Ancient Egyptians mummified thousands of crocodiles at Kom Ombo. Modern DNA has finally revealed where the sacred reptiles came from

Ancient Egyptians mummified thousands of crocodiles at the Temple of Kom Ombo as offerings to Sobek.

DNA analysis of an adult crocodile mummy from Kom Ombo identified it as the West African crocodile (Crocodylus suchus), not the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus).

The study 'The Secrets of Sobek - A Crocodile Mummy Mitogenome from Ancient Egypt' was published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.

The finding provides genetic evidence that Crocodylus suchus was used in ancient Egyptian religious practices.