In a significant discovery near the ancient town of Karanis, a joint mission has revealed a Ptolemaic-era temple dedicated to the crocodile god Suchos. The structure is remarkably well-preserved due to the arid desert sands, featuring polychrome wall paintings that depict the god receiving offerings from local governors. A series of stone basins connected to an irrigation channel suggests the presence of live crocodiles kept within the sacred enclosure.
The find also includes a cache of papyrus scrolls written in Demotic script, which provide administrative details regarding the temple's daily operations and its role in the regional economy. This discovery sheds new light on the syncretic religious practices of the Faiyum region during the transition to Greco-Roman rule.