The Serapeum of Saqqara is an underground temple and tomb dedicated to the bulls of Apis, located in the Egyptian city of Saqqara, in the ancient Egyptian religious center of Memphis. The temple was built in the 23rd century BC and used until the 1st century BC.
The Serapeum was built in the 23rd century BC. At this time, the 22nd Dynasty ruled in Egypt. The founder of the 22nd Dynasty, Sheshonk I, had great respect for the Apis bulls. Therefore, he built the Serapeum, a temple and tomb dedicated to the Apis bulls.
The Serapeum was used until the 1st century BC. During this period, the Roman Empire ruled in Egypt. During the Roman Empire, interest in the Apis bulls declined. Therefore, the Serapeum was abandoned and forgotten.
The Serapeum was discovered in 1850 by the archaeologist Auguste Mariette. The discovery caused a great excitement in the world of Egyptology. Because the Serapeum provided important insights into the religious and cultural life of Ancient Egypt.
The serapeum consists of two main parts: The temple is the place of worship and sacrifice of the Apis bulls. The temple consists of a columned courtyard and a sanctuary.
(p)The necropolis is where the mummies of the Apis bulls were found. The necropolis is an underground passage 24 meters deep and 126 meters long.
The Serapeum was discovered in 1850 by the archaeologist Auguste Mariette. The discovery caused great excitement in the world of Egyptology. Because the Serapeum provided important information about the religious and cultural life of Ancient Egypt.
Some of the most important artifacts found in the Serapeum are:
Mummies of Apis bulls: The mummies of 24 Apis bulls were found in the Serapeum. These mummies provide important information about the ancient religious and cultural life of Egypt.
Statues dedicated to the Apis bulls: Numerous statues dedicated to the Apis bulls were found in the Serapeum. These statues show how important Apis bulls were for the Egyptians.
There are also many murals depicting Apis bulls on the walls of the Serapeum. These paintings show how important Apis bulls were for the Egyptians.
Today, the Serapeum is one of the most important tourist attractions in Egypt. The temple and necropolis welcome millions of visitors every year.
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