Description:
A solid bronze statuette of the Apis bull, shown in a striding position with both left legs forward. The animal has a sun disc between its horns which is adorned with a uraeus. A winged sun disc is engraved across the shoulders, and another one is visible on its hindquarters. Between the sun disks, in the middle of the back of the bull, we see a rectangular, embroidered blanket with fringed ends, the pattern of which has been executed in fine chasing. On an integral oblong plinth, which was once attached to another plinth with vertical tenons.
The Apis bull was considered sacred from at least as early as the predynastic period. The animal was linked to the Memphite god Ptah and was believed to be his ba (which translates rather incorrectly as "soul").
Simultaneously Apis was also linked to the god Osiris, perhaps through the connection of Osiris with Ptah, as seen in the union Ptah-Sokar-Osiris. Both Osiris and Apis were frequently mentioned in connection with their fertility, and Osiris could also be called "the great bull of the west".
Apis also had solar features, as indicated by the sun disk between his horns, and the sometimes engraved sun disk or solar symbols on its back.
A ritual called the "Apis walk", aiming to give fertility to the fields, was known from the earliest times. Another Apis walk can be seen on the foot end of many Late Period sarcophagi; this served to carry the deceased to the tomb.
The Apis bull lived in the so-called Apieion in Memphis, which was located near the temple of Ptah. During the Hellenistic Period, the cult also became very popular in Alexandria. Only one Apis bull at a time was worshipped in Egypt. After the bull died, it was mummified and buried in an underground complex of chambers in the cemetery of Saqqara, now called the Serapeum. The tombs of more than sixty animals have been found there. Part of the mummification ritual for the Apis bulls has been preserved in a Demotic papyrus.
The choice of a new Apis bull was determined by certain physical characteristics, such as special body markings, the most important of which was a white triangle on the forehead. But ancient writers, including Herodotus, also speak about the outline of a vulture wing on his back, a crescent moon on his flank, the sign of a scarab under his tongue, and other features.
When a new bull, showing these special markings, had been found, there was rejoicing throughout the country, and the bull was brought to a temple where he was worshipped. He was considered to be an oracle (the movements of his body were believed to be prophesies) as well as a bringer of health (his breath was believed to cure illness) and strength. The Apis was also believed to be a manifestation of the pharaoh, since both had associations with strength and fertility.
Since the animal was considered sacred, small statues depicting it were often made, usually of bronze. These statues could be worshipped, but also served as votive offerings which could be bought and offered to the god. Large numbers were found in the Serapeum (excavated by Auguste Mariette in 1850-1854) and in the favissas of the sacred animal necropolis in Saqqara.
Many statuettes of Apis bulls were left undecorated. Only the better ones have a decoration engraved on the body. There is a large variety in these decorations, which most likely reflects the work of different bronze workshops, although there may also be a chronological evolution.
Bibliography:
Jacques F. Aubert – Liliane Aubert, Bronzes et or égyptiens (Paris, 2001), p. 283-288;
Sue Davies, "Bronzes from the Sacred Animal Necropolis at North Saqqara", in Marsha Hill - Deborah Schorsch (eds.), Gifts for the Gods. Images from Ancient Egyptian Temples (New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2007), p. 174-187;
Luc Delvaux, "Apis", in Claire Derriks - Luc Delvaux (eds.), Antiquités égyptiennes au Musée royal de Mariemont (Morlanwelz, Musée royal de Mariemont, 2009), p. 185-186;
Florence Gombert-Meurice, "Les bronzes du Sérapéum de Memphis. Une enquête et sa méthode", Grande Galerie, Le Journal du Louvre; La Recherche au Musée du Louvre (Paris, 2017), p. 38-47, esp. p. 40-41;
Jean Claude Grenier, Les bronzes du Museo Gregoriano egizio (Monumenti, musei e gallerie pontificie, Aegyptiaca gregoriana, 5) (Città del Vaticano, Museo Gregoriano Egizio, 2002), p. 167-173;
G.J.F. Kater-Sibbes - M.J. Vermaseren, Apis (Études préliminaires aux religions orientales dans l'Empire romain, 48) (1975-1977);
Günther Roeder, Ägyptische Bronzefiguren (Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Mitteilungen aus der ägyptischen Sammlung, 6) (Berlin, 1956), p. 325-330, § 410-421;
Sylvia Schoske - Dietrich Wildung, Gott und Götter im Alten Ägypten (Mainz am Rhein, Philipp von Zabern, 1992), p. 95-97, n° 65, n. 7;
Christiane Ziegler, "Une découverte inédite de Mariette, les bronzes du Sérapéum", Bulletin de la Société Française d'Égyptologie, 90 (1981), p. 29-45.
Dating:
Late Period, 26. Dynastie, circa 664 - 525 B.C.
Size:
Length 8.8 cm.
Provenance:
With Sotheby's London, 4 December 1978, lot 87; thence German private collection U.H.
Condition:
Intact with a brown patina, mounted on a perspex block. A rare and very well preserved piece!
SOLD
Stock number:
E1374