Mnevis

Mnevis (also spelled Mnewer or Hapis) was a sacred bull in ancient Egyptian religion, associated with the sun god Ra and later with Atum. The Mnevis bull was considered an incarnation of the sun god and was worshipped primarily in the city of Heliopolis (Iunu in Egyptian, meaning "pillar" or "obelisk"). The term "Mnevis" is derived from the Egyptian mnw-r, which translates to "the good bull" or "the beautiful bull." In Hebrew, the term can be transliterated as מנוויס, though it does not have a direct translation. The Mnevis bull was distinguished by its black coat and a white triangular mark on its forehead, and it was believed to possess divine qualities. The cult of the Mnevis bull was closely linked to the cult of the Apis bull, another sacred bull in ancient Egyptian religion, but the Mnevis was specifically associated with the sun god Ra and the creation myth of Heliopolis. The Mnevis bull was buried with elaborate ceremonies upon its death, and its successor was chosen based on specific physical characteristics that mirrored those attributed to the divine bull.