New Delhi, India

Ancient Egyptians used to worship the dreaded sea reptile crocodile, a new study suggests. It has also been revealed that not only were crocodiles worshipped, some of them were sacrificed. What went behind this religious practice has been unknown to researchers. But now, an analysis of a mummified Egyptian crocodile has revealed the mystery of this ancient religious practice. The 2.2-metre-long (7.2-foot) mummified crocodile has been at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.

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The study has been published in the journal Digital Applications in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage.

Scientists ran scans on the mummified crocodile and found a fish hook and an undigested fish inside its belly. They concluded that the crocodile was killed immediately upon being captured from the wild. However, not all of them were killed. Instead, a few were worshipped as "cult animals". The discovery of numerous mummified crocodiles throughout Egypt shows that the reptile was a part of sacred activities. 

"The ancient Egyptians venerated crocodiles as avatars of Sobek, Lord of the Nile and of the primaeval swamp from which they believed the Earth was created,” authors of a new study wrote.

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Suchus the crocodile was worshipped like a god

One such crocodile was Suchus who lived at the cult centre of Crocodilopolis and "received the levels of care befitting a god on earth".

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“Believed to be the living incarnation of Sobek, Suchus was provided with a dedicated pond within the temple complex where he received a lavish diet of bread, meat and wine delivered by the priests, and adornments of precious metals and jewels,” the study says.

Where did the Egyptians get these crocodiles from?

The biggest question that scientists are trying to understand is how ancient Egyptians procured these crocodiles. An ancient hatchery has been discovered at the archaeological site of Medinet Madi, which has made some experts suggest that they were probably reared in captivity.

Greek historian Herodotus, among several others, says that a unique method was implemented to catch the crocodiles. They were supposedly lured to the banks of the Nile by the sound of a pig being beaten and then captured.