Located on the western bank of the Nile, the ancient city of Shedet was the centre of worship for the Egyptian god Sobek, the crocodile god. Dubbed “Crocodilopolis” by the Greeks, inhabitants worshipped a manifestation of Sobek through a sacred crocodile kept at the city, named ‘Petsuchos’ meaning “son of Sobek”. The crocodile was adorned with gold and jewels, and kept in a temple pond with special priests to serve his food! After the residing Petsuchos died, the body would be mummified and given a special burial and then replaced with another crocodile. The city is now known as Medinet el Fayum (City of Faiyum).
Sobek could protect the justified dead in the netherworld, restoring their sight and reviving their senses. Because of his ferocity, he was considered to be the patron of the army.
Worship of Sobek extended to Thebes and Kom Ombo where there was a dual temple dedicated to Sobek and Horus. The left (northern) side was dedicated to Horus the elder (as opposed to Horus son of Isis) while the right side (southern) was dedicated to Sobek. Each temple has its own entrance, chapels and its own dedicated priests. The temple was constructed during the Ptolemaic period, but there is evidence of an older structure at that location which may date from the New Kingdom.
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