Gods of Ancient Egypt - list and description

Sebek - the god of the watery deep, the personification of the flood of the Nile. Revered in the form of a crocodile. One of the oldest gods of Ancient Egypt, most often depicted as a man with the head of a crocodile. Reverse versions of its image are also known - a crocodile with a human head. In the hieroglyphic record, the image of Sebek is presented in the form of a crocodile lying on an honorary pedestal, similar to how Anubis was depicted as a dog on a pedestal. There is no single variant of the correct pronunciation; two of his names are most widely used: Sebek and Sobek.
Both fishermen and hunters prayed to him, leading their trade in reed thickets. He was asked to help the souls of the dead on their way to the halls of Osiris. Records have been preserved in which a certain man addresses Sebek, as if to an oracle, and asks him to tell him whether any woman will belong to him. Obviously, Sebek, according to the ancient Egyptians, had an influence on many aspects of human life. Moreover, in one of the praising hymns, he is honored with the title of “listening to prayers,” which was not noticed by any of the other gods of Ancient Egypt.

The origin of Sebek is obscure. There are two main versions (according to the number of known sources). First: Sebek created or gave birth to Ra, like other gods of the first generation. Second: Sebek, like Ra, and all the others, gave birth to the primary ocean Nun. There is also historical evidence that calls him the son of Neith, but there are very few such sources. And nothing is known about whether he had a wife. Here is such a mysterious god, reminiscent of his habits of a cunning counterintelligence agent in the service of Ra, but enjoying the sympathy of mortals, as evidenced by the widespread distribution of miniature amulets.

If in ancient Egypt there was an animal worthy of entering the pantheon, then this is undoubtedly a crocodile. Under the name Sebek, he quickly became a highly revered, formidable and trustworthy deity. The Egyptians believed that this reptile was one of the first created. Until recently, it was found in abundance in the swamps of the Delta and on the banks of the Nile.
The best known images of Sebek have been found at Kom Ombo. These expressive portraits depict a furious god, sometimes becoming a victim of his own gluttony. However, Sebek was not only formidable, but also a highly respected god of the Egyptian pantheon. Sebek can take the form of a crocodile or a man with the head of a crocodile. Of course, magical properties were attributed to his image.

Most often, Egyptian artists depicted him in a solar crown, consisting of two feathers, a solar disk resting on two horizontal horns, and two uraeus guards. This unusual crown was worn by two gods: Sebek and Tatenen. Also, Sebek could be depicted in the atef crown; this attribute was considered honorary, because it belonged to Osiris himself.

SEBEK SEBEK

(œbk). Suhos (Greek Σοΰχος), in Egyptian mythology, the god of water and the flood of the Nile. According to the Pyramid Texts, S. is the son of Data. His sacred animal is the crocodile. He was depicted as a man, a crocodile or a man with the head of a crocodile. The center of the cult of S. is the Faiyum oasis, the city of Krokodilopol. The heyday of the cult of S. refers to the period of the XII dynasty (19-18 centuries BC), whose capital was located near Faiyum. The name S. was included as a component in the theophore names of the pharaohs of the 13th dynasty. It was believed that S. gives abundance and fertility. In a number of texts, S. is regarded as a protector of gods and people (there was an idea that his ferocity frightens off the forces of darkness), but often he acts as a god, hostile Ra and Osiris. With the development of religious syncretism, S. was identified with Ra, Khnum, Amon, Khonsu, Min. In the late period, a goddess accompanying S. appeared - "the great mistress Sebektet."
R.R.

(Source: "Myths of the peoples of the world".)

(Dry)

in Egyptian mythology, the god of water and the flood of the Nile. According to the Pyramid Texts, Sebek is the son of Neit. His sacred animal is the crocodile. He was depicted as a man. crocodile or a man with the head of a crocodile. The center of the cult of Sebek belongs to the period of truth. XII dynasty (19 - 18 centuries BC), whose capital was near Fayum. The name Sebek was included as a component in the theophoric names of the pharaohs of the XIII dynasty. It was believed that Sebek gives abundance and fertility. In a number of texts, Sebek was seen as a protector of the gods of 11 people (there was an idea that his ferocity frightens off the forces of darkness), but often acts as a god hostile to Ra and Osiris. With the development of the religion of syncretism, Sebek was identified with Ra. Khnum, Amon, Khonsu, Min. In the late period, the goddess accompanying Sebek appeared - "the great mistress Sebektet."

V. D. Smooth "Ancient World" Volume 2

(Source: Ancient Egyptian Dictionary Reference.)

in Egyptian mythology, the god of water and the flood of the Nile. He was depicted as a crocodile or as a man with the head of a crocodile. Worshipers of Sebek made human sacrifices to crocodiles. If a person became an accidental victim of a crocodile, the Egyptians believed that it was Sebek who called him to his service.

(Source: Dictionary of Spirits and Gods of Norse, Egyptian, Greek, Irish, Japanese, Mayan and Aztec Mythologies.)

See what "SEBEK" is in other dictionaries:

God of water and flood of the Nile Mythology: Ancient Egyptian ... Wikipedia

In Egyptian mythology, the deity of fertility, the god of water, commanding the floods of the Nile. The center of the cult is the city of Shedit (Greek: Crocodilopolis) in the Fayum oasis. Depicted as a crocodile or a man with the head of a crocodile ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

SEBEK, in Egyptian mythology, the deity of fertility, the god of water, commanding the floods of the Nile. The center of the cult is the city of Shedit (Greek: Crocodilopolis) in the Fayum oasis. Depicted as a crocodile or a man with the head of a crocodile ... encyclopedic Dictionary

Exist., Number of synonyms: 1 god (375) ASIS Synonym Dictionary. V.N. Trishin. 2013 ... Synonym dictionary

- (Greek Σεΰχος) an ancient Egyptian cosmic deity with the head of a crocodile, compared either with the earth god Keb, or with the solar deity Ra, in the form of S. Ra, or with Osiris. It was revered mainly in Fayum, on the shores of Lake Merida, in ... ...

Sebek- Suhos in Egypt. myth. god of water and flood of the Nile. acc. Pyramid Texts, S. son of Neith. His priest. animal crocodile. He is an image. in the form of a man, a crocodile or a man with the head of a crocodile. The center of the cult of S. refers to the period of rule. XII… … Ancient world. encyclopedic Dictionary Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron

For the most ancient inhabitants of our planet, the deification of the forces of nature and animals is characteristic. The latter were endowed with holiness, they were worshiped, bringing offerings and sacrifices. Ancient Egypt was no exception. In this state, not only cute and harmless animals were endowed with divine features, but also reptiles that had a frightening appearance and posed a mortal danger. It's about crocodiles.

Historical information has long confirmed the most important role of the Nile in the life of the Egyptians. The existence of the river, stretching like a life-giving thread from north to south, made it possible for ancient peoples to settle along its banks, their lives depended on the floods of the Nile waters. Regular floods made the fields adjacent to the river fertile, which provided the inhabitants with a good harvest and guaranteed the absence of hunger. To predict the harvest, the Egyptians watched the rise in the water level in the Nile with the help of the nilometers they built.

Dependence on the forces of nature caused people to worship their power, the desire to earn the favor of the gods - the patrons of the Nile and its inhabitants. The largest and most unusual creatures that have lived in the Nile for a long time - crocodiles - were considered its guardians and owners of the river. By their behavior, the Egyptians could determine the time of the flood.

Worship of Sebek

The Egyptian civilization had a wide pantheon of gods. An important place in this series was occupied by the god Sebek. He was depicted as a man with the head of a crocodile topped with a magnificent crown. Sebek was the lord of the feeding river, the ruler of the movement of its waters, and personified eternity.

On the territory of Ancient Egypt in the Faiyum valley there was the city of Shedit, later called Crocodilopolis by the Greeks who came there. The place, located in a fertile valley around Lake Mérida, was the center of worship for Sebek. Crocodiles were considered the living embodiment of God.

Not far from Shedit, Pharaoh Amenemhet III built a whole complex dedicated to crocodiles. In addition to the traditional construction of a pyramid, the ruler was ordered to build a sacred structure, similar to a labyrinth - for the son of Sebek - the earthly representative of the god - the crocodile, to live in it. The territory of the building has not been preserved, there are only the remains of ruins. According to Herodotus, the area of ​​the labyrinth was about 70 thousand square meters. meters, there were several levels, many rooms where the crocodile chosen by the priests, the son of Sebek, could walk around.

Serving the Chosen Crocodile

To achieve a decent life, priests were assigned to the crocodile, bringing treats and food. After the death of the “master of the labyrinth”, all the same priests mummified the body of the deceased animal and chose the next crocodile.

If a person died from a river predator, this was considered a great success: he received the protection of God and, after embalming, was honored to be buried in a sacred grave.

To this day, the Faiyum Valley region has not been fully explored. In the future, we will be able to find out if the labyrinth in Crocodilopolis really existed or if it is just a meaningful myth. The worship of the crocodile god throughout Egypt is also evidenced by the temple of Sebek in the city of Kom Ombo, not far from which a whole burial with mummies of crocodiles was found.

In ancient Egyptian mythology, a special place is occupied by the god Sebek - the lord of the water element, the god of water, on whom the flood of the Nile depends. Its zoomorphic form was the crocodile. There were 2 forms of his images: with a crocodile's head and a human body, or vice versa - with a human head and a crocodile's body. In hieroglyphs, he was depicted lying on an honorary pedestal. In terms of pronunciation of his name, there are also 2 options: Sobek and Sebek.

Crocodiles were considered an avatar of the god Sebek. To do this, the Egyptians massively caught crocodiles, chose the best, recognized him as the embodiment of a deity and decorated the reptile's paws with bracelets and earrings with earrings. For this, silver and gold jewelry and jewelry were chosen. There were cases when several crocodiles were chosen for worship at once. Most often, however, the Egyptians waited for the natural death of one crocodile in order to re-select the avatar of the god among the young reptiles. The deceased crocodile was carefully mummified.

More than 2,000 mummies of these sacred reptiles have been found near Kiman-Faris (Crocodilepolis). If we calculate mathematically, taking as a basis the lifespan of an ordinary crocodile (which was often longer than the lifespan of a person), then we can assume that the tradition of choosing and worshiping Sebek crocodiles has about 20 thousand years. All this may testify to the high veneration of this deity in Egyptian society.

In ancient Egyptian mythology, there is information about the veneration of the crocodile Petsuhos as the real incarnation of the god Sebek. The Egyptians believed that he lived in the lake, which adjoined the main sanctuary of the deity. From this lake they drank water to gain magical protection and protection from Sebek, and also fed the crocodile Petsuhos with various delicacies.

good deity

Despite the frightening crocodile avatar, Sebek himself, in the minds of the Egyptians, was not evil or even cruel. This can be judged at least on the basis of the fact that he:

• gave life;
• watched the floods of the Nile;
• brought a good harvest;
• provided life for all river creatures.

Fishermen, as well as hunters who hunted in the reeds, turned to Sebek in their prayers. He was asked to assist in the transportation of dead souls to the halls of the god Osiris.

There is some evidence that Sebek was even addressed as a soothsayer. And unlike other ancient Egyptian gods, he receives the title of an attentive and listening god to prayers.

Versions of origin

There is no consensus among Egyptologists and other scholars regarding the origin of Sebek. According to one version, he (as well as other primary gods) was born by the god Ra. According to the second version, Geb and Nut gave birth to him (like the god Ra himself). There is also another version that he is the son of Neith, who was revered as the great mother of other gods, the mistress of war and hunting, the water and sea elements, the mother of the terrifying serpent Apep. At the same time, nothing is known about Sebek's wife. This may indicate the secrecy and cunning of Sebek in the views of the ancient Egyptians.

Inventor of fishing nets

According to one surviving legend, the Egyptian god Ra once tried to find the two sons of the god Horus, Amset and Hapi. They hid from Ra in the Nile. The god Ra himself could not find these two sons of Horus, and therefore he instructed Sebek to find his own great-great-great-grandchildren. He began to sift the mud of the Nile through his fingers. So he found Amset and Hapi. And thus the idea of ​​fishing nets was born.

There are other episodes when Ra instructed Sebek to find something in the Nile. So, once Sebek went in search of the severed hands of the god Horus, which were thrown into the Nile. The hands lived on their own and were very difficult to catch. But Sebek managed, after pursuing them as a fisherman, to fish out and return Ra. God Ra made a second pair, which, like a relic, was stored in the city of Nekhen for a long time.

Sebek and his veneration

The popularity of Sebek among the Egyptians is not only the mummification of crocodiles. Some facts testify to this:

• his name constantly pops up in the ancient Egyptian correspondence found;
• archaeologists find separate papyri dedicated to the chanting of individual objects of Sebek (for example, 12 hymns only to his crown in one of the papyri);
• Sebek had a crown, which indicates a high role in the divine hierarchy;
• statues have been preserved on which Sebek carries the mummy of Osiris on his back, and according to legend, a certain crocodile ate the missing reproductive organ of Osiris (which indicates the great role of Sebek in the life of Osiris);
• Egyptians often attached magical and healing properties to images of Sebek;
• the people believed that the more crocodiles there were on the banks of the Nile, the better the flood and harvest would be;
• during the 2nd millennium BC, the pharaohs often called themselves Sebekhotep, which literally translates as "Sebek is pleased."

Sebek and the water element

Sebek was called the one who forces the greenery to grow on the water banks. The main agricultural resources were on the banks of the Nile. And it is not surprising that he, as the lord of the waters, was worshiped and numerous sanctuaries were built. This is how the city of Crocodilopolis arose (which literally translates as the city of the crocodile). There are also many variations of the names of the god Sebek: Pneferos (beautiful-faced), Soknebtunis (lord of Tebtunis); Soknopayos (lord of the island) and others. There are also many water religious rites associated with the god Sebek. So, in early July, the ancient Egyptian priests threw wax figures of crocodiles into the river. People believed that thanks to magic, the figurines came to life and crawled ashore in the form of living reptiles, which foreshadowed good luck and fertility.

Gluttony of Sebek

Legends about his insatiability are also associated with the god Sebek. According to one story, he single-handedly attacked an enemy horde and ate them alive. After that, Sebek showed the bitten heads to other gods, threatening them too. Then other gods offered to bring him a lot of bread to satisfy his endless hunger. According to another story, Set killed Osiris, dismembered his body, and threw the pieces into the Nile. Then Sebek wanted to profit from the pieces of the body and rushed into the Nile. For this impudent behavior, the other gods cut off Sebek's tongue as punishment. For this reason, crocodiles do not have a tongue.

There is also a mythological version about the shelter of the evil god Set in the body of Sebek to avoid retribution for the murder of the god Osiris.

Temple of Kom Ombo

The Temple of Kom Ombo is one of the most important evidence of the veneration of the god Sebek in ancient Egypt. It is located near Aswan and is dedicated to two gods at once: Horus and Sebek. It is very original in terms of architecture, because. the goal was to please two great gods at once, while retaining the typical architectural canons (sanctuary, courtyard, pylon, hall of offerings). In the temple, all parts doubled, but a sense of unity was maintained due to the outer wall of the temple. Also, two sanctuaries to both gods were located in parallel: in the north - Horus, in the south - Sebek. By the way, this is another fact confirming the importance of Sebek - the south of the Egyptians was more important than the north. Sebek was depicted on the walls of the temple, surrounded by his family.

Killing a sacred crocodile in the name of love

In special cases, men sought to prove their love to their beloved by killing the most dangerous and powerful crocodile. This was considered a feat. But at the same time, such a killing of a sacred animal was allowed only in the name of love.

Healing statues of the god Horus standing on crocodiles

The ancient Egyptians often turned to special statues for help, on which the god Horus stood on crocodiles and held snakes in his hands. The Egyptians believed that spells carved on stone could provide a person with magical power from the bites of snakes and scorpions. For such protection, you just need to pour water on this statue, then collect this water and drink it. It was believed that the magical power from the text passes to the water through the stone. For this reason, the Egyptians everywhere made miniature stone amulets to provide themselves with magical protection.