Sebekh

Sebekh is a term used in scholarly and popular references to the ancient Egyptian crocodile god Sobek. In this context, Sebekh is an alternate transliteration of the deity’s name. Sobek was regarded as a powerful divine figure associated with the Nile’s fertility and with protection of the pharaoh and military power. In Egyptian cosmology, he often appears with a crocodile head or as a crocodile emanation. Worship of Sobek/Sebekh developed in several sites, notably in the Faiyum region at Shedet (Crocodilopolis) and in Kom Ombo. He was worshiped from the Old Kingdom through late periods, with temple rituals, offerings, and processions as part of his cult. In some periods, Sobek was syncretized with Ra as Sobek-Ra, reflecting evolving theology. Iconography includes crocodiles, crocodile-headed figures, solar symbols, and sacred pools.

Modern scholarship treats Sebekh primarily as a variant spelling rather than a distinct deity, illustrating the transliteration challenges of ancient Egyptian. The term thus serves as a reminder of how transliteration choices can affect how ancient gods are rendered in modern texts.