The year of 2012 starts off pretty well for the crocodiles. By the end of January 2012 the first ever Museum of Crocodiles will open its doors to the public. This museum will be in front of the Temple of Kom Ombo. Why do you ask? The Temple of Kom Ombo was dedicated to the crocodile god, Sobek and until today one can view mummified crocodiles at the temple.

The Temple and the Museum is situated on the East Bank of the Nile in Southern Egypt and will house 40 mummified crocodiles, some reaching sizes up to 1.5 meters long and others up to 5 meters long. There will also be a crocodile fetus and eggs on display as wel as a large collection of granite and wooden replicas and statues.

The Museum will also feature various statues of Sobek, the crocodile god of Ancient Egypt. This Egyptian god was depicted as a man with a crocodile body and was seen as one of the most powerful of all gods. They even believed that he was the creator of the world. Later on in history he is known as the god that gave the Nile River its fertility.

Upon entering the complex, one will be shown an introduction and documentary Sobek and the crocodiles of Egypt.

After three years of hard labor and preparation, this is surely to become one of the major tourist attractions that the East Bank has to offer further along the Nile.
The opening fill also fall on the same day as Aswan’s National Day which calls for major celebrations in Upper Egypt.