Gemstones
Carnelian – Sobek is said to have a Temple of Carnelian on the mountain of Bakhu, on which the sky rests, situated in the East [Spell 108 Book of the Dead, Spell 160 Coffin Texts]. The East is the sunrise, and carnelian is often associated with the Sun in general, as well as the solar eyes, the horizon (including sunset), and lions. To be ‘carnelian-eyed’ was to become angry and dangerous. (1)
Obsidian – This association entirely comes from Sobek as Sobek-Geb-Kronos during the Ptolemaic Period. Obsidian was the sacred stone, or property, of Kronos and gods who were identified as him – according to Porphyry, black stones represented ‘unseen gods’. During this period, Sobek was often shown with the iconography of Kronos, and there are many obsidian gemstones on which Kronos was represented with a crocodile, or crocodile-headed male figure.
Plants & Flowers
Marjoram – The Egyptian name for marjoram (Majorana hortensis) was sm Sbk “herb of Souchos’. In Greek it became sampsouchos. An interesting note is that the ‘naucratite wreath’, a funerary garland of Roman Egypt, was made of sweet marjoram. (2) Marjoram was an embalming herb, and was frequently included as a popular plant for incense.
Pink & Purple Flowers – Okay, so hear me out on this one! [UPG] I was walking the dogs one glorious late spring day and came across a flowering bush of pink flowers. I picked several and took them home for my Sobek altar, and He was pleased. I later came across “Play Behavior in Crocodilians”, which noted that there were several instances observed of various crocodilian species appearing to show a preference for holding or seemingly ‘playing’ with pink flowers. So UPG, and it stays!
(1) Hussein, Angela Murock. 2010. Beware of the Red-Eyed Horus: The Significance of Carnelian in Egyptian Royal Jewelry.
(2) Manniche, Lise. 1999. An Ancient Egyptian Herbal. Rev. ed. London: British Museum Press.
Dua Sobek 