Apedemak

Apedemak is not strictly an Egyptian deity, as he derives from the culture of Kush, in what is now modern Sudan. If Egypt is steeped in mystery and hidden treasures, the land of Kush is perhaps even more mysterious, mainly because it has not generated quite the same degree of archaeological and popular interest as Egypt itself and therefore less is known about it. What we do know is that Kush was seen as an enticing and exotic land of plenty by the Egyptians and many pharaohs sent expeditions south to bring back spoils of incense, animals and slaves.

Kush really came into its own as Egypt's royal dynasties fell into decline. Kashta, a great Kushite king, set out to conquer Egypt in the seventh century BC, a conquest which was completed by his son Piankhy around 725 BC. Some sixty years later, the Assyrians invaded Lower Egypt in the north and the Kushites were driven southward. Their civilisation was finally vanquished by a rival African culture around 300 AD.

For the latter centuries of its existence, the capital of Kush was the city of Meroe, and the dramatic ruins of temples, tombs and palaces that still stand today are a testament to the once great kingdom that flourished there. Nearby, lie the remains of the city of Naga, and here stands the Lion Temple, sacred to the lion god Apedemak. Meroe and Naga are now crumbling into the desert sands, but at one time the land would have been more fertile. What fascinating stories must lie buried beneath the numerous unexcavated sites. The names of the Meroitic queens alone inspire the imagination: Amanirenas, Amanishakhete, Naldamak.

It's possible that Egyptian kings of the early dynasties attempted conquest in the lands south of Egypt, but there is little evidence to suggest their victories were long-lasting. However, for centuries, the Kushites enjoyed a trading relationship with Egypt, and there is no doubt that they were influenced by Egyptian culture, if not vice versa. Certain Egyptian gods had temples in Kush, most notably Amun Ra. Apedemak, a lion-headed Kushite god, was absorbed into the Egyptian belief system. Alternatively, it has been suggested that Apedemak was originally a wholly Egyptian god, who became more widely venerated in Kush.

It's fortunate that quite a lot of research has already been done on this deity, who can be viewed as a Kushite Mahes (lion-headed son of Bast). Apedemak shares quite a lot of attributes and qualities with the fully Egyptian Mahes. Like Bast's son, he was most often represented as a lion-headed man, holding a sceptre surmounted by a seated lion. However, Apedemak did have at least two other unusual forms. One was that of a lion-headed serpent, while the other was of a man in ceremonial dress, who is shown with three lion heads. There is some question over whether he actually had four heads, as only three are visible in bas-reliefs.

Apedemak was primarily a war god, and we can be sure that in the past he was invoked to bestow his blessing upon the outcome of battles. Warriors would have desired the god's strength and ferocity in combat. In one hymn he was described as 'one who sends forth a flaming breath against his enemies in this his name, Great of Power, who slays the rebels with (his) strength.' He was often depicted as wearing battle-dress of leather armour and carrying weapons, especially a bow and arrows. He was also shown slaying enemies or else holding onto bound captives, who were restrained with cords around their necks.

War was not Apedemak's only area of dominion. He was clearly very important to the Meroitic royal family, for representations have survived showing him being honoured by kings, queens and their children. In one hymn, he is addressed as 'Lion of the south, strong of arm; great god who comes to him who invokes him; bearer of secrets, mysterious of form who is not seen by any eye.' In another instance, he is described as a kind of heavenly provider, with the words 'one who provides nourishment for all men in this his name of "He Who Wakes Intact". Another, perhaps less important role of the god was that of solar deity. In his three-headed aspect, these benign and provident qualities are emphasised. In one carving, he is shown with four arms. Two of them are offering bunches of flowers or perhaps corn to the king and queen of Meroe, while his other two arms support those of the royal couple, whose own arms are raised in praise to the god. In another carving, Apedemak holds the sceptre of a king in one hand and a bunch of corn in the other.

A representation of him survives from the pharaoh Akhenaten's city of Amarna, in which the queen Nefertiti is shown making offerings to him. The Egyptian goddess, Isis, was often regarded as the wife of Apedemak, while Horus was his son. In this way, the Meroites substituted Osiris for their own god. However, in some instances, Tefnut was depicted as his wife. His cult involved specially bred temple cattle, and also veneration of the African elephant. Sacred pilgrimages were made to his main temple, which was a vast complex at Musawwarat es-Sufra, in Butana, north of the sixth Nile cataract.