Sobek, the ancient Egyptian crocodile god of strength and power. His fierce attributes made Sobek the patron of the Egyptian army, the protector of the Pharaoh and the Egyptian people. Sobek’s powers were said to extend as far back as the creation of the world and were associated with the sun god Ra. Sobek is depicted as an ordinary crocodile, or a man with a crocodile head, often wearing a Hemhem crown placed on ram horns and flanked by ostrich feathers with a sun disk and the Uraeus cobra symbol raising.
Sobek is a god in the ancient Egyptian pantheon. This god was also known by the ancient Egyptians as Sebek, Sebek-Ra, Sobeq, Sochet, Sobki or Sobk, and by the Greeks and Romans as Suchos and Suchus respectively. Like many Egyptian gods, Sobek is depicted with an animal head and a human body. The animal associated with Sobek is the crocodile and this god is sometimes represented in animal form.
Sobek is sometimes represented as a crocodile. (Kaitlyn153 / Public Domain)
Sobek worship originated in the Old Kingdom
The ancient Egyptian worship of Sobek can be traced back to the Old Kingdom. Sobek’s name is found in the Pyramid Texts, the oldest known corpus of Egyptian religious texts. For example, in the Unas Pyramid Text, Oration 317, the pharaoh Unas is said to be “Sobek with the green feather, with the watchful face, with the raised forehead.”
The front of this box depicts a king offering offerings to the crocodile god Sobek. Above the scene there are popular words. The box may have been used in temple rituals. (Walters Museum of Art/Public Domain)
Was Sobek born from the waters of Nun or Son of Set?
It is also from the Unas Pyramid Texts (Words 308 and 317) that Sobek is said to be the son of Neith, another old god of the ancient Egyptian pantheon. In some accounts, Neith is said to have given birth to his children without a mate. However, in others, it is believed that Set was Sobek’s father. However, in other accounts, Sobek is said to have emerged from the primeval waters of Nun. Sobek’s consorts varied from place to place, although the goddesses most commonly associated with him were Hathor, Renenutet, Heqet and Tawaret. Additionally, Sobek is sometimes considered the father of Khonsu, Khnum or Horus.
This relief from the Kom Ombo Temple shows Sobek with typical royal features, including a scepter and royal dress. The Ankh in his hand represents his role as an Osirian healer and his crown is a solar crown associated with one of the many forms of Ra. Source: ( Hedwig Storch / CC BY-SA 3.0 )
Sobek insures soil fertility
It is known that the ancient Egyptians had several myths about creation, and some of them were related to Sobek. For example, one myth says that the crocodile god created the world and that the Nile River was formed from his sweat. Sobek’s association with the Nile also meant that he was considered a fertility god who was responsible for ensuring the fertility of the land. In another myth, Sobek created the world by laying eggs on the banks of the Nun River.
Represented by the Crocodile – This god has a darker side
However, because Sobek is presented as a crocodile, he is also shown to have a darker, more violent side. In some myths, Sobek is considered an ally of the god Set in his conflict with Horus. When Set was defeated, his supporters transformed themselves into crocodiles to escape the victorious Horus. However, Sobek’s ferocious nature was not entirely feared by the ancient Egyptians but was also revered by them. For example, he is considered the patron of the military. Additionally, he was considered a symbol of the pharaoh’s power and was called upon to protect the dead in Hell.
A wall relief from Kom Ombo shows Sobek with solar properties. (Hedwig Storch / CC BY-SA 3.0 )
Sobek provides protection against the dangers of the Nile
The ancient Egyptians also sought Sobek’s protection against the dangers of the Nile, especially crocodiles. Therefore, it is natural that centers of worship for this deity were established in areas with many crocodiles. Sobek’s most famous cult center, however, was at Kom Ombo, where there was a temple dedicated to him and Horus. Although these two gods are said to be enemies in one myth, another belief holds that Sobek is an aspect of Horus. This is due to the myth of Horus transforming into a crocodile to retrieve the body parts of Osiris thrown into the Nile. In another myth, Sobek is said to have aided Isis when she gave birth to Horus.
Crocodile mummy at the Crocodile Museum, Aswan. ( JMCC1 / CC BY-SA 3.0 )
Classical authors such as Herodotus and Strabo report that priests at Sobek would venerate the crocodile, as it was the earthly embodiment of the god. These sacred crocodiles would be fed by priests and sometimes even decorated with jewelry. When these crocodiles die, they are mummified. These accounts have been confirmed by archaeologists. For example, at Kom Ombo Temple, there is a small temple dedicated to Hathor, in which a mummified crocodile was discovered. The mummies are today displayed in the Crocodile Museum located just outside the temple.
