Sobek, also referred to as Sebek, Sobki, and others, was the ancient deity associated with crocodiles revered in Egyptian mythology from the Old Kingdom era through the Roman period. He is featured in the Pyramid Texts and was primarily recognized as a creator god, believed to have emerged from the primordial “Dark Water” to establish order in the cosmos. As the god of the Nile, Sobek played a crucial role in ensuring the land’s fertility and was hailed as the “Lord of the Waters.” According to some myths, he brought forth the Nile itself from his perspiration, highlighting his profound connection with the waterway.
One notable creation story suggests that Sobek laid eggs on the banks of Nun, leading to the formation of the world. While he was often associated with creation, he was also perceived as a capricious god who could, at times, align himself with chaos.
In the mythology of the Old Kingdom, Sobek was depicted as the offspring of Neith and carried the title “The Rager.” Some legends claim that Set, the chaotic god, was his father, yet he also maintained a close bond with Horus. He was often linked with several goddesses, notably Hathor, Renenutet, Heqet, and Taweret, and was sometimes regarded as the father of deities like Khonsu, Horus, or Khnum.
Worship practices surrounding Sobek varied significantly; in some regions, sacred crocodiles embodied him, while in others, the animals were viewed with disdain and hunted. This indicates his complex nature—originating perhaps as a protective figure to be appeased, Sobek’s ferocity and strength were ultimately cherished as they were invoked to safeguard pharaohs and their subjects.
Sobek also held an important role in the afterlife, guarding the justified deceased in the Underworld, restoring their sight and senses. His fierce demeanor made him a patron of the military. Interestingly, he was associated with Horus, displaying a duality where Horus could represent him by taking a crocodilian form to seek out Osiris’s dismembered body. Furthermore, Sobek was believed to have aided Isis during Horus’s birth and preserved the four mummiform sons of Horus by catching them in a net when they emerged from the waters.
Sobek was frequently represented as a crocodile, a mummified crocodile, or a man with a crocodilian head, often adorned with a plumed headdress and other royal insignia like the Was scepter, symbolizing power, and the Ankh, emblematic of life. Numerous mummified crocodiles, along with their eggs and fetuses, were uncovered in ancient burial sites, suggesting their significance in garnering Sobek’s protection in the afterlife.
He was particularly esteemed in the Faiyum region, with Arsinoe—nicknamed Crocodilopolis by the Greeks—being a notable center for his worship. A temple dedicated to Sobek, along with his wife Renenutet and Horus, was established in Medinet Madi during the Twelfth Dynasty. This sacred site housed domesticated crocodiles that were pampered with food and jewels.
Sobek’s reverence extended to other locales such as Thebes and Kom Ombo, where a temple shared by Sobek and Horus was erected. The configuration of the temple allowed for distinct chapels and entrances for each deity, showcasing Sobek’s veneration during the Ptolemaic era, although earlier foundations may trace back to the New Kingdom.
Additionally, the first known female pharaoh, Sobekneferu, honored him in her names—Sobekneferu meaning “the beauty of Sobek,” and Ka-sobek-ra implying “the ka of Sobek-Ra,” indicating her admiration and religious devotion to the crocodile god.
