TYPE: War God
ORIGIN: Sudanese (Meroe)
INFORMATION: An Egyptianized diety, his main sanctuary was contained in a vast religious complex and center of pilgrimage at Mu-sawarrat-es-Sufra, north of the sixth Nile cataract. Sacred animals include cattle and the African Elephant. Depicted with the head of a lion and a human body, holding a scepter embellished with a seated lion at the tip.
Apedemak or Apademak was a lion-headed warrior god worshiped by the Meroitic peoples inhabiting Nubia. In the temple of Naqa built by the rulers of Meroe, Apedemak was depicted as a three-headed leonine god with four arms and as a snake with a lion head. However, he is usually depicted as a man with a lion head.
Apedemak was considered the war god of Kush. The Kushites believed that Apedemak brought victories to their armies and defeated their enemies. When Kushite pharaohs carried out military campaigns, they often claimed the support and companionship of Apedemak.
MAJOR CULT CENTER: Lion Temple, Naqa.
CONSORT: Amesemi