solar disk) is born. The sacred bull of the ancient Egyptians lived in the temple of Ptah, that in Memphis, there also lived the oracles, who, studying the behavior of the animal, built their predictions. Ritual running of this bull brought prosperity and fertility to the inhabitants of Egypt. Having figured out who Apis is, the god of what he was in antiquity, let's move on. When Apis died, they were solemnly buried in the underground Necropolis of Memphis, the ceremony was held west of the Nile. Previously, the animals were mummified and placed in sarcophagi decorated with amulets and expensive ornaments. After the death of Apis, a new Egyptian sacred bull should be found by the priests. However, this is not easy, the successor must have special signs. Herodotus described these signs. According to his descriptions, the new Apis should have been born of a cow, which after it will never be able to breed. The young calf, who will be selected by Apis, should be black, have a white triangle on the forehead, double strips on the forehead (a total of 29 signs). The new Holy bull in Ancient Egypt was to be found by the priests in 60 days. While the search was in progress, the priests kept fasting. When the animal was found, it was solemnly carried along the Nile to the temple of Ptah, as far as Memphis. The people met Apis ashore to greet and show their respect.

Sacred Bulls

Sacred animals of Egypt are diverse, but bulls among them occupy one of the leading places. The bull Mnevis was called "sunny", because he was the embodiment of the sun god. Also deified and Bukhisa, this bull was black and portrayed with a solar disk between the horns. Concerning the color of the coloring of Bukhis, it was believed that it was capable of changing color every hour. Honored white bull (Mina), as well as the wife of the Heavenly Cow, who entered into her intimate relationship.

Animals Associated with Anubis

With this god are connected jackals, dogs, wolves. In Kinopil number there was a cult of jackals and dogs. The cult of Upuac is connected with wolves.

Sacred goats and rams

Even Herodotus spoke of the cult of goats. This animal is associated with the gods Shai and Banebjedet. Sheep were generally respected by the inhabitants of Egypt. It was believed that these sacred animals of Egypt were associated with the soul of the Egyptians, they represented fertility. Special was considered Amona - a ram with curves and bent horns. Sheep with long horns did not give, in contrast to Amun, wool. Sheep were very revered by the Egyptians, they were simply not trying to kill them, they even forbade wearing their wool clothes in the church.

Crocodiles

Crocodiles were compared to the god of the Nile waters by Sebek. These sacred animals of Egypt after the creation of the irrigation system and the appearance of the reservoir multiplied their population. It was believed that crocodiles can command spills of rivers that brought useful silt to the fields. Just as the sacred bull was selected, the sacred crocodile was also selected. The chosen person lived in the temple, was revered by people, and soon became completely tame. In Thebes it was forbidden to kill crocodiles, even if they carried a threat to life. Despite the fact that the crocodile is a sacred animal, it is considered to be the embodiment of evil and the enemy of the sun god, Seth's assistant.

Snakes, frogs

Frogs, like many other living creatures of Egypt, were revered because they symbolized fertility. However, Frogs were also considered the animals of the goddess Heketh, who was the patroness of women in childbirth. In ancient Egypt believed that the frog has a function of self-generation, because it was associated with the cult of the afterlife and resurrection after leaving another world.

From Herodotus it became known also about the sacred snakes, they were consecrated to the god Ra and buried in the Karnak temple.

Birds

Egypt was also worshiped by birds, including mythical ones, including the Great Gogotun and Bento. Of the real birds worshiped falcon, ibis, kite. They killed the sacred birds. The ibis was revered in Egypt as a serpent, the Egyptians learned to "cleanse", seeing how it "empties" and rinses itself.

God Ba depicted in the form of a falcon with a human head, the bird itself was considered the soul of God. In ancient Egypt, there was a belief that the falcon was the protector of the pharaohs.

The kite symbolized the sky and the gods Nehbet and Mut.

Scarab

The image of a scarab beetle can be found in any tomb. This beetle was also sacred in ancient Egypt, it was associated with the cult of the sun. The Egyptians believed that scarabs possess, like frogs, a function of spontaneous generation. Beetles protected from evil, were amulets for the Egyptians, rescued from snake bites and helped to resurrect after death (naturally, according to the legends).

Hippos

The goddess Taurt was portrayed in Egypt as a pregnant female hippopotamus, but despite the popularity of the goddess herself, the cult of the animal was not a widespread phenomenon, they were revered only in the Paprimit district. Ironically, these animals, like crocodiles, were considered enemies of the god Ra and personified evil.

Pigs

These animals were considered unclean in Egypt. Plutarch said that the Egyptian people believe that if you drink pig milk, the skin is covered with scabs and leprosy. Once a year the pig was sacrificed and eaten. There was a legend that once the great Typhon hunted a wild boar in the full moon, and the beast led him to the wooden coffin of Osiris. The pig is associated with the sky, it is like the moon, and its cubs are stars.

Cats and lions

It is believed that Egypt - the birthplace of cats. This animal was revered because the state was agrarian, and only the cats could save the rodents, so they were given homage. Cats were also considered keeper of the hearth. When a cat died in the house, they declared mourning. They buried animals with special honors. Bast (the goddess of love) is connected with a cat, even the great god Ra, is depicted as a red cat. For the murder of a cat threatened with the death penalty. The Egyptians' love for these animals once brought them grief: the Persian king Cambyses ordered his soldiers to be tied to a shield over the cat, so Egypt surrendered without a fight. Lions symbolized the power and authority of the pharaohs. The cult was not ubiquitous. The cult center is Leontopol.

Egypt - an amazing country in which for many centuries, worshiped different animals. No matter, evil they personified or good, the Egyptians respected our lesser brothers. The history of sacred animals is fascinating, interesting, and also instructive. Within the framework of our narrative, only a small part of this culturally rich world is affected. The history of Ancient Egypt, its rituals, rituals associated with sacred animals is a separate world, into which you sink and are carried away for ever.