Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid. Ancient Egyptian bronze home shrine figure of the Apis Bull, shown standing in a striding pose on an integral rectangular base. The animal is modelled with a prominent shoulder hump, raised foreleg, and carefully defined head and body. This figure represents one of the most important sacred animals of ancient Egyptian religion. -> The Apis Bull was worshipped at Memphis as a living sacred animal and was regarded as the earthly manifestation of divine power. It was especially associated with Ptah, and later also with Osiris, embodying strength, fertility, renewal, and royal authority. Condition: Good ancient condition with age-related wear, surface irregularities, and encrustations. An old pressure crack is visible on one of the legs, but the figure remains solid and well preserved overall. Size: ± 43,6 x 46,3 mm Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) is available upon request for all lots with a hammer price of €100 or higher. The Apis Bull was one of the most revered cult animals in ancient Egypt. Centred at Memphis, the cult recognised a living bull as a sacred being chosen through specific markings and cared for within the temple sphere. The animal was believed to serve as the living manifestation of Ptah, the great creator god of Memphis. After death, the Apis Bull became closely linked with Osiris, god of the afterlife, giving rise to the combined funerary form Osiris-Apis. Bronze figures of the Apis Bull were made as votive objects and devotional images, reflecting the widespread importance of animal cults in Egyptian religious life. Bulls symbolised power, virility, fertility, and divine strength, and the Apis cult became one of the best known in Egypt, continuing for many centuries. Small bronzes such as this provided a direct and tangible connection to one of the most enduring sacred traditions of the ancient Nile world.