Ancient Egyptian crocodiles on show

The first ever crocodile museum in Egypt will soon be open
Nevine El-Aref
Overlooking the Aswan Nile shore, neighbouring the ancient Egyptian temple of Kom Ombo, the first ever crocodile museum in Egypt is scheduled to be opened on Tuesday.

The museum, which is dedicated to the ancient Egyptian god Sobek, displays forty mummified crocodiles, ranging from two to five metres long, as well as crocodile foetuses and eggs. Also on show is a collection of wooden and granite crocodile statues and replicas of crocodile holes in rocks.

A visitor’s centre adorned with posters will screen a documentary before entrance to the museum, as an introduction to Sobek and crocodiles in Egypt.

Mohamed Ibrahim, minister of state for antiquities, told Ahram Online that this project falls within the framework of Egypt's dedication to building regional museums all over the country. The opening, he said, will coincide with Aswan's national day.

Sobek, who was depicted as a crocodile or a man with the head of a crocodile, was viewed as a very powerful ancient Egyptian god; he was even believed to have created the world. Eventually he became a symbol of the Nile’s fertility.

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