Apedemak

Characteristics

Apedemak is chiefly understood as a war god. By extension, he is also considered a god of conquest and military prowess. In reliefs found in both the Lion Temple at Musawwarat es-Sufra and the Sanctuary at Naqa, Apedemak wears leather armor or a cuirass and carries a bow and arrow in his hand, weapons that were associated with the Nubians throughout their history. Other representations show Apedemak killing an enemy, or holding the chain of an enemy captured in battle. At the Temple at Naqa, he is also depicted as a flying hawk with the winged sun-disc, suggesting that he has solar aspects and may have been also seen, in part, as a sun god. Since Apedemak mostly appears on reliefs in similar fashions, he is mostly associated with his role as a god of war.

Additionally, Apedemak is also considered to be a creator and fertility god. One hymn at the Lion Temple at Musawwarat es-Sufra addresses him as "[the god] who provides nourishment for all mankind in his name of 'one awakening unharmed'...lord of life'." Another example of Apedemak in this role is in a relief at the Sanctuary at Naqa. Here Apedemak is depicted holding cereals, a symbol of fertility. Though evidence for Apedemak appearing in this role is not as clear or conspicuous, it is significant that some evidence appears at these two important temples.

As the Meroitic god of empire, Apedemak is involved in the process of electing and legitimizing new leaders. Multiple reliefs depict kings and queens in the process of royal investiture, election, and coronation. In these scenes, Apedemak is one deity who invests the new royal by touching their elbow.

Apedemak has also been associated with being a warrior, courage, kingship and royalty, and with his consort Amesemi, a lunar deity.

Associations with Amun

During the New Kingdom periods, the Egyptian god Amun was adopted by the Nubians as the chief god of empire. After Apedemak's first attestations during the Meroitic period, it appears that Amun was either held in equal importance or was surpassed by the indigenous Apedemak. Amun's associations with water and fertility (connected to the Nile's inundation) also belonged to Apedemak. In addition, along with Amun, Apedemak was the god who conferred royal power and induct new leaders, as seen on column reliefs and the interiors of the Temple of Musawwarat es-Sufra.

Major temples

A number of Meroitic temples dedicated to this deity are known from the Western Butana region of Sudan. There are temples at Naqa, Meroe, and Musawwarat es-Sufra. Information about Apedemak in the temples at Meroe are forthcoming. At present, the two main temples for Apedemak that have been studied and published are the Lion Temple at Musawwarat es-Sufra and the Apedemak Sanctuary at Naqa. It is likely, however, that there were many informal places where Apedemak's cult was practiced, as mentioned in some literary sources.

The Lion Temple at Musawwarat es-Sufra

The earliest appearance of Apedemak is at the Lion Temple at Musawwarat es-Sufra. Built in the late 3rd century BCE, during the reign of King Arnekhamani, this temple is believed to be the earliest representation of Apedemak. Though many different deities appear in this temple complex, Apedemak is understood to be the primary deity, as his depiction is the most prominent. On reliefs along the north wall, Apedemak appears with other Nubian and Egyptian deities, such as the ram-headed Amun, Satis, Horus, and Isis. The west wall, which is not as well preserved, contains only part of a figure recognizable as Apedemak. American Egyptologist Louis Vico Žabkar argues that some of the columns of the temple, though not including Apedemak in his usual lion-headed form, might instead represent Apedemak in complete lion form. Several hymns inscribed on the walls mention the Butana region of Nubia, suggesting to some scholars that this might be where Apedemak's cult originated. Other hymns in this temple allude to Apedemak's role as a creator and fertility god.

The Apedemak Sanctuary at Naqa

Constructed during the leadership of Natakamani and Amanitore, the Sanctuary at Naqa is located about 120 kilometers northeast of Khartoum. This site dates to the end of the 2nd century to the end of the 1st century BCE and contains many edifices and temples. It is thought that this temple was derived from the earlier temple at Musawwarat es-Sufra. At this sanctuary, Apedemak appears carrying a bow and a quiver, highlighting Apedemak's character as both a hunter and a warrior god. The appearance of Amun and Apedemak together might suggest a sense of co-regency and between the deities in this region.

Alternative representations of Apedemak at Naqa

Two unusual representations of Apedemak at this site are without parallel and have been the cause behind much discussion. Along the side of a wall, Apedemak appears depicted as a three-headed leonine god with four arms. It may be that the artist decided to show Apedemak turning his head to three different subjects: the king on the left, the viewer in the center, and the queen to the right. Another column appears to show Apedemak as a tall, coiled snake with a human upper torso and Apedemak's characteristic lion head. In his book on Apedemak, Louis Žabkar discusses that Apedemak's snake form might be an indication of his apotropaic features. In other words, it is possible that Apedemak could have warded off snakes, and the representation on the column was instead to show this. These two depiction are unique, as Apedemak is typically represented as a figure with a lion head and a male human body.

Other forms of worship

At present, Apedemak is best understood due to his depictions in temples. However, it is possible that other representations of lions, such as statutes and statuettes, may have been depictions of Apedemak. There are some small objects, such as seals and jewelry, that depict lions that might have represented Apedemak as well. The level by which people worshiped the deity outside of official temple worship is poorly understood at this time.