Greek temple remains and our first stop on the Nile Cruise. Co'mombo was dedicated to the Egyptian gods, Sobek (the crocodile god) and Horus (the falcon-headed son of Isis and Osiris). The view of the temple from the cruise ship on the Nile was particularly impressive. The front gate was destroyed so you can actually see all of the huge columns of the inner court from the river. It is also one of the only temples located right beside the Nile.
The large, circular pit full of green water was where the priests used to keep crocodiles. They caught them, kept them in a crocodile tank and fed them regularly. They did this in honor of Sobek, the crocodile god.
The other notable fact about Co'mombo Temple is that it served as a surgical hospital in ancient times - indeed, the first hospital on record. There is a famous relief showing the pharoah making an offering to the Greek god of medicine. The relief also depicts several medical implements such as tweezers, forcepts, a saw for bones, needles, etc....
Co'mombo also contains a relief depicting the Egyptian calendar. It shows the three seasons: flooding, planting and harvesting.
The images of the gods show musculature, which is another indication that this is a Greek temple.
Best of all, we visited a chamber containing three mummified crocodiles!
