Thursday, November 05, 2015

Crocodile god?


The Komombo Temple is dedicated to 2 gods, Horus who was a great protector and Sobek, the Crocodile headed god. 

They think the people worshiped Sobek because he was so fertile, he came from the life-giving Nile, and because the people didn't want to be eaten by earth-bound crocs. The people raised crocs in a well that was fed by the Nile. When the critters were big enough, they were embalmed.  Can you imagine the Archeologist breaking into a burial chamber, a handkerchief covering his mouth and nose, "WTF, Petrie, that's a blasted Alligator mummy!"

Worshipping something you're afraid of is something that continued in the Religions   tradition of my forebears.

Not knowing how to pray to the Crocodile God, I was reminded of the title of a book by Anne Lamott, one of my favorite authors: "Help, Thanks,
 Wow: The Three Essential Prayers" so that's how I walked around these ruins that were once completely buried under mud and sand. Help, Thanks, wow. 
Not, please don't eat me!

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