Also called the Ram of Mendes, Ba of the Lord of Djedet, Banebded.
Their story
Banebdjedet was the sacred ram of Mendes in the Delta, whose name means ba of the lord of Djedet. He was understood as the soul of Osiris, and sometimes of Ra, Shu and Geb as well, which is why he could be shown with four heads. In The Contendings of Horus and Seth he advises the gods to consult Neith. A living ram was kept at Mendes and buried with honour, and the Ptolemaic Mendes Stela records royal devotion to it.
Best times to give to them
- Khoiak
- Wepet Renpet
What they like being given
- bread
- water
- fresh greens
- incense
How to honour them
- Ask him for good counsel before a difficult decision.
How they can help you
- fertility
- wise advice
- vitality
Symbols
- ram
- ram with four heads
- horizontal wavy horns
Herodotus calls the sacred animal of Mendes a goat, a confusion that later fed images of a goat of Mendes with no Egyptian basis.
Sources
- The Contendings of Horus and Seth (Papyrus Chester Beatty I)
- Herodotus, Histories 2.46
- Mendes Stela of Ptolemy II
More Egyptian gods
- Osiris Lord of the afterlife and new growth
- Horus The falcon, protector of the rightful king
- Ra The sun who sails the sky
- Thoth Scribe of the gods, lord of wisdom
- Anubis Guardian and guide of the dead
- Khonsu The Traveller, the moon who heals
- Amun The hidden king of the gods at Thebes
- Ptah Creator by word and patron of craftsmen