Crocodilopolis is the cult site of an ancient Egyptian city centered upon the worship of Sobek, the Crocodile God. Sobek is the name for both God and crocodile. In Crocodilopolis, otherwise known as Faiyum, Egypt, supplicants revere a sacred live crocodile.
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The crocodile lives in a temple pond, cared for and fed by priests with food donated by worshipers. He's called Petsuchos, "Son of Soukhos", and adorned with gold and gems. Sobek wields great power in Egyptian myth and daily life.
Sobek has a long-lasting cult of worship. In writing he's first mentioned in the Pyramid Texts of the Old Kingdom c. 2686 - 2181 BCE. Represented either by a Nile or West African crocodile, he can also be a human with a crocodile head.
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From the Pyramid Texts comes a spell praising the Pharaoh of the incarnation of the Crocodile God. The spell reads:
Unis is Sobek, green of plumage, with alert face and raised fore, the splashing one who came from the thigh and tail of the great goddess in the sunlight ... Unis has appeared as Sobek, Neith's son.
Unis will eat with his mouth, Unis will urinate and Unis will copulate with his penis. Unis is lord of semen, who takes women from their husbands to the place Unis likes according to his heart's fancy.
The Pharaoh Unis (c. 2465 - 2325 BCE) is best known as the originator of the Pyramid Texts. He's the first to decorate his tomb at Ṣaqqārah with the writings.
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Sobek is also the connection for Pharaonic or Kingly power. He gives kings the divine right to rule. He's associated with fertility and military might. Like many dangerous predators, Sobek is spiritually embraced as a protective deity with apotropaic qualities.
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His powers can ward off curses and deflect the evil eye. Sobek is both a war and medicine figure. Crocodile teeth are made into ornaments, jewelry and charms for luck and protection.
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He's invoked especially for protection against dangers of the Nile. In ancient Egypt the Nile is inhabited by such dangers as aggressive hippopotamus, lurking crocodiles, treacherous rapids, venomous snakes, mosquitoes and infectious parasites of many kinds.
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One ancient legal text explains one way to determine guilt or innocence in a conflict is by making the accused jump into the river. If the person survives with no ill effects, that individual is innocent and can bring the same punishment upon the accuser.
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In c.1750 BCE the female ruler Sobekneferu rises to the throne, claiming kingship through her father. Her name means "Beauty of Sobek". There is no doubt Sobekneferu has the warrior spirit.
She's also a staunch feminist. She points out how women are elevated to the throne during crises to guide the civilization and maintain social order. Though, she also notes, this elevation to power is illusory.
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Women acquire the throne as temporary replacements for a male leader; their reigns are regularly targeted for erasure by their successors. Overall, she asserts, Egyptian society is oppressive to women. Her reign lasts just over three years, but her influence is legend.
Like the snake, the crocodile is a primal dragon. Sobek's domain is the water. Floating at the placid surface the great reptile springs to lethal attack. He twists and turns and thrashes his prey to death, or holds it under water to drown.
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His armored skin and love of the Sun relate to kings and the passion of warriors. His ferocity may be like one in a fighting rage, as the goddess Sekhmet when she destroys armies and cities as the vengeful Eye of Ra.
In one myth Sekhmet is so bloodthirsty she keeps killing until Ra tricks her into drinking a lake of beer, dyed red like blood with pomegranate juice. Sekhmet gets drunk and forgets her killing spree. Celebration of this event includes drinking beer dyed red with pomegranate.
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Sobek can leap out of the water almost his full length to snatch prey from an overhanging tree limb. He uses his powerful tail for propulsion. Female crocodiles are protective of their young ones and fiercely defend the eggs and hatched babies.
A Nile crocodile lives up to 60 years. In ancient Crocodilopolis, when the physical aspect of the Crocodile God passes from the mortal realm, his body is treated with reverence. He's mummified and interred with full honors.
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A young Petsuchos is then brought to the sacred temple pool, to be hand-reared and well fed. Festivities mark these occasions. Most people will never witness these significant events again.
In animal spirituality the crocodile corresponds to cycles of life/death/rebirth, patience, fertility and motherhood. The male crocodile god rules aggressive action, kingship and the Sun. Crocodile is a symbol of longevity.
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These elements come together in harmony. The crocodile is a keeper of ancient wisdom. The realm of water relates to dreams, that which lurks beneath the surface of the human mind, or bestows special talents and skills.
The yin or lunar association of the crocodile relates to intuition, hidden secrets, magic, night and fertility. Most crocodiles are nocturnal hunters. After gathering energy from sunshine the crocodile uses poor night vision of other animals to ambush prey.
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A crocodile can live for up to a year without food if it has to. Being cold-blooded Sobek isn't dependent on food for energy. The sun warms his armored body. Basking takes up much of his time, thus his association with status; only the elite can lie around doing nothing all day.
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