Crocodilopolis is an ancient Egyptian site, originally named Shedet, then Arsinoe, and now Medinet el-Faiyum. A custom states that AHA (King Menes; 2920 B.C.E.) established Crocodilopolis. The city attended as the capital of the Faiyum and was the cultic center for the crocodile deity Sobek. An agricultural central watered by the Bahr Yusef (the Joseph River, rewarding a local hero of Islam), the city also had a shrine honoring the goddess Renenet. A temple discovered on this site sees to the reign of Amenemhet III (1844–1797 B.C.E.), but it was probably complete by him, having been started by King Senwosret I (1971–1926 B.C.E.). There is some speculation that the red granite Obelisk at Abgig was once part of this temple. Ramses II (1290–1224 B.C.E.) restored the temple of Sobek. During the Ptolemaic Period (304–30 B.C.E.), the city was named for Queen Arsinoe and served as an important cultic center for Sobek. Visitors to the city fed crocodiles raised there. There were several mines in the field of Crocodilopolis, exploited throughout Egypt’s history. The site also had a sacred lake and baths.
