Apis
The sacred bull of Memphis in ancient Egypt, chosen by his markings and buried with great ceremony.
Also: Hapi, Apis bull
Apis was a living bull worshipped at Memphis, linked with the god Ptah and later with Osiris. Only one Apis lived at a time, and he was chosen for particular markings: Greek writers say he was black with a white triangle on the forehead and other signs on his body and tongue. He lived in a temple enclosure, was consulted as an oracle through his movements, and on his death was embalmed and buried in a huge stone coffin in the Serapeum at Saqqara, while priests searched for his successor. The cult lasted from early dynastic times into the Roman period. Other sacred bulls included Mnevis at Heliopolis and Buchis at Armant.