“Deadly Meal” Reveals Some Secrets of Crocodile Worship in Ancient Egypt

Scientists from the University of Manchester, along with Loughborough and Birmingham City Universities, have uncovered a fresh fish still attached to its hook in the monster’s stomach, which may have killed it.

Using specialized software with X-rays and CT scans, the scientists were able to actually extract the hook from the mummy, then build an exact replica first out of plastic and then cast it in its original material, bronze.

The animal mummy, held at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and known as accession number 2005.335, might be between 2,000 and 3,000 years old, when the practice of mummifying animals was at its peak.

The crocodile swallowed large numbers of small stones known as gastroliths (rocks trapped in the digestive tract) when it was alive to break down pieces of meat and regulate buoyancy.

Scientists say the presence of more stomach stones higher up in the digestive tract indicates an attempt to break down the animal’s last meal, suggesting it died before it reached its stomach.

The integrity of the fish’s skeleton also indicates that it was swallowed whole and had not yet been affected by the harsh digestive enzymes in the first chamber of the crocodile’s stomach or by the abrasive action of stomach stones.

The team says the apparent short time period between the fish’s ingestion and the crocodile’s death also suggests it was deliberately captured in the wild for mummification as an offering to the crocodile god Sobek shortly therefollowing.

Healthy crocodiles were associated with fertility and abundant agriculture. The ancient Egyptians also believed that they might protect themselves from danger by wearing clothing made from the animal’s skin.

Lead author Dr Lydia McKnight, a research fellow from The University of Manchester, said: “Crocodile Mummy 2005.335 was a unique opportunity to apply scientific analysis to a large animal mummy. Our work has revealed a huge amount of information, both regarding the life of the crocodile and the post-mortem treatment of its remains. Mummies have long been a source of fascination for museum visitors of all ages. Our work provides a unique opportunity to connect visitors to the story of this animal.”

“While previous studies have favored invasive techniques such as unwrapping and autopsy, 3D radiography offers the ability to see inside without damaging these important and fascinating artifacts,” she added. “We have taken this a step further by replicating the hook in its original material, bronze. The ancient Egyptians likely used a hardened clay mold into which molten metal was poured over a charcoal-based heat source. Although several thousand years have passed between the production of the ancient fish hook and the modern replica, the casting process remains remarkably similar.”

Source: phys.org