Sobek was most popular in the city of Arsinoe. In fact, the Greeks renamed the city Crocodilopolis. Ancient Egyptians would keep crocodiles in pools and temples. They ornamented the crocodiles with jewels in honor of their beloved god, Sobek. The people of ancient Egypt worshiped Sobek in order to appease him, the crocodiles, and to insure the fertility of their people and crops.
Sobek was called the Lord of Faiyum, and was considered the god who controlled the waters. The Nile was very important to the people of Egypt. Water was necessary for the survival of crops, the success of trade, and the livelihood of fishing. These waters were filled with crocodile, so it was a matter of common sense to appease them through the worship of their leader, Sobek.
According to legend, Sobek was a fourfold deity. He represented the four elemental gods, Ra of fire, Shu of air, geb of earth, and Osiris of water. A crocodile, a man with the head of a crocodile, or a mummified crocodile are used as representations for Sobek. He is sometimes shown wearing a solar disk and horns like those of Amon-Ra. Throughout history, he has been known as Sebek, Sebek-Ra, Sobk, Suchos, Sobki, and Soknopais.
Sobek was revered for his ferocity and quick movement. It is said that he was the god who caught the four sons of Horus in a net, as they emerged from the waters in a lotus bloom.
Set was a god of hostility and chaos. Some people held the belief that he was the epitome of evil. He was an adversary to Osiris and Horus. Sobek is considered to be a cohort of Horus. It is said that Horus took the form of a crocodile to retrieve the parts of Osiris’ body that Set had discarded in the waters of Egypt. Set was later killed after an eighty-year war with Horus, in which Set tore out the left eye of Horus, and Horus tore out the testicles of Set.
The Book of the Dead suggests that Sobek’s closeness to Horus can be traced back to his participation in the birth of this god. Sobek was responsible for calling Isis and Nephthys to aid in the protection of the dead. He was the god from the “Dark Water.” It was believed, in some sects, that Sobek was the creator of the world. These people believed that he arose from the “Dark Water” and put the world in order.
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