SOBEK

SOBEK may refer to two distinct subjects in widely separated fields: an ancient Egyptian deity and a modern hydraulic modeling software package.

Sobek is a prominent ancient Egyptian god associated with the Nile, crocodiles, fertility, and protection. He is typically depicted as a crocodile or as a man with a crocodile head. As a riverine deity, Sobek symbolized the life-giving and potentially dangerous aspects of the waters, and he was believed to guard the pharaoh and protect the realm. Sobek was sometimes linked with solar or military aspects of kingship and could appear in various regional cults. Major centers of his worship included Crocodilopolis (modern Fayum) and the temple complex at Kom Ombo, where Sobek was honored alongside Horus. Ritual offerings, festivals, and the mummification of sacred crocodiles illustrate the practical and symbolic roles of his cult.

SOBEK also denotes a hydraulic and hydrological modeling software package developed by Deltares in the Netherlands. The software suite is used to simulate surface water flows in rivers, floodplains, and coastal areas, in one and two dimensions, and to integrate rainfall-runoff and sewer network models. It supports scenario analysis, GIS integration, and coupling with other models, and it is employed by water authorities, engineers, and researchers for flood risk assessment, river basin management, and urban water planning. The tool is one of several integrated modeling platforms used in modern hydrology and hydraulics.