Domains & Iconography
Domains: Heliopolis, solar
Iconography: bull, solar disk
Solar Bull of Heliopolis
Mnevis represented the living vigor of Ra at Heliopolis, Egypt’s premier solar center. As distinct from Memphis’ Apis, the Mnevis bull belonged to the Heliopolitan priesthood and its Ennead theology; processions and rites linked him to Ra‑Atum and to the primeval mound (benben).
Burials & Markers
Burials of Mnevis bulls and dedicatory markers attest to the cult’s continuity. Inscriptions and classical sources distinguish his identity from Apis while noting shared themes of fertility, oracular presence, and the king’s relationship to a living bull.
Iconography & Legacy
Depicted as a bull crowned with solar disk; scenes emphasize solar affiliation over Memphite funerary links. Museum references preserve smaller objects and textual notices rather than monumental complexes—yet together they sketch a consistent solar theophany.