Crocodilopolis
/ˌkrɒkədɪˈlɒpəlɪs/noun
An ancient Egyptian city in the Faiyum, known in Greek as the major cult center of the crocodile-headed god Sobek.
Did you know?Crocodilopolis’s sacred crocodile represented Sobek, an Egyptian deity associated with fertility, royal power, military strength, and the dangerous life-giving waters of the Nile.
Etymological Timeline
Middle Kingdom Egypt
Egyptian
Shedet
“The ancient Egyptian name of the city, a major settlement in the Faiyum and center of Sobek worship.”
Classical Greek
Greek
krokódilos
“Crocodile; the Greek word used for the Nile reptile.”
Classical Greek
Greek
pólis
“City or city-state.”
Hellenistic Period
Greek
Krokodilópolis
“Crocodile City, the Greek name for the Egyptian cult center.”
3rd Century BCE
Greek
Arsinoḯs
“The city was officially renamed Arsinoe in honor of Arsinoe II under Ptolemy II, although Crocodilopolis remained widely used.”
Modern English
English
Crocodilopolis
“The conventional English name for the ancient Egyptian city.”
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