Sobek, God of the Nile River, is an Ancient Egyptian crocodile symbolling power, virility and fertility.
Nile River God Sobek is protector of the Nile River feared and loved by the Ancient rulers of Crocodilopolis also known as the Egyptian Faiyum region. Sobek is first mentioned in the Pyramid Texts, which are the oldest sacred texts in the world.
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Nile River God Sobek |
Sobek appearance is that of a man with the head
of a crocodile and an elaborate sun disk headdress. Sobek was worshiped as the
creator of the world who arose from the fertile Nile River waters and created
the order in the universe. Sobek rescued Horus’ four sons by gathering them in
a net from the waters where they arose in a lotus bloom.
Sobek is the God of the Nile because he
controlled the waters and the fertility of the soil. He is known under several
titles; Lord of the Waters, SBK and Protector of Faiyum. He is also patron of the
Military because of his strength, power and prowess. Ancient Egyptians both loved and
feared crocodiles, their depiction of Sobek was a means to appease these
ferocious creatures.
He gained celebrity status during the Middle Kingdom
when the 12th Dynasty King, King Amenemhat III revered Sobek. Live crocodiles
were kept in pools at temples built to honor Sobek. The Egyptian Faiyum region was
the center of Sobek worship.
Did
you know?
Crocodiles
and alligators, what is the difference; Crocodiles have a longer, more V-shaped
head then alligators, Alligators have shorter, wider heads that are more
U-shaped, the fourth tooth of a crocodile sticks out when its mouth is closed, Crocodiles
tend to have a lighter appearance than alligators, Crocodiles are more
aggressive than alligators and Crocodiles in the wild are found all over the
world while alligators are only found in the USA and China.