Apis Bull
Apis, sacred bull of the ancient Egyptians. It was known to
them as Hapi and was regarded as the incarnation of Osiris or of
Ptah. A court was set apart for Apis in the temple of Ptah at
Memphis. It was believed that when Apis died, a new Apis appeared
and had to be searched out; he would be recognizable by certain
sacred marks upon his body, such as his color (mainly black) and
a knot under his tongue. Apis is sometimes represented as a man
with the head of a bull.
SUGGESTED READING: Legends
of the Egyptian Gods ; by Sir E.A.Wallis Budge. Dover
Publications, Inc. (1994).