Egypt, Late Dynastic Period, 26th to 31st Dynasty, ca. 664 to 332 BCE. A lovely example of a baby crocodile that has undergone the process of mummification. The reptilian offering was first devoid of its intestines, then filled with a mixture of embalming fluids, and finally wrapped tightly with cotton linens; this crocodile has since been unwrapped from its linen bindings. The elongated body curves slightly along the middle of the back and showcases its slender physical structure above petite forelegs, lengthy hind legs, and a narrow tail section. The bulky head displays a pair of relatively huge eye sockets, a tapered snout, and rows of teeth that still appear to have retained some semblance of sharpness. Custom display case included. Size (crocodile): 7.625" L x 1.25" W (19.4 cm x 3.2 cm); (display case): 10.5" L x 3.9" W x 2.1" H (26.7 cm x 9.9 cm x 5.3 cm)
The crocodile was, and still is, one of the most awe-inspiring creatures in the animal kingdom. The ancient Egyptians both feared and revered crocodiles for their stealthy nature as well as their ferocious killing capabilities. According to scholar Dorothea Arnold, "Although the ancient Egyptians somewhat whimsically called the crocodile 'wrinkle face,' without a doubt these reptiles were the most dangerous creatures of their country and a constant threat to the people and their livestock" (Arnold, Dorothea. "An Egyptian Bestiary." The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, Spring 1995, Vol. LII, no. 4, p. 32). Concurrently in regards to the crocodile-headed god Sobek, Egyptologist Garry J. Shaw explains that, "As a god, [Sobek] was associated with the riverbanks and the marshland, and in some sources the Nile was said to be his sweat . . . [though] not content to dwell just in the river, Sobek was also called the Lord of Bakhu, a mythological mountain in the horizon, where he lived in a temple made from carnelian" (Shaw, Garry J. "The Egyptian Myths: A Guide to the Ancient Gods and Legends." Thames & Hudson, London, 2014, p. 137).
Provenance: ex-estate of Eldert Bontekoe, Pegasi Numismatics, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, acquired before 2000
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#157896
Condition
Loss to back portion of tail as shown. Desiccation to head and body commensurate with age and mummification. Wonderful preservation to anatomical detailing of legs, body, head, and tail section.