Throughout the whole of Egyptian history, there had been animal cults, but in the Late and Greco-Roman periods this reached its peak. The burals of the Apis bull at Saqqara had gone on for quite some time, but there were also other bull cults: the Mnevis bull in Heliopolis and the Buchis bull in Armant. These were all from an early time and most likely associated with the sun cult. However, there were not only bulls buried at Saqqara.
The purpose of these mummified animals was to offer and thereby acquire the deities´benevolence. This probably provided a good income for the priesthood, from which pilgrims could buy a mummified animal. But there could also be pets buried for their own sake. Ibis, baboons and falcons have all their separate galleries in the northern part of Saqqara.
Ibis birds have been found in large numbers, over ½million. They were associated with one aspect of Djehuty (Gr: Thoth). There was also amulets and statuesin the form of an ibis as further tokens for Djehuty. Perhaps, through the association between Djehuty and Imhotep, the architect of Djoser, (who became deified some two thousand years after his death. He was considered a deity of writing and, medicine), that offerings were made also to him, as a prayer for good health.
The Ibis galleries
were found and excavated by Emery in 1964. His men happened to break into the galleries, which were full of ibises, interred in pottery jars. Many small artifacts were also found, like amulets and statues formed as ibises, probably brought there by pilgrins and worshippers, who sought to appeal to Djehuty or to Imhotep. In subsequent years, Emery also found galleries for mummified falcons and baboons and the "Mother of Apis" galleries, with mummified cows. The falcons were, like the ibises, mummified and placed in pottery jars, while the baboons were mummified and place in wooden boxes. Though their number was high, sadly only one of them has survived intact.
In the tomb of Hor from Sebennytos at Saqqara were found 65 texts written on ostraca. These are called the "Dream Ostraca" and give insight in how the animal cult was handled during the time of Ptolemy VI. Also the dreams of Hor were inscribed and recorded on these ostraca.
These galleries are unfortunately not open for visitors.
Temples and Shrines
were erected to take care of the cults. An area where priests lived, but also stonecutters, craftsmen of varios kinds, and people who housed the pilgrims, developed close by. Among these were a temple to Osiris/Apis (later merged with Serapis) and Isis. This temple had two pylons and a temple house. It was all built of brick. Between the two pylons was a kiosk where the columns were of palm type. It was later destroyed. There were also cult chapels for the baboons and other animals.
