Apedemak or Apademak (originally, due to the absence of the /p/ phoneme in Meroitic, it was probably pronounced 'abademak' (Father king) [1]) was a major deity in the ancient Nubian and Kushite pantheon.

Apedemak is also closely associated with Amun, the state-sponsored Egyptian deity during the preceding Napatan period, and is assumed to hold an equal level of importance.

However, it is unknown whether the Kermans venerated them as gods with dedicated temples, such as those in later Napatan and Meroitic periods, or if they were symbols of legend, oral tradition or folklore.

It is likely that precursors of Apedemak existed and that the deity has an origin in the mythology of Kerma culture, where lions had a significant presence in art and amulet designs.

[citation needed] Nevertheless, at least by the 3rd century BCE, Apedemak appears to have become an important deity to the peoples living in Upper Nubia.

In reliefs found in both the Lion Temple at Musawwarat es-Sufra and the Sanctuary at Naqa, Apedemak wears leather armor or a cuirass and carries a bow and arrow in his hand, weapons that were associated with the Nubians throughout their history.

[6] At the Temple at Naqa, he is also depicted as a flying hawk with the winged sun-disc, suggesting that he has solar aspects and may have been also seen, in part, as a sun god.

[citation needed] Apedemak has also been associated with being a warrior, courage, kingship and royalty, and with his consort Amesemi, a lunar deity.

In addition, along with Amun, Apedemak was the god who conferred royal power and induct new leaders, as seen on column reliefs and the interiors of the Temple of Musawwarat es-Sufra.

On reliefs along the north wall, Apedemak appears with other Nubian and Egyptian deities, such as Ram-headed Amun, Satis, Horus, and Isis.

[6] Several hymns inscribed on the walls mention the Butana region of Nubia, suggesting to some scholars that this might be where Apedemak's cult originated.

[13] It may be that the artist decided to show Apedemak turning his head to three different subjects: the king on the left, the viewer in the center, and the queen to the right.