Histoire Naturelle - Reptiles - Plate 2 - Crocodile, Stellion ~ The Nile crocodile can grow to 12 feet in length, and there are many tales of Ancient Egyptians being killed by them. Crocodiles were a real danger to the Ancient Egyptians and, like other dangerous animals, were given divine status in the hope that in return they would not attack humans.

The crocodile was sacred to Sobek, who was portrayed as a human with the head of a crocodile, or as the crocodile itself. The temples of Sobek usually had sacred lakes where crocodiles were fed and cared for. The hippo goddess of childbirth, Taweret, was thought to have the back and tail of a crocodile, or was shown with a crocodile perched on her back.

Crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus) are currently numerous in Egypt below the Aswan Dam and are now known rarely between the dam and Aswan. The crocodile was known to the Egyptians as 'Mesh' and 'Chunti'

The Stellion is a large lizard species, Stellio vulgaris, one known to eat scorpions.

Framed 28 inches x 35 1/2 inches ~ $2,600