Horizontal Niches for Crocodile Mummies in Akoris

Rethinking Crocodile Cult Practices beyond the Fayum

抄録

Although crocodile cults left extensive archaeological evidence throughout Roman Egypt, previous scholarship has focused mainly on the Fayum region’s sites. This study examines the distinctive architectural features of the crocodile cult at Akoris in Middle Egypt with specific attention to the two wall cultic niches in the third room of Chapel A. These paired horizontal niches, carved directly into the limestone bedrock, measure approximately 4 meters in length and were designed to accommodate crocodile mummies. This configuration contrasts markedly with the vertically oriented mudbrick niches documented in Fayum temples such as Karanis, Narmouthis, and Theadelphia. Through three-dimensional survey analysis and comparative architectural study, this research demonstrates that the Akoris niches represent a regional adaptation shaped by local geological constraints while maintaining the theological significance of paired installations, possibly reflecting syncretic connections with the Greco-Roman Dioscuri cult. The evidence challenges previous assertions of architectural uniformity in crocodile cult practices. It reveals how the Western Temple complex at Akoris represents a localized realization of traditional religious architecture, demonstrating the vitality and persistence of the crocodile cult during the Roman Period.