Apis

APIS. The Egyptians worshiped an Ox or a Bull; this all the Ancients testify. They had an Ox consecrated to the Sun, which they fed at Heliopolis, and called Mnevis. They had another named Apis, dedicated to the Moon, and fed at Memphis. The God Osiris was adored under the figure of this Animali. The following marks were those whereby it was distinguished. The whole body was black, except a white square spot upon the forehead: It had the figure of an Eagle on its back, as some say; or as others, the figure of a Crescent: The hairs of the tail were double, and it had the form of a Beetle under its tongue.

1 Chron. xxiv. 15. ii. 53.When a Calf was found with these marks, it was carried with great tokens of joy to the Temple of Osiris, where it was fed, kept and worshiped in the room of this God as long as it lived. After its death it was buried with great solemnity and mourning. This done, they looked out for another with the same marks. Sometimes they were many years before they found one; but when they had, there was a great Festival kept all over the Country. country. There is no question but that the Golden Calf which Aaron made for the Israelites in the wilderness, and the Calves set up by Jeroboam to be worshipped in his Kingdom of the ten Tribes, were an imitation of the superstitious adoration which the Egyptians paid to their bull Apis.

Some learned men¹ have thought, that the Egyptians paid divine honours to the Patriarch Joseph under the figure of a Calf, or under the name of Apis. They say Apis was King of Memphis, who provided food for his subjects during the time of a great famine; that the name Apis signifies an ox; that this animal is the symbol of agriculture. Some imagine, that the King of Memphis is the same with Joseph, who, as we know, preserved Egypt during the seven years of barrenness. The Patriarch Jacob speaking of the violence exercised by Simeon and Levi against Joseph, says, that in their fury they Genes. xlix. 6. ex Hebr.killed a man, and in their indignation boughed an ox, which several interpreters explain of Joseph. Besides King Pharaoh called Joseph, Abis, my Father, which comes pretty near the word Apis. But these .עקרו שור Gen. xlv. 8. Fecit me quasi patrem Pharaonis.reasons are not certainly convincing enough to confirm this opinion. There is no probability that the Egyptians should worship Joseph, who was of a religion different from theirs, and who had always shewn an aversion to their superstitions. Besides the Egyptian Divines gave different reasons for the worship of Apis from those given for the supposed worship of Joseph.

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