A LOAD OF OLD BULL: THE SERAPEUM OF SAQQARA PART 2: THE LAST FOUR CENTURIES

Aidan Dodson completes the story of the burial place of the Apis bulls.

- Aidan Dodson

In the year 642 BC, the twentieth year of King Psamtek I, the current Apis bull, an earthly incarnation of the god Ptah, died. It was taken to the Serapeum at Saqqara, resting place of the mortal remains of Apis bulls for over half a millennium, and laid in a vault alongside its predecessor, which had died some 22 years previously under the Nubian King Taharqo. It would, however, be the last bull to be buried in this part of the complex – now known as the ‘Lesser Vaults’ – which was founded by Prince Khaemwaset, son of Rameses II and high priest of Ptah (see Part 1 in AE117).

For some reason – perhaps to do with geology, as part of the roof later collapsed – the Lesser Vaults were then abandoned, and a completely fresh phase of the catacomb was initiated for the next bull to die, in Psamtek I’s Year 52. This section was accessed through a doorway on the south side of the open area in front of the entrance-doorway to the Lesser Vaults, and led to a simple vestibule, at the back of which was cut Chamber U (see above and opposite, right), the first of many to be quarried in what is now known as the ‘Greater Vaults’.

The Greater Vaults

After the burial of this first bull, the vestibule was extended westwards as a corridor, providing access to the chambers of the bulls that died in Year 16 of Nekau II (Chamber V), Year 12 of Wahibra Apries (Chamber X – see stela, top left), and Years 5 and 23 of Ahmose II (Amasis – Chambers W and Y). The latter two burials were innovative: Chamber W was equipped with a cutting in the floor, presumably to house the mummy (opposite, top left), while Chamber Y was given an elaborately panelled and inscribed granite sarcophagus – the first appearance of such an item in the Serapeum and marking a significant further upgrade in provision for the bull (opposite, bottom).