Fishes were often regarded as unclean animals which were forbidden as offerings and food to kings, gods and the priesthood. When the cult of Osiris became popular, the fish was identified with Seth, as, according to Plutharch people believed that the fish form lepidotus had eaten the phallus of the dismembered Osiris. Therefore, on certain feast days fishes were burned and trampled underfoot as an offering.
The opposite also existed, fishes were regarded as sacred animals: despite the belief of the above, the oxyrinchus was considered Osirian, and said to have been created out of the god's wounds. This fish was also connected to Hathor at Esna and the Abdu or Abydos fish accompanied the solar barque and warned of the hostile Apophis serpent.
Main center of worship:
Per-Medjed (Oxyrhynchus/el-Bahnasa), 19th N, Upper Egypt.
