Crocodile: Egyptian mythology. The city of reptiles Crocodilopolis: How the Egyptians worshiped a god with the head of a reptile and why they needed thousands of crocodiles mummies

The oldest god of ancient Egyptian mythology, he had the appearance of a man with a crocodile head. Sometimes he is depicted differently - as a crocodile with a human head. The hieroglyphic inscription represents the god as a crocodile who sits in honor on a pedestal, which is similar to the spelling of the name of the god Anubis, depicted as a dog. There is no agreement on the correct way to pronounce the name of God. The two most common options are Sebek and Sobek.

God of fertility and the Nile

According to historians, the origin of the cult of Sebek occurred in the lowlands of the Nile River, where in numerous branches of the delta lived great amount crocodiles. Many chroniclers highlight these reptiles as an integral Egyptian symbol, like ibises and snakes. Unfortunately, in modern times, widespread urbanization has led to the extinction of crocodiles in the Nile.

But this does not mean that the deification of crocodiles occurred because of their number. Rats or sparrows are found in even larger numbers, and it is simply impossible to count them. They live next to people all the time, but no one has ever made them deities. This is even though the damage caused by rats is much greater than the damage caused by crocodiles.

Of course, the power of a crocodile allows it to suddenly rush at its prey; it is very fast, both in water and on land. This animal can easily kill a person, and there are many such cases when a careless hunter fell into the mouth of a crocodile. But catching these reptiles has always been common among the ancient Egyptians. They depicted Sebek with the help of one of the captured crocodiles and worshiped him.

The surviving image shows that the crocodile, which served as an avatar of the deity, was decorated with bracelets and earrings. We cannot agree that the animal was pleased to endure all the procedures, and he steadfastly wore all the jewelry. As the results of archaeological searches show, gold and silver were the constant attributes of all such Sebeks, because there were several such reptiles.

The sacred animal was represented as a container where the spirit of God was placed. Natural old age and death, which invariably occurred, were not a problem for the ancient Egyptians. The reptile was made into a mummy and buried. A new crocodile came to replace it, which was also decorated and prayed to. What characteristics were used to select the animal? this moment unknown.

Near the settlement of Kiman Faris, which was previously called Shedit (translated from ancient Greek as Crocodilopolis), archaeologists found about two thousand mummified reptiles. Some of them are exhibited in. According to statistics, a crocodile lives about the same as a human, even a little longer. If you make a certain calculation, taking into account that not all crocodiles were found, and Sebek’s avatar actually died a natural death, then the time period comes out to be about twenty thousand years. But, who knows, maybe in Ancient Egypt all crocodiles were turned into mummies.

The described facts indicate that Sebek was always held in high esteem in all ancient eras. An unpleasant avatar did not mean that the god himself was evil. You can't even call him cruel. Sebek is “the giver of life, his feet give people the waters of the Nile.” Similar words are written in the Book of the Dead. Like Osiris, Sebek is the god of fertility, he is the owner of the Nile River, the entire fresh water and animals living in rivers. The prayers of fishermen and hunters were directed to Sebek, because the reed thickets were the main place of their fishing. He helped the souls of dead people make their way to Osiris.

There is a record that testifies to one man’s request to God to help him in the fight for a woman. The deity controlled many aspects of Egyptian life. One of the songs contains words in which Sebek is given the title of “god who hears prayers,” no ancient Egyptian god does not bear such a title.

God Sobek - inventor

There is a legend that tells about the invention of a fishing net. Hapi and Amseta - two sons of the god Horus hid in the waters of the Nile from the god Ra, who could not find him. Or maybe he was too proud for that. God instructed Sebek to complete the task so that he would find the great-great-great-grandchildren whose brothers were Ra. With the help of his hands, Sebek sifted the entire Nile through his fingers, and he managed to find the fugitives. This is how the fishing net arose. Of course, this narrative lacks smoothness and harmony, but the meaning of the legend is clear.

Bloodline of God

The history of the origin of the deity is rather vague. Two options are being considered. The first is that Ra was the creator or parent of God. The second - Sebek was generated by the primary ocean Nun. Based on some historical evidence, it is assumed that he is the son of Neith, but there is almost no data on this. There is no information about Sebek’s wife. So mysterious is the deity, who was like a cunning guard, faithfully serving Ra. He was also highly revered by mortals, who distributed miniature amulets with his image everywhere.

Sebek and the ancient Egyptians

Sebek was revered back in the days Ancient kingdom– the era of construction and. It is mentioned in one of the spells of the “pyramid texts”.

Amenemhet III, who was the pharaoh of the twelfth dynasty, built a large temple in the city of Fayyum. It was dedicated to the god with the head of a crocodile. Not far from the temple, they built a labyrinth where they performed religious rituals, which were dedicated to the god Sebek. The system of the temple resembles the building in Abydos, where Osiris was worshiped; the labyrinth there was also part of the temple. Mummified crocodiles were discovered in Fayoum. The popularity of the deity is also confirmed by the fact that the wishes “May Sebek protect you” were often written in letters.

Many temples were located near the Nile Delta, but other places are also known where structures were erected to worship the deity. For example, in Kom Ombo (Ombos), which is located at the headwaters of the Nile, the remains of a temple have also been preserved, and an excursion to it is now an integral part of tourist cruises on the Nile. Temples of Sebek and mummified crocodiles are found even in, which has never been a cultural center.

Followers technological theory in the field of ancient myths will be interested in the fact that archaeologists have found papyri containing twelve hymns in which the crown of the god Sebek was praised. Its main advantage was that it destroyed all enemies, because it sparkled brightly, like the sun.

Likewise, Akhenaten, according to legend, dispersed an army of forty thousand soldiers. And he did this thanks to the crown, or rather the rays emanating from it.

One story is interesting. Osiris, when he finally resurrected, was left without a reproductive organ. According to legend, he was eaten by a crocodile. I wonder if Sebek was also involved in this incident? In addition, there are several statues that depict a mummified Osiris located on Sobek's back.

Sebek is still popular today. If you look at what interesting things you can find, then figurines of ancient gods will be one of the first places on the list of souvenirs. And the palm in the list of gods in that case is worn by Anubis with the head of a jackal and Sebek, made in the most bizarre forms.

According to some researchers, there were five thousand gods in Ancient Egypt. Such a huge number of them is due to the fact that each of the numerous local cities had their own gods. Therefore, one should not be surprised at the similarity in the functions of many of them. In our list, whenever possible, we tried not only to give a description of this or that celestial being, but also to indicate the center in which he was most revered. In addition to gods, some monsters, spirits and magical creatures are listed. The list gives the characters in alphabetical order. The names of some gods are designed as hyperlinks leading to detailed articles about them.

10 main gods Ancient Egypt

Amat- a terrible monster with the body and front legs of a lioness, the hind legs of a hippopotamus and the head of a crocodile. It lived in the fiery lake of the underground kingdom of the dead (Duat) and devoured the souls of the dead, who were recognized as unrighteous at the trial of Osiris.

Apis- a black bull with special markings on its skin and forehead, which was worshiped in Memphis and throughout Egypt as the living embodiment of the gods Ptah or Osiris. The living Apis was kept in a special room - Apeion, and the deceased was solemnly buried in the Serapeum necropolis.

Apophis (Apophis)- a huge snake, the personification of chaos, darkness and evil. Lives in the underworld, where every day after sunset the sun god Ra descends. Apep rushes onto Ra's barge to swallow it. The sun and its defenders wage a nightly battle with Apep. The ancient Egyptians also explained solar eclipses as an attempt by the serpent to devour Ra.

Aten- god of the solar disk (or rather, sunlight), mentioned back in the Middle Kingdom and proclaimed the main god of Egypt during the religious reform of Pharaoh Akhenaten. Unlike most other representatives of the local pantheon, he was depicted not in a “bestial-human” form, but in the form of a solar circle or ball, from which arms with palms extended towards the earth and people. The meaning of Akhenaten’s reform, apparently, was the transition from a concrete-figurative religion to a philosophical-abstract one. It was accompanied by severe persecution of adherents of former beliefs and was canceled shortly after the death of its initiator.

Atum- the solar god revered in Heliopolis, who created himself from the original chaotic Ocean of Nun. In the middle of this Ocean arose the primordial hill of the earth, from which all the land originated. Having resorted to masturbation, spitting out his own seed, Atum created the first divine couple - the god Shu and the goddess Tefnut, from whom the rest of the Ennead descended (see below). In archaic antiquity, Atum was the main solar god of Heliopolis, but later he was relegated to the background by Ra. Atum began to be revered only as a symbol coming in sun.

Bastet- cat goddess from the city of Bubastis. She personified love feminine beauty, fertility, fun. Very close in religious meaning to the goddess Hathor, with whom she was often united.

Demon– (Demons) dwarf demons who are favorable to humans with an ugly face and crooked legs. Kind of good brownies. In Ancient Egypt, figurines of Demons were widespread.

Maat- goddess of universal truth and justice, patroness of moral principles and firm legality. She was depicted as a woman with an ostrich feather on her head. During the judgment in the kingdom of the dead, the soul of the deceased was placed on one scale, and the “feather of Maat” on the other. A soul that turned out to be heavier than a feather was considered unworthy eternal life with Osiris. She was devoured by the terrible monster Amat (see above).

Mafdet– (lit. “fast running”) goddess of harsh justice, protector of sacred places. It was depicted with the head of a cheetah or in the form of a genet - an animal from the civet family.

Mertseger (Meritseger)- goddess of the dead in Thebes. She was depicted as a snake or a woman with a snake's head.

Meskhenet- the goddess of childbirth, who enjoyed special honor in the city of Abydos.

Min- a god revered as the giver of life and fertility in the city of Koptos. He was depicted in an ithyphallic form (with pronounced male sexual characteristics). The worship of Min was widespread in the early period of Egyptian history, but then he receded into the background in front of his own local Theban variety - Amun.

Mnevis- a black bull that was worshiped as a god in Heliopolis. Reminiscent of Memphis Apis.

Renenutet- a goddess revered in the Fayum as the patroness of harvests. Depicted as a cobra. The grain god Nepri was considered her son.

Sebek- the crocodile-shaped god of the Fayum oasis, where there was a large lake. His functions included managing the water kingdom and ensuring earthly fertility. Sometimes revered as a kind, benevolent god, to whom people prayed for help in illnesses and life's difficulties; sometimes - like a formidable demon, hostile to Ra and Osiris.

Serket (Selket)- goddess of the dead in the western Nile Delta. Woman with a scorpion on her head.

Sekhmet- (lit. - “mighty”), a goddess with the head of a lioness and a solar disk on it, personifying the heat and scorching heat of the Sun. God's wife Ptah. A formidable avenger who exterminates creatures hostile to the gods. The heroine of the myth about the extermination of people, which the god Ra entrusted to her because of the moral corruption of humanity. Sekhmet killed people with such fury that even Ra, who decided to abandon his intention, could not stop her. Then the gods spilled red beer all over the earth, which Sekhmet began to lick, mistaking it for human blood. Due to intoxication, she was forced to stop her slaughter.

Seshat- goddess of writing and accounting, patroness of scribes. Sister or daughter of the god Thoth. Upon the accession of the pharaoh, she wrote down the upcoming years of his reign on the leaves of the Ished tree. She was depicted as a woman with a seven-pointed star on her head. Seshat's sacred animal was the panther, so she was represented in leopard skin.

Sopdu- a “falcon” god, worshiped in the eastern part of the Nile Delta. Close to Horus, identified with him.

Tatenen- a chthonic god, worshiped in Memphis along with Ptah and sometimes identified with him. His name literally means “rising (i.e., emerging) earth.”

Taurt- a goddess from the city of Oxyrhynchus, depicted as a hippopotamus. Patroness of birth, pregnant women and babies. Drives away evil spirits from homes.

Tefnut- a goddess who, together with her husband, the god Shu, symbolized the space between the earth’s firmament and the firmament. From Shu and Tefnut the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut were born.

Wadget- a snake goddess who was considered the patroness of Lower (Northern) Egypt.

Upout- the god of the dead with the head of a jackal, revered in the city of Assiut (Lycopolis). By appearance and the meaning strongly resembled Anubis and gradually merged with him in one image.

Phoenix- a magical bird with golden and red feathers, which, according to Egyptian legend, flew to the city of Heliopolis once every 500 years to bury the body of its deceased father in the Temple of the Sun. She personified the soul of the god Ra.

Hapi- god of the Nile River, patron of the harvests provided by its flood. Depicted as a man of blue or Green colour(color of Nile water at different times of the year).

Hathor- goddess of love, beauty, joy and dancing, patroness of childbirth and nurses, “Heavenly Cow”. She personified the wild, elemental power of passion, which could take cruel forms. In such an unbridled form, she was often identified with the lioness goddess Sekhmet. She was depicted with the horns of a cow, inside of which there is the sun.

Hekat- goddess of moisture and rain. Depicted as a frog.

Khepri- one of the three (often recognized as three attributes of the same being) solar gods of Heliopolis. Personified the sun at sunrise. His two “colleagues” are Atum (sun On the Sunset) and Ra (the sun at all other hours of the day). Depicted with the head of a scarab beetle.

Hershef (Herishef)- the main god of the city of Heracleopolis, where he was worshiped as the creator of the world, “whose right eye is the sun, whose left eye is the moon, and whose breath animates everything.”

Khnum- a god revered in the city of Esne as a demiurge who created the world and people on a potter's wheel. Depicted with the head of a ram.

Khonsou- lunar god in Thebes. Son of the god Amun. Together with Amon and his mother, Mut formed the Theban triad of gods. Depicted with a lunar crescent and a disk on his head.

In ancient Egyptian mythology, the god Sebek, the ruler, occupies a special place water element, god of water, on whom the Nile flood depends. Its zoomorphic form was a crocodile. There were 2 forms of his images: with the head of a crocodile and a human body, or vice versa - with the head of a man and the body of a crocodile. On hieroglyphs he was depicted lying on an honorary pedestal. In terms of pronunciation of his name, there are also 2 options: Sobek and Sebek.

Crocodiles were considered an avatar of the god Sebek. To do this, the Egyptians caught crocodiles en masse, chose the best one, recognized him as the incarnation of a deity and decorated the reptile’s paws with bracelets and ears with earrings. For this purpose, silver and gold jewelry and jewelry were chosen. There were cases when several crocodiles were chosen at once for worship. However, most often the Egyptians expected natural death one crocodile to again choose the avatar of the god among the young reptiles. The dead crocodile was carefully mummified.

More than 2 thousand mummies of these sacred reptiles were discovered near Kiman Faris (Crocodilopolis). If we calculate mathematically, taking as a basis the lifespan of an ordinary crocodile (which was often longer than the lifespan of a human), we can assume that the tradition of choosing and worshiping Sebek crocodiles goes back about 20 thousand years. All this may indicate the high veneration of this deity in Egyptian society.

In ancient Egyptian mythology there is information about the veneration of the crocodile Petsukhos as a real embodiment of the god Sebek. The Egyptians believed that he lived in a lake that was adjacent to the main sanctuary of the deity. They drank water from this lake to gain magical protection and protection from Sebek, and also fed the crocodile Petsukhos with various delicacies.

good deity

Despite the frightening avatar of the crocodile, Sebek himself, in the minds of the Egyptians, was not evil or even cruel. This can be judged at least based on the fact that he:

• gave life;
• monitored the Nile floods;
• brought a good harvest;
• provided life for all river creatures.

Fishermen, as well as hunters who hunted in the reeds, turned to Sebek in their prayers. He was asked for assistance in transporting dead souls to the palace of the god Osiris.

There is some evidence that Sebek was even approached as a fortuneteller. And unlike others ancient egyptian gods he receives the title of an attentive and listening god to prayers.

Versions of origin

There is no consensus among Egyptologists and other scientists regarding the origin of Sebek. According to one version, he (like other primary gods) was born by the god Ra. According to the second version, he (like the god Ra himself) was given birth to by Geb and Nut. There is also another version that he is the son of Neith, who was revered as the great mother of other gods, the mistress of war and hunting, the water and sea elements, and the mother of the terrifying serpent Apophis. However, nothing is known about Sebek’s wife. This may indicate the secrecy and cunning of Sobek in the ideas of the ancient Egyptians.

Inventor of fishing nets

According to one surviving legend, the Egyptian god Ra once tried to find the two sons of the god Horus - Amset and Hapi. They hid from Ra in the Nile. The god Ra himself could not find these two sons of Horus, and therefore he ordered Sebek to find his own great-great-great-grandchildren. He began to sift the silt of the Nile through his fingers. So he found Amset and Hapi. And thus the idea of ​​fishing nets arose.

There are other episodes when Ra instructed Sebek to find something in the Nile. So, one day Sebek went in search of the severed hands of the god Horus, which were thrown into the Nile. The hands lived on their own and were very difficult to catch. But Sebek, after pursuing them as a fisherman, managed to fish them out and return Ra. God Ra made a second pair, which, as a relic, was kept for a long time in the city of Nekhen.

Sebek and his veneration

The popularity of Sebek among the Egyptians is evidenced not only by the mummification of crocodiles. This is evidenced by some facts:

• his name constantly appears in the most ancient Egyptian correspondence found;
• archaeologists find separate papyri dedicated to the glorification of individual objects of Sebek (for example, 12 hymns to his crown alone in one of the papyri);
• Sebek had a crown, which indicates high role in the divine hierarchy;
• statues have been preserved in which Sebek carries the mummy of Osiris on his back, and according to legend, the missing reproductive organ of Osiris was eaten by a certain crocodile (which indicates the great role of Sebek in the life of Osiris);
• The Egyptians often attributed magical and healing properties to images of Sebek;
• the people believed that the more crocodiles there were on the banks of the Nile, the better the flood and harvest would be;
• During the 2nd millennium BC, pharaohs often called themselves Sebekhotep, which literally translates as “Sebek is pleased.”

Sebek and the water element

Sebek was called the one who forces greenery to grow on water banks. The main agricultural resources were located on the banks of the Nile. And it is not surprising that he, as the lord of the waters, was worshiped and numerous sanctuaries were built. This is how the city of Crocodilopolis arose (which literally translates as the city of the crocodile). There are also many variations of the names of the god Sebek: Pneferos (beautiful-faced), Soknebtunis (lord of Tebtunis); Soknopayos (lord of the island), etc. Many water religious rites associated with the god Sebek are also known. So, in early July, ancient Egyptian priests threw wax figurines of crocodiles into the river. People believed that thanks to magic, the figurines came to life and crawled ashore in the form of living reptiles, which foreshadowed good luck and fertility.

Sobek's Gluttony

Legends about his insatiability are also associated with the god Sebek. According to one story, he single-handedly attacked an enemy horde and devoured them alive. After this, Sebek showed the bitten off heads to the other gods, threatening them too. Then the other gods offered to bring him a lot of bread to satisfy his endless hunger. According to another story, Set killed Osiris, dismembered his body, and threw the pieces into the Nile. Then Sebek wanted to profit from pieces of the body and rushed into the Nile. For this impudent behavior, the other gods cut off Sebek's tongue as punishment. For this reason, crocodiles lack a tongue.

There is also a mythological version about the hiding of the evil god Set in the body of Sebek to avoid retribution for the murder of the god Osiris.

Kom Ombo Temple

The Kom Ombo Temple is one of the most important evidence of the veneration of the god Sebek in Ancient Egypt. It is located near Aswan and is dedicated to two gods: Horus and Sebek. It is very original from an architectural point of view, because... the goal was to please two great gods at once, while preserving the typical architectural canons (sanctuary, courtyard, pylon, hall of offerings). In the temple, all parts were doubled, but the feeling of unity was preserved due to outer wall temple. There were also two parallel sanctuaries to both gods: in the north - Horus, in the south - Sebek. By the way, this is another fact confirming the importance of Sebek - the south was more important to the Egyptians than the north. Sebek was depicted on the walls of the temple, surrounded by his family.

Killing the sacred crocodile in the name of love

On special occasions, men sought to prove their love to their beloved by killing the most dangerous and powerful crocodile. This was considered a feat. But at the same time, such killing of a sacred animal was allowed only in the name of love.

Healing statues of the god Horus standing on crocodiles

The ancient Egyptians often turned to special statues for help, in which the god Horus stood on crocodiles and held snakes in his hands. The Egyptians believed that spells carved on stone could provide a person with magical power against the bites of snakes and scorpions. For such protection, you just need to pour water on this statue, then collect this water and drink it. It was believed that Magic force from the text moves to water through stone. For this reason, the Egyptians everywhere made miniature stone amulets to provide themselves with magical protection.

SEBEK SEBEK

(œbk). Suchos (Greek Σοΰχος), in Egyptian mythology the god of water and the flood of the Nile. According to the Pyramid Texts, S. is the son of Date. His sacred animal is the crocodile. He was depicted as a man, a crocodile, or a man with the head of a crocodile. The center of the cult of S. is the Fayum oasis, the city of Crocodilopolis. The heyday of the cult of S. dates back to the period of the XII dynasty (19-18 centuries BC), whose capital was located near Fayyum. The name S. was included as a component in the theophoric names of the pharaohs of the XIII dynasty. It was believed that S. gives abundance and fertility. In a number of texts, S. is seen as a protector of gods and people (there was an idea that his ferocity scared away the forces of darkness), but he often acts as a hostile god Ra And Osiris. WITH with the development of religious syncretism, S. was identified with Ra, Khnum, Amon, Khonsu, Min. In the late period, a goddess accompanying S. appeared - “the great mistress Sebektet.”
R.R.

(Source: “Myths of the Peoples of the World.”)

Sebek

(Sukhos)

in Egyptian mythology, the god of water and the flood of the Nile. According to the Pyramid Texts, Sebek is the son of Neit. His sacred animal is the crocodile. He was depicted as a man. crocodile or man with the head of a crocodile. The center of the Sebek cult dates back to the period of truth. XII dynasty (19th - 18th centuries BC), whose capital was located near Fayyum. The name Sebek was included as a component in the theophoric names of the pharaohs of the XIII dynasty. It was believed that Sebek gives abundance and fertility. In a number of texts, Sebek was seen as the protector of the gods of 11 people (there was an idea that his ferocity scared away the forces of darkness), but often acts as a god hostile to Ra and Osiris. With the development of the religion of syncretism, Sebek was identified with Ra. Khnum, Amon, Khonsu, Min. In the later period, a goddess accompanying Sebek appeared - “the great mistress Sebektet.”

V. D. Gladky "Ancient World" Volume 2

(Source: Ancient Egyptian Dictionary and Reference Book.)

SEBEK

in Egyptian mythology, the god of water and the flood of the Nile. He was depicted as a crocodile or as a man with the head of a crocodile. Those who worshiped Sebek offered human sacrifices to crocodiles. If a person became an accidental victim of a crocodile, the Egyptians believed that it was Sebek who called him into his service.

(Source: “Dictionary of spirits and gods of German-Scandinavian, Egyptian, Greek, Irish, Japanese, Mayan and Aztec mythologies.”)

Synonyms:

See what "SEBEK" is in other dictionaries:

God of water and the flood of the Nile Mythology: Ancient Egyptian ... Wikipedia

In Egyptian mythology, the deity of fertility, the god of water, who commands the floods of the Nile. The center of the cult is the city of Shedit (Greek Krokodilopolis) in the Fayum oasis. Depicted as a crocodile or a man with the head of a crocodile... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

SEBEK, in Egyptian mythology, the deity of fertility, the god of water, who commands the floods of the Nile. The center of the cult is the city of Shedit (Greek Krokodilopolis) in the Fayum oasis. Depicted as a crocodile or a man with the head of a crocodile... encyclopedic Dictionary

Noun, number of synonyms: 1 god (375) ASIS Dictionary of Synonyms. V.N. Trishin. 2013… Synonym dictionary

- (Greek Σεΰχος) an ancient Egyptian cosmic deity with the head of a crocodile, sometimes compared with the earth god Keb, sometimes with the solar deity Ra, in the form of S. Ra, sometimes with Osiris. It was revered mainly in Fayum, on the shores of Lake Meridov, in... ...

Sebek- Suhos to Egypt. myth. god of water and the flood of the Nile. acc. "Pyramid Texts", S. son Neith. His priest animal crocodile. He is depicted. in the form of a man, a crocodile, or a man with the head of a crocodile. The center of the cult of S. dates back to the period of the reign. XII... ... Ancient world. encyclopedic Dictionary Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron

The deification of animals and the forces of nature is a common feature of all ancient civilizations, but some cults are based on modern man especially strong impression. In the era of the pharaohs of Ancient Egypt, the role of sacred animals was assigned to perhaps the most repulsive and terrible creatures on the planet - Nile crocodiles.

Sebek - crocodile god, ruler of the Nile

The role of the Nile in the development of the culture of Ancient Egypt cannot be overestimated - this river determined the very existence of the peoples who settled along its banks. Stretching for almost seven thousand kilometers from south to north, the Nile fed the Egyptians, and river floods provided good harvests in the fields adjacent to the river, and the lack of spills doomed people to starvation. Since the time of the pharaohs, there have been special structures - nilomers, whose purpose was to determine the river level to predict the next harvest.

It is not surprising, therefore, the desire to earn the favor of such powerful forces by giving special ritual character interaction with a permanent resident of the Nile and, to some extent, its owner - the crocodile. By the behavior and movement of these animals, the Egyptians, among other things, determined the arrival of floods.

God Sebek (or Sobek), who was depicted as a man with the head of a crocodile, is one of the oldest and main gods of the Egyptian pantheon. He was recognized not only as the ruler of the Nile and the ruler of its floods, bestowing fertility and abundance, but also as a deity personifying time and eternity. Sebek was depicted with the head of a crocodile and wearing a magnificent crown.

City of Gadov

The cult of Sebek manifested itself especially clearly in Crocodilopolis, or the City of Gads, located southwest of the ancient capital of Egypt, Memphis. The name “Crocodilopolis” was given to the settlement by the Greeks, who came to these lands in the 4th century BC with Alexander the Great. The Egyptians themselves called this city Shedit (Shedet).

Situated in the Faiyum Oasis, a wide valley famous for its fertility throughout Ancient Egypt, near Lake Merida, Shedit became a place of worship of the god Sebek and his living incarnations - crocodiles.

In the 19th century BC, the 12th Dynasty pharaoh Amenemhat III built a pyramid for himself near the city of Shedit. Adjacent to the pyramid was the Labyrinth - a sacred structure that has not survived to this day, a temple complex where Sobek’s son, Petsuchos, lived. Which of the crocodiles would have the honor of becoming a divine offspring was determined by the priests - according to rules that are currently unknown. The crocodile lived in the Labyrinth, where, in addition to the pond and sand, there were many rooms located on different levels - according to ancient sources, in particular, according to the stories of Herodotus, the number of rooms allegedly reached several thousand. The estimated area of ​​rooms and passages of the Labyrinth reached 70 thousand square meters.

Serving the crocodile

The priests offered Petsuchos meat, bread with honey, and wine as food, and the one who accidentally fell victim to the crocodile’s mouth himself acquired divine status, his remains were embalmed and placed in a sacred tomb. Drinking water from the pond in which such a crocodile lived was considered great luck and provided the patronage of the deity.

After the death of the “son of Sebek,” his body was mummified and buried nearby. In total, several thousand such mummies were discovered, in particular in the Kom el-Breighat cemetery. The crocodile, chosen by the same priests, became the new incarnation of God.

The information that has reached our time about the cult of crocodiles in Shedita is extremely scarce and is based, as a rule, on the notes of the Greeks who visited here. The ancient scientist Strabo, who visited Egypt in the first century BC, left the following memories:
« Our host, one of officials, who initiated us into the mysteries there, came with us to the lake, taking from dinner some flatbread, fried meat and a jug of wine mixed with honey. We found a crocodile lying on the shore of the lake. When the priests approached the animal, one of them opened its mouth, and the other inserted a cake, then meat, and then poured in the honey mixture. Then the animal jumped into the lake and swam to the other side. But when another stranger approached, also carrying with him an offering of the firstfruits, the priests took gifts from him; then they ran around the lake and, having found a crocodile, in the same way gave the food they had brought to the animal».

Under Ptolemy II, Crocodilopolis was renamed Arsinoe - in honor of the ruler's wife.
El-Fayoum is one of the least studied areas of Egypt by archaeologists, so it is quite possible that in the foreseeable future additional arguments will be received that confirm or refute the legends about the Labyrinth of Crocodilopolis.

However, the cult of the crocodile god Sebek can be traced to other areas of Ancient Egypt - in particular, in Kom Ombo, the city that was formerly the name Nubet, there is a temple dedicated to Sebek, where since 2012 it has been displaying crocodile mummies from nearby burials.

The meeting with the sacred crocodile is a vivid fragment of I. Efremov’s work “Thais of Athens” - Fr.