The ancient civilization of Egypt, fixated on death rituals, left behind incredible achievements dedicated to the afterlife. Among them were the pyramids, tombs, temples, and mummies, not only of people but also animals.
One such temple, dedicated to the fearsome crocodile god Sobek, stood proudly on the Nile’s banks. The Egyptians revered crocodiles due to their association with water, symbolizing creation in one of their myths.
Sobek’s significance surged around 2000 BC when lakes teeming with crocodiles became prominent. This led to the construction of major temples honoring him, where live crocodiles roamed freely as embodiments of the god.
Pilgrims traveled great distances to pay their respects, leaving votive mummies as offerings. Mummifying crocodiles was an intricate process, but it held immense importance for the people.
The temple priests, facing overwhelming demand, sometimes resorted to creative solutions, crafting faux-crocodile mummies. Nevertheless, genuine mummified crocodiles persisted as objects of veneration.
Top image: Sobek, the crocodile god. Source: Celli07 / Adobe Stock.
