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The ancient Egyptian religion contained many animal-worship cults. Among the most important animal cults were the bull cults, as the ancients believed that the powerful bull represented the personality of the king. Priests of the bull cults identified a sacred bull by its very specific markings. Once the bull was proclaimed to be a god incarnate, it was taken to the temple compound where it was purified, stabled in majestic quarters, fed the best foods, and given a herd of the finest cows.
The Apis bull cult is probably the best known of the three most prominent and divine bull cults, and it is considered to be the most sacred. Herodotus wrote that the Apis was the "calf of a cow which is never afterwards able to have another. The Egyptian belief is that a flash of lightning descends upon the cow from heaven, and this causes her to receive Apis."
The Apis bull was originally considered to be the incarnation of the god Ptah, the creator of the universe and master of destiny, but this was a lesser-known association. Later the Apis became widely known as the incarnation of Osiris, god of embalming and cemeteries, when Ptah himself took on funerary characteristics and became associated with Osiris. Plutarch wrote that the "Apis was a fair and beautiful image of the soul of Osiris". At any rate, only one bull was considered to be the sacred Apis at a time; a replacement could be sought upon the death of the bull. The new Apis was transported to Memphis on a boat with a specially built golden cabin.
An Apis calf could be identified by certain distinct markings: the black calf had a white diamond on its forehead, an image of an eagle on its back, double the number of hairs on its tail, and a scarab mark under its tongue. Since the Apis was so sacred, it stands to reason that its mother (referred to as the "Isis cow") was revered as well.
Egyptians celebrated the Festival of the Apis Bull, which lasted for seven days. Throngs of people gathered in Memphis to watch priests lead the sacred bull in a hallowed procession through the welcoming crowds. It was thought that any child who smelled the breath of the Apis had the ability to predict the future. In fact, the Apis itself was often consulted as an oracle. Egyptians asked the bull a question and then offered it food: if the bull ate the food it was a good omen, but a rejection of the food was a bad omen.
Honey bees from the hive developing in the walls of my apartment.
This is a worker bee. They are non-reproductive females.
A lovely honey bee, Apis mellifera, drinks nectar and collects white pollen from a spring flower. A colony of honey bees is made up of 90-95% worker bees which are female. She will probably only live about 6 to 8 weeks due to working so hard for the honey flow. In the winter time, they can live longer due to less work.
One third of fruits and vegetables are pollinated by the honey bee. And if you like almonds, well the honey bee is the only pollinator for that nut~so next time you see a honey bee don't swat or kill it, give it a virtual high five or fist pump for all the work she is doing!
"White Pollen, Apis mellifera" © by Christy Cox Photography ~ SEE~Stop Enjoy Explore the magic and beauty of nature
"To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not, rich; to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with open heart; to study hard; to think quietly, act frankly, talk gently, await occasions, hurry never; in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common--this is my symphony."
-- William Henry Channing (1810-1884)
Honey bees from the hive developing in the walls of my apartment.
This is a worker bee. They are non-reproductive females.
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