Sacred Animals of Ancient Egypt Gallery
By Robert Partridge
Last updated 2011-02-17
Statue of a crocodile
Crocodiles were a real danger to the Egyptians and, like other dangerous animals, were given divine status (in their case as the god Sobek) in the hope that in return they would not attack humans.
The Nile crocodile can grow to six metres in length, and there are many tales of Ancient Egyptians being killed by them. Crocodiles are no longer found in Egypt.
The statue here was an offering to the god Sobek.
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