The gate of the year

Mummy of an Apis bull, dating to the Roman period (after 30 B.C.), now in the Bristish Museum, London. The sacred bull, worshiped as a live animal for its strength and sexual power, was pampered and perfumed and dwelled in the luxurious temple complex at Memphis, the city devoted to its cult. At its death, it was mummified and subsequently transported in procession and at last buried besides all its predecessors. After death, Apis was identified as a manifestation of Osiris, the god of the dead, with the name of Osirapis. During the Hellenistic and Roman period this figure was transformed into the divinity called Serapis (Remler 2010).

[Image: http://www.ourtravelpics.com/photo/london/371/]




Animals

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Mummy of an Apis bull, dating to the Roman period (after 30 B.C.), now in the Bristish Museum, London. The sacred bull, worshiped as a live animal for its strength and sexual power, was pampered and perfumed and dwelled in the luxurious temple complex at Memphis, the city devoted to its cult. At its death, it was mummified and subsequently transported in procession and at last buried besides all its predecessors. After death, Apis was identified as a manifestation of Osiris, the god of the dead, with the name of Osirapis. During the Hellenistic and Roman period this figure was transformed into the divinity called Serapis (Remler 2010). [Image: http://www.ourtravelpics.com/photo/london/371/]