this time, taking on the title of “Lord of the Mummy
Wrappings.” He was also called Khenty-seh-netjer, “the
Foremost of the Divine Place” (the burial chamber). He
was called as well Neb-ta-djeser, “the Lord of the Sacred
Land,” the necropolis.
Anubis henceforth ushered in the deceased to the
JUDGMENT HALLS OF OSIRIS. The deity remained popular in
all periods of Egyptian history and even in the time of
foreign domination. Anubis took over the cult of KHENTI-
AMENTIU, an early canine deity in ABYDOS. There he was
addressed as Tepiy-dju-ef, “He Who Is On His Moun-
tain.” Anubis guarded the scales upon which the souls of
the dead were weighed at judgment. He was a member of
the ENNEADof Heliopolis, in that city.
Anukis (Anuket, Anqet) A female deity of Egypt,
she was the goddess of the first cataract of the Nile, prob-
ably Nubian (modern Sudanese) in origin. She formed a
triad with the gods of KHNUMand SATETand was depicted
as awoman with a plumed CROWNcarrying a PAPYRUSor
aSCEPTER. A daughter of the god Ré, Anukis was revered
as early as the Old Kingdom (2575–2134 B.C.E.). Her
entrance into the divine triad on ELEPHANTINEIsland with
Khnum and Satet dates to the New Kingdom (1550–1070
B.C.E.). SEHEL ISLANDwas one of her cult centers, and she
had a temple there. Anukis was considered a female per-
sonification of the NILE, as the inundator of the land. She
also had a temple at PHILAE.
Aoh (Yah)(fl. 21st centuryB.C.E.) Royal woman of the
Eleventh Dynasty
She was the consort of INYOTEF III(r. 2069–2061 B.C.E.).
The mother of MONTUHOTEP II(r. 2061–2010 B.C.E.),she
is sometimes listed as Yah. Aoh was depicted in the com-
pany of her royal son on a STELAfrom his reign.
Apedemak A Nubian (modern Sudanese) deity wor-
shiped at MEROËand in some Upper Egypt sites, Apede-
mak was depicted as a lion. The inscriptions at the deity’s
shrine on the sixth cataract of the Nile are in Egyptian
hieroglyphs.
Apepi See APOPHIS(1).
Apet See TAWARET.
Apis The sacred BULLof the Ptah-Sokar-Osiris cult in
MEMPHIS. The PALERMO STONEand other records give an
account of the FESTIVALSheld to honor this animal. The
ceremonies date to the First Dynasty (c. 2900 B.C.E.) and
were normally called “The Running of Apis.” The animal
was also garbed in the robes of the Nile god, HAPI(1).
The name Apis is Greek for the Egyptian term Hep or
Hapi. The sacred bull of Apis was required to have a
white crescent on one side of its body or a white triangle
on its forehead, signifying its unique character and its
acceptance by the gods. A flying VULTUREpatch on the
back of the animal was also considered a sign that it was
eligible for ceremonies. A black lump under its tongue
was enough to qualify if all other signs were absent. Each
bull was believed to have been conceived in a blaze of
fire, according to HERODOTUS.
When a bull of Apis died, an immediate search was
begun for another animal with at least one of the mark-
ings required. Such animals were dressed in elaborate
golden robes and paraded in the ceremonies of PTAH. It is
believed that the bull was born of a virgin cow, impreg-
nated by Ptah for a life of service in the temple. The bulls
were also used as ORACLESon festival days. In a special
chamber in Memphis the animal was turned loose to
decide which gate it would enter to seek its food. The
gates held symbols as to the positive or negative response
to the questions put to the animal by believers.
Each bull was cared for by the priests for a period of
15 to 20 years and then was drowned. Various parts of
the animal were then eaten in a sacramental meal in the
temple, and the remains were embalmed and placed in
the SERAPEUM(1)or in another bull necropolis structure.
An alabaster table was used there for embalming proce-
dures, and other tables were found at MIT RAHINAHand
Memphis. In the Eighteenth Dynasty (1550–1070
B.C.E.), the bulls were buried in SAQQARAin chapels,
then in a catacomb. This developed into the Serapeum.
Prince KHA’EMWESET (1), a son of RAMESSES II (r.
1290–1224 B.C.E.), was involved in the Apis liturgies. In
time SERAPISbecame the human form of Apis, called
Osarapis.Apollonius(fl. third century B.C.E.)Treasury official of
the Ptolemaic Period
He served PTOLEMY II PHILADELPHUS(r. 285–246 B.C.E.) as
the finance minister for the throne. He also maintained a
vast estate at a site in the FAIYUMregion. A document
concerning a complex irrigation system in use in this area
has survived. Dikes and canals provided water to the
fields.Apollonius of Rhodes(fl. third century B.C.E.)Direc-
tor of the Library of Alexandria and a noted poet
He was born c. 295 B.C.E. and served as director of the
LIBRARY OF ALEXANDRIA, in the reign of PTOLEMY II
PHILADELPHUS(r. 285–246 B.C.E.). Apollonius was famous
for his Argonautica,“the Voyage of Argo,” a four-volume
epic on the adventures of Jason. The character of Medea,
Jason’s love, is clearly defined in the work, serving as the
first epic in the classical period to employ a woman’s
viewpoint for dramatic purposes. Apollonius succeeded
ZENODOTUSas director of the Library of Alexandria from
260 B.C.E.Apollonius of Rhodes 43