2025 Poster Session

Apis or Hapis is the title of the sacred bulls that were buried in the Serapeum tombs at Saqqara. The Apis bull symbolized fertility and was worshipped in Memphis. The ancient Egyptians considered it the spirit of the god Ptah. Therefore, it was crowned with the solar disk between its horns. Bronze statues of Apis dating back to the Persian rule of Egypt have been found. The bull was selected for its white color with black spots on its forehead, neck, and back.

The bronze head of the Apis bull statue, inlaid with gold, is one of the most prominent examples of artistic and religious development in ancient Egypt. It reflects the craftsmanship and dedication of ancient artisans in embodying religious beliefs. Apis was one of the most important deities in ancient Egypt, symbolizing fertility and prosperity. The object was discovered in Lower Egypt- Governorate of Sharqiya, moved to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, and recently to the Grand Egyptian Museum- Conservation Center, with accession no. 5716. It dates back to the Late Period.

The condition of the object indicated that it was previous restored, as the neck area was entirely missing. It is in bad condition, with corrosion products of various colors and soil deposits on the surface. Several analyses were conducted using various techniques, which revealed that the previous restoration involved the use of calcium sulfate hydrate (gypsum) mixed with colored oxides to match the artifact's color. This necessitated the removal of the previous restoration, followed by cleaning and conservation, along with selecting the best preservation strategy and an innovative display method for one of the halls in the Grand Egyptian Museum.