Unlike the majority of Egyptian temples, the Temple of Sobek here in Ta-she, the Sepat of the Lower Laurel, is open to the public. We ask that whilst inside the temple that you recognize that many have come here to worship and pray and with kind regard, we enjoin you to respect their privacy.

As you enter Lord Sobek's temple, we also ask that you observe a small ritual of 'purification.' We require that you take a small pinch of natron to place on your tongue. This ritual is to ensure that during your time here, you speak with the word of Ma'at and in doing so, do not cause offence to others who may also be visiting. We require that you be dressed only in linen and have washed your hands and feet with natron.

Legend has it that Menes, first Pharaoh of a united Upper and Lower Egypt Dynasty I, (life, health, prosperity), was hunting in the Lower Laurel close to Lake She-resy when his own dogs attacked him near the lakeshore. His life was saved by a crocodile, which carried him across the water to safety. In gratitude, Menes declared the lake a sanctuary for crocodiles and founded the city of Shedyet which became the cult centre of the crocodile god Sobek in this sepat. Worship here has continued here from then and into 13th Dynasty with some rulers taking the name 'Sobekhotep' ('Sobek is merciful') and most recently, our temple has been favoured by restoration by Pharaoh Ramesses (life, health, prosperity).

Our temple is a great landowning institution
and functions at the very hub of the local economy. It is a place of contemplation,
of prayer and of learning,
run by a large and complex bureaucracy
that employs priests, musicians,
dancers, farmers, masons and scribes.

I am not currently at liberty to act as your guide today however, you are free to wander the temple and take in its splendour. We ask only that you observe the inviolable sanctity of the temples inner most sanctuary - our sacred naos where the image of the Lord god Sobek is at his rest.