SOBEK

Real Name: Sobek

Identity/Class: Extradimensional (Heliopolis) god

Occupation: God of Rivers

Group Membership: Heliopolitans (Egyptian gods, aka the Ennead and Pesedjet)

Affiliations: See comments

Enemies: See comments

Known Relatives: Gaea (aka Neith; paternal grandmother); Nun (Demiurge, paternal grandfather); Chthon, Hyppus, Set (great-uncles); Isuus, Oshtur (great-aunts); other Elder Gods and their offspring and descendants (various relationships)
    Atum/Ra (father); Thoth (uncle),
    Bast, Hathor-Sekmeht (brother-sisters), Tefnut (sisters), Shu (brother), Bes, Khonshu (half-brothers);
    Geb (nephew), Nut (niece);
    Osiris, Seth (grandnephews);
    Isis, Nepthys (grandnieces); 
    Anubis, Horus (great-grand-nephews);
    presumably Renenutat (wife; see comments)
    extended family via Gaea

Aliases: Crocodile God

Base of Operations: Presumably Celestial Heliopolis

First Appearance: Unknown (to me! If you know, let me know);
    (Marvel) Black Panther V#3 (June, 2009)
    (identifiede) Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica: Heliopolitans (July, 2009)

Powers/Abilities: Like the rest of the gods of Heliopolis, Sobek presumable ceased aging at adulthood and cannot die by conventional means. He is resistant to conventional diseases and injury, and he has superhuman
healing, endurance and reflexes. Only dispersal of a major portion of an Ennead’s bodily molecules will cause death, and even then resurrection via other gods may be possible. 

    The Heliopolitan gods' flesh and bone are significantly more durable than human tissue, and Sobek presumably possesses tough, durable scaled skin, and he can likely lift upwards of 30 tons. 

    A bipedal being, Sobke also possesses sharp claws and teeth and a powerful tail that can presumably be used as a weapon in addition to enhancing the great speed at which he can swim.

Height: Unrevealed (likely 6'4" or tall)
Weight: Unrevealed (it is unrevealed whether his body is truly more dense and massive than mortal tissue, or whether his tissue is more durable by its own nature without being more massive)
Eyes: Unrevaled (likely green, with a vertical slit pupil)
Hair: None

History:
(Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica: Heliopolitans / Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z hardcover#14: Heliopolitans) - Following the perishing and/or the corruption of his earlier spawn the Ogdoad, Ra/Atum started anew, sired (apparently without a female mate) the first of the Ennead on Earth, the next generation of Egyptian gods, including the twins, air god Shu and rain goddess Tefnut, and later Bast, Sobek, and Sekmet. 

(Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica: Heliopolitans / Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z hardcover#14: Heliopolitans) - At least some of the Heliopolitans/Ennead (notably Thoth, as Ibis; and Bast) were worshipped as far back as 10,000 BC (or before), and continuing in Egypt until the 5th century A.D.

(Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica: Heliopolitans / Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z hardcover#14: Heliopolitans) - Upon the spread of monotheism in Egypt, many Ennead were abandoned by their worshippers, and Thoth relocated the remaining gods to Heliopolis.
    However, Bast maintained his status as the patron deity (Panther God) of the landlocked East African nation Wakanda. Sobek (Crocodile God) and Sekhmet (Lion God) also maintained influence as the patrons of less influential East African cults.

(Black Panther V#3 - BTS) - As the spirit of King T'Challa, aka the Black Panther of Wakanda, was in a limbo world between the living and dead, the mystic Zawavari advised Storm (Ororo Munroe) on how to save him. Zawavari noted that they could not count on the help of the Panther God as the gods did not interfere in the affairs of the mortal world, especially life and death. As Zawavari spoke, images of the Panther God (Bast), Gorilla God (possibly Hanuman or others), and Crocodile God (were seen behind him).

    Meanwhile, on the far side of the African continent (presumably the West, as Wakanda is an east African nation), a group of tribal mystics adorned with various headdresses (including one with a crocodile headdress) summoned the animal-totem devouring Inheritor Morlun. Morlun subsequently consumed those who summoned him before departing, targeting the Black Panther.

(Moon Knight VII#4 - BTS) - See comments. Moon Knight (Marc Spector), Jean-Paul DuChamp, Gena Johnson, and Marlene Alraune wandered the streets after apparently escaping a seeming sanitarium under the control of also-crocodile-headed Ammut (a servant of Seth).

( Moon Knight VII#4) - Wearing a human facemask and posing as a police officer, Sobek advised Moon Knight and the others to come with him and get out of the rain. 

    Sensing something was off, Moon Knight struck the "officer," and then pulled the human-head-sized mask off to reveal the crocodile-headed Sobek. 

    As Moon Knight recognized him, Sobek noted that he had been waiting to eat him and then expel him at the feet of Seth. As Sobek kick Moon Knight back, Jean-Paul tried to break up the fight, only for Sobek to turn and bite a chunk out of his neck. 

    Moon Knight turned and furiously pummeled Sobek, leaving him incapacitated if not dead in a pile of blood; Jean-Paul died soon after.

Comments: Created by unknown people as part of Egyptian mythology;
    Adapted to the Marvel Universe by Anthony Flamini and Kevin Sharpe.

    I have no idea what to make of the 2016 Moon Knight series by Jeff Lemire. There was some sort of warping by a place called Othervoid, and there were Space Wolves, and there were Multiple Moon Knights, and some of it was a movie...Did any of it happen? Who knows?

    Sobek was very prominent in ancient Egyptian religion/mythology, but has had only very limited involvement in the Marvel Universe. Obviously the Marvel reality is significantly different, in part due to the nature of Gaea (as Neith and other mother-goddesses) and her son Atum/Demogorge being Ra. In myth, Sobek was apparently the son of Seth (or Horus, per some accounts) and the father of Khonshu;
    Anyway, here's some myth history:

    Courtesy of ancient-egypt-online.com:

Sobek is the ancient Egyptian god of strength and power. Some myths involve Sobek as the creator of the world, and the ancient Egyptians revered him as far back as the Old Kingdom. He gained celebrity status during the Middle Kingdom when King Amenemhat III took particular interest in the Crocodile God. This 12th Dynasty King gave Sobek a makeover when he merged his likeness with Horus.

The people of ancient Egypt worshiped crocodiles while both loving and fearing them. They were a symbol of power, virility and fertility. As the Crocodile God, Sobek protected the Egyptian army, the pharaohs, and the ancient Egyptian people. His strength and courage allowed the Pharaoh to overcome obstacles and also protected him from evil magic.

Sobek first appeared in the Old Kingdom and is portrayed as a full crocodile or as a human with a crocodile head. The Ancient Egyptians kept crocodiles in pools and temples, fed them delicacies and bejeweled them. Mummified crocodiles of all ages have been found in tombs, including eggs with fetuses.

Sobek is the God of the Nile because he controlled the waters and the fertility of the soil. He is known under several titles, such as “Lord of the Waters,” “The Rager,” and “Lord of Faiyum”. He is also patron of the Military because of his strength, power and prowess. As God of the Nile, Sobek took on the characteristics of the Nile crocodile whom the ancient Egyptians both loved and feared.

Some of Sobek’s attributes include:

• Aggressive and Violent (thus his association with military prowess)
• Animalistic (in general, crocodiles operate on pure instinct)
• Unpredictable and erratic (the embodiment of a crocodile thrashing about)
• Overtly sexual (crocodiles flourished around the Nile)
• Strength and Power (military prowess, bodyguard of the Pharaoh)
• He could bring about sight and renew senses to the dead (the ancient people’s believed he could help them recover from a bad season)
• Protective (his ferocity enabled him to ward off evil and protect the innocent)

Family:

• Father: Set(h), the God of thunder, storms, war and chaos.
• Mother: Neith, the Goddess of war, hunting and wisdom.
• Wife: Sobek’s wife, Renenutet was the Goddess of Plenty and brought good fortune to the ancient Egyptians.
• Sons: Sobek is likely the father of Khonsu, the God of the moon and time. Sobek was sometimes also referred to as the father of Khnum and Khonsu.
• Cohorts: In addition to his wife, several cohorts existed including: Hathor, Heqet, and Taweret.

Sobek was worshiped in several places, there following 3 being the most important cult centers:

• Shedyet: renamed Crocodilopolis by the Greeks. The ancient Egyptians worshiped a live crocodile named Petsuchos (son of Sobek). They decorated Petsuchos with precious gems and fed him only the finest foods. Petsuchos lived in a temple with sand and a lake, and when the crocodile died, the ancients mummified his remains. After that, another quickly took his place.
• Nubt: renamed Kom Ombo by the Greeks, this ancient city in Upper Egypt was a thriving military base with control over trade routes. Live crocodiles were kept at the Sobek temple where they were highly revered.
• Karanis: located in the NE corner of Fayum, this cult center was established under Roman rule and lasted until the year 380 under the rule of Emperor Constantine the Great.

·        Sobek was closely related to Horus. Because Horus took the form of a crocodile to help retrieve parts of Osiris’ body, Sobek is often considered to be an aspect of Horus. And yet, Sobek was believed to have assisted Isis while giving birth to Horus. Sobek’s close association with Horus led to his adoption into the Osirian Triad comprised of Osiris, Isis and Horus.

·        During the New Kingdom, Sobek was worshiped as the manifestation of Amun-Ra, the King of Gods, and was integrated into the cult of Amun. Sobek was often depicted wearing Amun’s headdress or Ra’s sun disk.

·        Along with Hathor and Khonsu, Sobek was one of the three gods in the Triad of Kom Ombo, temples here were constructed between 300-380 BC and one can still be visited today.

Sobek Quick Facts

• Sobek is first mentioned in the Pyramid Texts, which are the oldest sacred texts in the world.
• Sobek rescued Horus’ four sons by gathering them in a net from the waters where they rose in a lotus bloom.
• Ancient Egyptians both loved and feared crocodiles, so their depiction of Sobek was a means to appease these ferocious creatures. In some places in Egypt they were worshiped, in other places they were hunted and killed.
• Sobek had a hand in the underworld. He could bring sight to the dead and enliven their senses. He also called on Isis and Nephthys to help protect the dead.

    This profile was completed 09/06/2021, but its publication was delayed as it was intended for the Appendix 20^th anniversary 's celebratory event.

Profile by Snood.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Sobek should be distinguished from:

• SOBAK - Snark, former high Snark of Ankar clan, son of Ankar, mother and most of clan slain by Jakal and Maraud, aided Kofi and Power Pack against them, formed triumvirate along with Destrak and Repra to rule all of Snarkworld--Power Pack II#1
• SOBEK of Earth-20051 - Rama-Tut's Guard; android in the forms of the Heliopolitan god. Crocodile-headed--Marvel Adventures: Fantastic Four#23
• AMMUT - guardian of the Throne of Bone and Halls of Ma'at (Oshtur), led Ian McNee to the Sword of Bone. 1/4 leopard, 1/4 crocodile, 1/4 lion, 1/4 hippo--Mystic Arcana#1
• DEVOURER (Siapap) - enemy of Ennead gods, agent of Seth--Marvel Two-In-One I#23
• other crocodile and/or "Sob" characters, places, etc.
  

Appearances:
Black Panther V#3 (June, 2009) - Reginald Hudlin (writer), Ken Lashley (penciler), Paul Neary (inker), Sebastian Girner & Jody LeHeup (assistant editor), Axel Alonso (editor)
Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica: Heliopolitans (July, 2009) - Anthony Flamini (head writer, coordinator), Greg Pak, Fred Van Lente, Paul Cornell (consulting writers), Kevin Sharpe (Heliopolitans entry art), Jeff Youngquist (editor)
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z hardcover#14 (June, 2010) - Jeff Christiansen & Mike Fichera (head writers/coordinators), Markus Raymond & Mike O'Sullivan (writers, coordination assistants) Stuart Vandal,  Sean McQuaid, Michael Hoskin, Ronald Byrd, Madison Carter, Kevin Garcia, Gabriel Shechter, Jacob Rougemont, Rob London, Rich Green, Chris Biggs, David Wiltfong, Jeph York, Mark O'English, & Mike Gagnon (writers), Kevin Sharpe (Jumala entry art)., Mark D. Beazley (editor, special projects), John Denning (associate editor), Alex Starbuck (assistant editor). Jeff Youngquist & Jennifer Grunwald (editors)
Moon Knight VII#4 (September, 2016) - Jeff Lemire (writer), Greg Smallwood (artist), Kathleen Wisneski (assistant editor), Jake Thomas (editor)

First posted: 09/12/2021
Last updated: 09/06/2021

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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