Temple of the Mummified Crocodiles
Nile Valley, Egypt
South of Edfu lies one of the country’s smaller yet intriguing temples, unusually one dedicated to the crocodile-headed god, Sobek and Haroeris, the falcon-headed deity. It sits on a bend in the river where, not long ago, crocodiles used to bask – apt given one of the ruling gods and perhaps no co-incidence. Inside there are fine reliefs and contained within the Chapel of Hathor, mummified crocodiles.
Background
The temple at Kom Ombo dates from Ptolemaic times, being completed by Ptolemy XII around 50BCE. It is located on a bend in the Nile where crocodiles basked until the building of the Aswan Dam and this may well have prompted the Ptolemies to ensure it was at least in part dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile–headed god.