APIS
It was a sacred ox that represented the Egyptian god Osiris; It was selected with great care, and kept in a strict manner.
It is supposed that it was the memory of this Apis that caused the Israelites to choose the shape of a calf for their golden idol.
From the Scriptures themselves we know that the Israelites had fallen into idolatry in the land of Egypt (Ez. 20:6-8).