Apis also known as Hapi, was one of Egypt's sacred animals which was a black bull. Apis was worshipped at Memphis where his temple lay opposite that of the great creator God, Ptah. Apis was believed to be the reincarnation or 'glorious soul' of Ptah, who was said to have inseminated a virgin cow in the form of fire, and to have been born again as a black bull. Apis was let loose in the courtyard attached to his temple, and the priests would use his movements as a means for farseeing the future.