Dating back to the Ptolemaic Period (circa 305–30 BCE), it was likely offered in reverence to Sobek—the crocodile-headed god of fertility, protection, and the Nile.
This remarkable image shows a mummified crocodile, carefully preserved and laid to rest with the same reverence as a human. Such crocodile mummies were offerings to Sobek, the crocodile-headed god of strength, fertility, and protection.
Its preserved form, surrounded by clay jars in a ritualistic chamber, reminds us that even apex predators were sacred in the realm of pharaohs.
Priests raised crocodiles in temple pools, adorning them with jewelry before their death rituals. After death, the animals were wrapped in linen, anointed with resins, and buried in dedicated necropolises. Surrounding pottery jars held votive gifts from worshippers seeking divine favor.
This ancient practice reflects the Egyptian belief in the sacred power of nature—where even a formidable predator could embody a god’s blessing. Here, in silence and sand, the crocodile still keeps its timeless vigil.
