Crocodilopolis An ancient Egyptian site, originally
called Shedet, then Arsinoe, and now Medinet el-Faiyum.
A tradition states that AHA(Menes; 2920 B.C.E.) founded
Crocodilopolis. The city served as the capital of the
FAIYUMand was the cultic center for the crocodile deity
SOBEK. An agricultural center watered by the BAHR YUSEF
(the Joseph River, honoring a local hero of Islam), the
city also had a shrine honoring the goddess RENENET.A
temple discovered on this site dates to the reign of AMEN-
EMHET III(1844–1797 B.C.E.), but it was probably fin-
ished by him, having been started by SENWOSRET I(r.
1971–1926 B.C.E.). There is some speculation that the red
granite OBELISKat ABGIGwas once part of this temple.
RAMESSES II(r. 1290–1224 B.C.E.) restored the temple of
Sobek. During the Ptolemaic Period (304–30 B.C.E.), the
city was named for Queen ARSINOE and served as an
important cultic center for Sobek. Visitors to the city fed
crocodiles nurtured there. There were various mines in
the area of Crocodilopolis, exploited throughout Egypt’s
history. The site also had a sacred lake and baths.
Croesus(d. 546 B.C.E.)King of Lydia (modern Turkey)
He ruled from c. 560 B.C.E. until his death. A member of
the Mermnad line, Croesus conquered mainland Ionia of
Greece and then faced the Persian king, Cyrus II the
Great. Retreating to his capital of Sardis, Croesus was
besieged there by Cyrus II and sentenced to death by
burning. However, having been spared, he entered the
service of Cyrus II and was made the governor of Barene
in Media. He also accompanied CAMBYSES(r. 525–522
B.C.E.) when that Persian ruler entered Egypt.
crook A royal symbol, the awet,carried by the rulers of
ancient Egypt, representing the early shepherds, the
scepter had magical powers and represented traditions of
the past and the government. The crook was carried with
the flail, called the nekhakha,which represented OSIRIS
and MIN.
crowns These were the various royal headdresses used
by the rulers of ancient Egypt for specific ceremonies or
rituals. The white war crown of Upper Egypt, the hedjet,
was combined with the deshret,the red wicker basket
crown of Lower Egypt, to form the wereret,the double
crown of Upper and Lower Egypt. Called pachentor
pschentby the Greeks, the crowns represented the pa-
ekhemty,the double magic of the pharaohs. The rulers
also wore the seshed,the crown covered with a filet of rib-
bon with a bow at the back and fluttering pennants. A
cobra, WADJET, was used as an insignia in the front of a
circlet, which had bows shaped like the timbrels of the
PAPYRUSplant.
The ram’s horn crown, called both the atefand the
hemhemet,depending upon their style and use, was a rit-
ual head covering and was worn only on solemn occa-
sions when the ruler wished to be connected with OSIRIS
and RÉ in rituals. The nemes,the striped head cloth
designed with panels extended on the front, was worn
only by the pharaohs. The khephresh,the military crown,
was made of ELECTRUMand was blue in color, worn on
campaigns or in triumphal processions.cult centers These were the ancient Egyptian sites
where the gods were honored with special rites or cere-
monies, and where temples were erected for their devo-
tion. Each town had its own particular deity, but these
were the centers of the major gods:CENTER GOD
Abydos Osiris
Assiut Wepwawet
Bubastis Bastet
Busiris Osiris
Buto Bubastis
Crocodilopolis Sobek
Dendereh Hathor
Edfu Horus
Elephantine Khnum
Elkab Nekhebet
Koptos Min
Heliopolis Ré and Atum
Herakleopolis Harsaphes
Hermopolis Magna Thoth and the Ogdoad90 CrocodilopolisThe crowns of Egypt’s kings: (a) deshret,the basket crown of
Lower Egypt; (b) hedjet,the white war helmet of Upper Egypt;
(c) pschentor wereret,the double crown of Upper and Lower
Egypt; (d) khepresh,the electrum war helmet; (e) atefor
hemhemet,ram’s horn crown.