Crocodile Jungle News: Mummy of headless crocodiles found in Egyptian tomb, sacrificed to appease the ancient deity

The results, published in the journal PLOS ONE, provide scientists with new information about their life and death. Research author B. de Coupere at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences told Newsweek that animal mummies were used as offerings to the deities they worshipped. He said that killing animals for the mummification process was not a problem as it linked the human world with the ‘divine world’.

The deity had a crocodile head

Scientists have learned that crocodiles in particular were associated with the ancient Egyptian god Sobek and were sacrificed as a way of appeasing him. Sobek is often depicted as a crocodile or a human with the head of a crocodile. Although it is extremely rare to find a protected crocodile. De Coupere said, ‘Crocodile found from recent excavations are very rare. The Weiram Tomb of Qubbat al-Hawa is wonderful where a collection of crocodile mummies has been found which can be easily studied.’

Heads cut off after drying the body

The scientists further said that it is believed that the animals were buried in a sandy environment which allowed their bodies to dry naturally. Their bodies were then wrapped in palm leaves and cloth mats and brought to the tomb where they were buried. He said that during the mummification process, some crocodiles were harmed while others were well preserved. In some cases, after drying the crocodiles, their heads were cut off.