Great Sphinx (Egypt) - description, history, location. Exact address, phone number, website. Tourist reviews, photos and videos.
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One of the most ancient sculptures in the world, without a doubt, can be called the statue of the Sphinx. In addition, this is also one of the most mysterious sculptures, because the mystery of the Sphinx has not yet been fully solved. The Sphinx is a creature with female head, the paws and body of a lion, the wings of an eagle and the tail of a bull. One of the largest images of the Sphinx is located on the western bank of the Nile, next to Egyptian pyramids in Giza.
Almost everything related to the Egyptian Sphinx is controversial among scientists. Still unknown exact date the origin of this sculpture and it is completely unclear why the statue is now missing a nose.
The statue, made of limestone rock, looks monumental and majestic. It is worth noting its impressive dimensions: length - 73 meters, height - 20 meters. The Sphinx looks at the Nile and the rising sun.
Almost everything related to the Sphinx is controversial among scientists. The exact date of origin of this sculpture is still unknown and it is completely unclear why the statue is now missing a nose. The meaning of the word is also unknown: translated from Greek, “sphinx” means “strangler,” but what the ancient Egyptians meant in this name remains a mystery.
It was customary to depict Egyptian pharaohs as a formidable lion who would not spare a single enemy. That is why it is believed that the Sphinx guards the peace of the buried pharaohs. The author of the sculpture is unknown, but many researchers believe that it is Khafre. True, this judgment is very controversial. Supporters of the theory refer to the fact that the stones of the sculpture and the nearby pyramid of Khafre are the same in size. In addition, an image of this pharaoh was found not far from the statue.
Interestingly, the Sphinx does not have a nose. Of course, this detail once existed, but the reason for its disappearance is still unknown. Perhaps the nose was lost during the battle of Napoleon's troops with the Turks in the territory of the pyramids in 1798. But, according to the Danish traveler Norden, the Sphinx looked like this already in 1737. There is a version that back in the 14th century, some religious fanatic mutilated the sculpture in order to fulfill the covenant of Muhammad to prohibit the depiction of a human face.
The Sphinx not only lacks a nose, but also a false ceremonial beard. Her story is also controversial among scientists. Some believe that the beard was made much later than the sculpture itself. Others believe that the beard was made at the same time as the head and that the ancient Egyptians simply did not have the technical capabilities for the subsequent installation of parts.
The destruction of the sculpture and its subsequent restoration helped scientists find Interesting Facts. For example, Japanese archaeologists came to the conclusion that the Sphinx was built before the pyramids. In addition, they discovered a tunnel under the left paw of the statue leading towards the Pyramid of Khafre. Interestingly, this tunnel was first mentioned by Soviet researchers.
For a long time, the mysterious sculpture was under a thick layer of sand. The first attempts to dig up the Sphinx were made in ancient times by Thutmose IV and Ramses II. Is it true, special success they didn't reach. Only in 1817 was the Sphinx's chest freed, and more than 100 years later the statue was completely excavated.
Address: Nazlet El-Semman, Al Haram, Giza
According to many studies, the Egyptian Sphinx hides even more mysteries than the Great Pyramids. No one knows for sure when and for what purposes this giant sculpture was built.
Vanishing Sphinx
It is generally accepted that the Sphinx was erected during the construction of the Pyramid of Khafre. However, in the ancient papyri relating to the construction of the Great Pyramids there is no mention of it. Moreover, we know that the ancient Egyptians meticulously recorded all the costs associated with the construction of religious buildings, but business documents, related to the construction of the Sphinx have never been found.
In the 5th century BC. e. The pyramids of Giza were visited by Herodotus, who described in detail all the details of their construction. He wrote down “everything he saw and heard in Egypt,” but did not say a word about the Sphinx.
Before Herodotus, Hecataeus of Miletus visited Egypt, and after him, Strabo. Their records are detailed, but there is no mention of the Sphinx there either. Could the Greeks have missed a sculpture 20 meters high and 57 meters wide?
The answer to this riddle can be found in the work of the Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder, Natural History, who mentions that in his time (1st century AD) the Sphinx in Once again cleared of sand deposited from the western part of the desert. Indeed, the Sphinx was regularly “freed” from sand deposits until the 20th century.
Older than the pyramids
Restoration work, which began to be carried out in connection with the emergency condition of the Sphinx, began to lead scientists to believe that the Sphinx may be older than previously thought. To check this, Japanese archaeologists, led by Professor Sakuji Yoshimura, first illuminated the Cheops pyramid using an echolocator, and then examined the sculpture in a similar way. Their conclusion was striking - the stones of the Sphinx are older than those of the pyramid. It was not about the age of the breed itself, but about the time of its processing.
Later, the Japanese were replaced by a team of hydrologists - their findings also became a sensation. On the sculpture they found traces of erosion caused by large flows of water. The first assumption that appeared in the press was that in ancient times the bed of the Nile passed in a different place and washed the rock from which the Sphinx was hewn.
The guesses of hydrologists are even bolder: “Erosion is rather a trace not of the Nile, but of a flood - a mighty flood of water.” Scientists came to the conclusion that the flow of water went from north to south, and the approximate date of the disaster was 8 thousand years BC. e.
British scientists, repeating hydrological studies of the rock from which the Sphinx is made, pushed back the date of the flood to 12 thousand years BC. e. This is generally consistent with the dating of the Flood, which, according to most scientists, occurred around 8-10 thousand BC. e.
What is sick with the Sphinx?
Arab sages, amazed by the majesty of the Sphinx, said that the giant is timeless. But over the past millennia, the monument has suffered a fair amount, and, first of all, man is to blame for this.
At first, the Mamluks practiced shooting accuracy at the Sphinx; their initiative was supported by Napoleonic soldiers. One of the rulers of Egypt ordered the sculpture’s nose to be broken off, and the British stole the giant’s stone beard and took it to the British Museum.
In 1988, a huge block of stone broke off from the Sphinx and fell with a roar. They weighed her and were horrified - 350 kg. This fact has caused UNESCO the most serious concern. It was decided to gather a council of representatives from a variety of specialties to find out the reasons that are destroying ancient building.
As a result of a comprehensive examination, scientists discovered hidden and extremely dangerous cracks in the head of the Sphinx; in addition, they found that external cracks sealed with low-quality cement are also dangerous - this creates a threat of rapid erosion. The Sphinx's paws were in no less deplorable condition.
According to experts, the Sphinx is primarily harmed by human activity: exhaust gases from automobile engines and the acrid smoke of Cairo factories penetrate into the pores of the statue, which gradually destroys it. Scientists say that the Sphinx is seriously ill.
For restoration ancient monument hundreds of millions of dollars are needed. There is no such money. In the meantime, the Egyptian authorities are restoring the sculpture on their own.
Mysterious face
Among most Egyptologists, there is a firm belief that the appearance of the Sphinx depicts the face of the IV dynasty pharaoh Khafre. This confidence cannot be shaken by anything - neither by the absence of any evidence of a connection between the sculpture and the pharaoh, nor by the fact that the head of the Sphinx was repeatedly altered.
The well-known expert on Giza monuments, Dr. I. Edwards, is convinced that Pharaoh Khafre himself is visible in the face of the Sphinx. “Although the face of the Sphinx is somewhat mutilated, it still gives us a portrait of Khafre himself,” the scientist concludes.
Interestingly, the body of Khafre himself was never discovered, and therefore statues are used to compare the Sphinx and the pharaoh. First of all, we are talking about a sculpture carved from black diorite, which is stored in Cairo Museum- it is by this that the appearance of the Sphinx is verified.
To confirm or refute the identification of the Sphinx with Khafre, a group of independent researchers involved the famous New York police officer Frank Domingo, who created portraits to identify suspects. After several months of work, Domingo concluded: “These two works of art depict two different persons. Frontal proportions - and in particular the angles and facial protrusions of side view“convince me that the Sphinx is not Khafre.”
Mother of fear
Egyptian archaeologist Rudwan Al-Shamaa believes that the Sphinx has a female couple and she is hidden under a layer of sand. The Great Sphinx is often called the "Father of Fear". According to the archaeologist, if there is a “Father of Fear,” then there must also be a “Mother of Fear.”
In his reasoning, Ash-Shamaa relies on the way of thinking of the ancient Egyptians, who firmly followed the principle of symmetry. In his opinion, the lonely figure of the Sphinx looks very strange.
The surface of the place where, according to the scientist’s assumption, the second sculpture should be located, rises several meters above the Sphinx. “It is logical to assume that the statue is simply hidden from our eyes under a layer of sand,” Al-Shamaa is convinced.
The archaeologist gives several arguments in support of his theory. Ash-Shamaa recalls that between the front paws of the Sphinx there is a granite stele on which two statues are depicted; There is also a limestone tablet that says that one of the statues was struck by lightning and destroyed.
Chamber of Secrets
In one of the ancient Egyptian treatises on behalf of the goddess Isis, it is reported that the god Thoth placed “sacred books” that contain “the secrets of Osiris” in a secret place, and then cast a spell on this place so that knowledge would remain “undiscovered until Heaven will not give birth to creatures who will be worthy of this gift.”
Some researchers are still confident in the existence of a “secret room”. They remember how Edgar Cayce predicted that one day in Egypt, under right paw The Sphinx will find a room called the “Hall of Testimonies” or “Hall of Chronicles.” The information stored in the “secret room” will tell humanity about a highly developed civilization that existed millions of years ago.
In 1989, a group of Japanese scientists using a radar method discovered a narrow tunnel under the left paw of the Sphinx, extending towards the Pyramid of Khafre, and a cavity of impressive size was found northwest of the Queen’s Chamber. However, more detailed study The Egyptian authorities did not allow the Japanese to conduct underground premises.
Research by American geophysicist Thomas Dobecki showed that under the paws of the Sphinx there is a large rectangular chamber. But in 1993 his work was suddenly suspended local authorities. Since that time, the Egyptian government has officially prohibited geological or seismological research around the Sphinx.
The Egyptian Sphinx hides many secrets and mysteries; no one knows for sure when and for what purposes this giant sculpture was built.
Vanishing Sphinx
It is generally accepted that the Sphinx was erected during the construction of the Pyramid of Khafre. However, in the ancient papyri relating to the construction of the Great Pyramids there is no mention of it. Moreover, we know that the ancient Egyptians meticulously recorded all the expenses associated with the construction of religious buildings, but economic documents related to the construction of the Sphinx have never been found. In the 5th century BC. e. The pyramids of Giza were visited by Herodotus, who described in detail all the details of their construction.
He wrote down “everything he saw and heard in Egypt,” but did not say a word about the Sphinx. Before Herodotus, Hecataeus of Miletus visited Egypt, and after him, Strabo. Their records are detailed, but there is no mention of the Sphinx there either. Could the Greeks have missed a sculpture 20 meters high and 57 meters wide? The answer to this riddle can be found in the work of the Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder “Natural History”, who mentions that in his time (1st century AD) the Sphinx was once again cleared of sands brought from the western part of the desert. Indeed, the Sphinx was regularly “freed” from sand deposits until the 20th century.
Older than the pyramids
Restoration work, which began to be carried out in connection with the emergency condition of the Sphinx, began to lead scientists to believe that the Sphinx may be older than previously thought. To check this, Japanese archaeologists, led by Professor Sakuji Yoshimura, first illuminated the Cheops pyramid using an echolocator, and then examined the sculpture in a similar way. Their conclusion was striking - the stones of the Sphinx are older than those of the pyramid. It was not about the age of the breed itself, but about the time of its processing.
Later, the Japanese were replaced by a team of hydrologists - their findings also became a sensation. On the sculpture they found traces of erosion caused by large flows of water. The first assumption that appeared in the press was that in ancient times the bed of the Nile passed in a different place and washed the rock from which the Sphinx was hewn.
The guesses of hydrologists are even bolder: “Erosion is rather a trace not of the Nile, but of a flood - a mighty flood of water.” Scientists came to the conclusion that the flow of water went from north to south, and the approximate date of the disaster was 8 thousand years BC. e. British scientists, repeating hydrological studies of the rock from which the Sphinx is made, pushed back the date of the flood to 12 thousand years BC. e. This is generally consistent with the dating of the Flood, which, according to most scientists, occurred around 8-10 thousand BC. e.
What is sick with the Sphinx?
Arab sages, amazed by the majesty of the Sphinx, said that the giant is timeless. But over the past millennia, the monument has suffered a fair amount, and, first of all, man is to blame for this. At first, the Mamluks practiced shooting accuracy at the Sphinx; their initiative was supported by Napoleonic soldiers.
One of the rulers of Egypt ordered the sculpture’s nose to be broken off, and the British stole the giant’s stone beard and took it to the British Museum. In 1988, a huge block of stone broke off from the Sphinx and fell with a roar. They weighed her and were horrified - 350 kg. This fact has caused UNESCO the most serious concern.
It was decided to gather a council of representatives from a variety of specialties to find out the reasons for the destruction of the ancient structure. As a result of a comprehensive examination, scientists discovered hidden and extremely dangerous cracks in the head of the Sphinx; in addition, they found that external cracks sealed with low-quality cement are also dangerous - this creates a threat of rapid erosion. The Sphinx's paws were in no less deplorable condition.
According to experts, the Sphinx is primarily harmed by human activity: exhaust gases from automobile engines and the acrid smoke of Cairo factories penetrate into the pores of the statue, which gradually destroys it. Scientists say that the Sphinx is seriously ill. Hundreds of millions of dollars are needed to restore the ancient monument. There is no such money. In the meantime, the Egyptian authorities are restoring the sculpture on their own.
Mysterious face
Among most Egyptologists, there is a firm belief that the appearance of the Sphinx depicts the face of the IV dynasty pharaoh Khafre. This confidence cannot be shaken by anything - neither by the absence of any evidence of a connection between the sculpture and the pharaoh, nor by the fact that the head of the Sphinx was repeatedly altered.
The well-known expert on Giza monuments, Dr. I. Edwards, is convinced that Pharaoh Khafre himself is visible in the face of the Sphinx. “Although the face of the Sphinx is somewhat mutilated, it still gives us a portrait of Khafre himself,” the scientist concludes. Interestingly, the body of Khafre himself was never discovered, and therefore statues are used to compare the Sphinx and the pharaoh. First of all, we are talking about a sculpture carved from black diorite, which is kept in the Cairo Museum - it is from this that the appearance of the Sphinx is verified.
To confirm or refute the identification of the Sphinx with Khafre, a group of independent researchers involved the famous New York police officer Frank Domingo, who created portraits to identify suspects. After several months of work, Domingo concluded: “These two works of art depict two different individuals. The frontal proportions - and especially the angles and facial projections when viewed from the side - convince me that the Sphinx is not Khafre."
Mother of fear
Egyptian archaeologist Rudwan Al-Shamaa believes that the Sphinx has a female couple and she is hidden under a layer of sand. The Great Sphinx is often called the "Father of Fear". According to the archaeologist, if there is a “Father of Fear,” then there must also be a “Mother of Fear.” In his reasoning, Ash-Shamaa relies on the way of thinking of the ancient Egyptians, who firmly followed the principle of symmetry.
In his opinion, the lonely figure of the Sphinx looks very strange. The surface of the place where, according to the scientist’s assumption, the second sculpture should be located, rises several meters above the Sphinx. “It is logical to assume that the statue is simply hidden from our eyes under a layer of sand,” Al-Shamaa is convinced. The archaeologist gives several arguments in support of his theory. Ash-Shamaa recalls that between the front paws of the Sphinx there is a granite stele on which two statues are depicted; There is also a limestone tablet that says that one of the statues was struck by lightning and destroyed.
Chamber of Secrets
In one of the ancient Egyptian treatises on behalf of the goddess Isis, it is reported that the god Thoth placed “sacred books” that contain “the secrets of Osiris” in a secret place, and then cast a spell on this place so that knowledge would remain “undiscovered until Heaven will not give birth to creatures who will be worthy of this gift.”
Some researchers are still confident in the existence of a “secret room”. They recall how Edgar Cayce predicted that one day in Egypt, under the right paw of the Sphinx, a room called the “Hall of Evidence” or “Hall of Chronicles” would be found. The information stored in the “secret room” will tell humanity about a highly developed civilization that existed millions of years ago. In 1989, a group of Japanese scientists using a radar method discovered a narrow tunnel under the left paw of the Sphinx, extending towards the Pyramid of Khafre, and a cavity of impressive size was found northwest of the Queen’s Chamber.
However, the Egyptian authorities did not allow the Japanese to conduct a more detailed study of the underground premises. Research by American geophysicist Thomas Dobecki showed that under the paws of the Sphinx there is a large rectangular chamber. But in 1993, its work was suddenly suspended by local authorities. Since that time, the Egyptian government has officially prohibited geological or seismological research around the Sphinx.
When people talk about places where advanced ancient civilizations existed, Ancient Egypt comes to mind first. This country, like a magician's top hat, keeps many mysteries and secrets. The pyramid complex, located in a valley near Cairo, is one of them. But it’s not just the burial places of Egypt’s ancient rulers that attract millions of tourists to this valley every year. The greatest interest among them and among scientists is the mysterious figure of the Great Sphinx, which is a symbol of Egypt and a world cultural and historical heritage.
On the West Bank great river Nile, in the city of Giza, located in the southwestern suburbs of Cairo, not far from the Pyramid of Pharaoh Khafre, there is a sculpture of the Sphinx, the oldest of all surviving monumental sculptures. Carved by the hands of ancient craftsmen from a huge limestone rock, it represents a figure with the body of a lion and the head of a man. The eyes of this mythical entity are directed to the place on the horizon above which, on the days of the seasonal equinoxes, the sun appears, revered by the ancient Egyptians as the highest deity. The dimensions of the Great Sphinx are amazing: the height exceeds 20 meters, and the length of the mighty body is more than 72 meters.
The mystery of the origin of the Sphinx.
For many centuries, the mystery of the origin of the Sphinx statue in Egypt haunts adventurers, scientists, tourists, poets and writers. Despite the fact that historians have been trying for centuries to figure out when and by whom, and most importantly, why this grandiose structure was erected, they have not yet been able to come closer to the answer. Ancient papyri contain detailed evidence of the construction of many pyramids, and the names of those who participated in their creation are mentioned. However, no such data was found about the Sphinx, which gave rise to disagreements in the interpretation of the age and purpose of the construction of this monument.
The first recorded historical mention of him is considered to be the writings of Pliny the Elder, dating back to the beginning of the first century AD. In them, the ancient Roman writer and historian noted that regular work was carried out to clear the sand from the Sphinx statue in Egypt. It is noteworthy that even the real name of the monument has not been preserved. And the one by which he is known now, Greek origin and means "strangler". Although many Egyptologists are inclined to believe that his name means “image of Being” or “image of God.”
Much controversy arises in the scientific world about the age of the Sphinx. Some researchers believe that the similarity of the materials from which the monument was carved and the stone blocks used in the construction of the Pyramid of Khafre is indisputable evidence of their same age, i.e. they date back to 2500 BC. However, in the early 90s of the 20th century, a group of Japanese archaeologists, while studying the Sphinx, came to a stunning conclusion: traces of processing left on the stone indicate more early origin monument. This fact is confirmed by geological studies based on the influence of erosion on the surface of the Sphinx, which allowed the 70th century BC to be considered the moment when the monument appeared. And the research of hydrologists who studied the influence of rain flows on the limestone from which the monument was created pushed back its age by another 3-4 millennia.
Still no consensus whose head is on the body Egyptian Sphinx. According to some assumptions, earlier it was a statue of a lion, and the human face was carved much later. Some researchers attribute it to Pharaoh Khafre, citing the similarity of the statue with sculptural images of the pharaohs of the VI dynasty. Others suggest that this is the image of Cheops, and still others - great Cleopatra. There is also a fantastic assumption that this is one of the rulers of the mythical Atlantis.
For millennia, time ruled over the appearance of the Great Sphinx. Behind long years The cobra, a symbol of divine power, placed on the forehead of the statue, collapsed and disappeared, and the festive headdress covering the head was partially destroyed. Unfortunately, man also had a hand in this. Wanting to fulfill the behests left to Muslims by the Prophet Muhammad, one of the rulers in the 14th century ordered the nose of the sculpture to be broken off. Shots from cannons in XVIII century severely damaged their face, and soldiers of the Napoleonic army in early XIX centuries, the Sphinx was used as a target during shooting training. Later, when research was carried out in the Valley of the Pyramids, a false beard was cut off from the face of the Sphinx statue in Egypt, fragments of which are kept in Cairo and British Museums. Today, the condition of the ancient monument is affected by car exhaust fumes and nearby lime factories. According to studies conducted over the past 20th century, the condition of the monument suffered more damage than in all the past millennia.
Restoration work.
Over the many centuries of the existence of the Sphinx, sands have repeatedly covered it. The first clearings, during which only the front paws were freed, were undertaken under Pharaoh Thutmose IV. To commemorate this, a memorial sign was placed between them. In addition to excavations, primitive restoration work was carried out to strengthen the lower part of the statue.
In 1817, Italian scientists managed to clear the sand from the chest of the Sphinx, but more than a hundred years passed before its complete liberation. This happened in 1925. At the end of the 80s of the 20th century, part of the right shoulder of the statue collapsed. During the restoration work, about 12,000 limestone blocks were replaced.
Geolocation work carried out by Japanese scientists in 1988 made it possible to discover a narrow tunnel starting under the left paw. It stretches in the direction of the pyramid of Khafre and goes deeper. A year later, during seismic exploration, a rectangular chamber was discovered located under the forelimbs of the Sphinx. All this indicates that the Great Sphinx is in no hurry to reveal all its secrets.
After restoration work was completed at the end of 2014, the ancient statue again became accessible to tourists. In the evening hours, the Sphinx greets visitors in several languages, which, together with the lighting, creates an incredible effect.
To preserve this magnificent structure for future descendants, the Egyptian government plans to build a glass sarcophagus over it to protect the historical and cultural monument from adverse conditions.
Let's try to understand the purpose of its creation and the methods of its construction. Let's find out what they say in scientific world about the age of the Sphinx. What does it hide inside and what role does it play in relation to the pyramids? Let's weed out fiction and assumptions, leaving only scientifically proven facts.
Brief description of the Sphinx in Egypt
Sphinx and 50 jets
The Sphinx in Egypt is the largest surviving sculpture from antiquity. Body length is 3 compartment carriages(73.5 m), and height - 6 storey house(20 m). The bus is smaller than one front paw. And the weight of 50 jet airliners is equal to the weight of a giant.
The blocks from which the paws are made were added during the New Kingdom period to restore the original appearance. The sacred Cobra, nose and ritual beard - symbols of the power of the pharaohs - are missing. Fragments of the latter are on display in the British Museum.
Remnants of the original dark red paint can be seen near the ear.
What could the strange proportions mean?
One of the main abnormalities of the figure is the disproportion of the head and torso. It seems that top part was altered several times by subsequent rulers. There are opinions that at first the head of the idol was either a ram or a falcon and later turned into human form. Restorations and renovations over many thousands of years could reduce the head or enlarge the body.
Where is the Sphinx?
The monument is located in the necropolis of Memphis next to the pyramidal structures of Khufu (Cheops), Khafre (Chephren) and Menkaure (Mycerinus) about 10 km from Cairo, on the western bank of the Nile River on the Giza Plateau.
God in reverse or what the giant symbolizes
In Ancient Egypt, the figure of the Lion personified the power of the pharaohs. In Abydos, the cemetery of the first Egyptian kings, archaeologists discovered about 30 skeletons of adults who were under 20 years old, and... the bones of lions. The gods of the ancient Egyptians were always depicted with the body of a man and the head of an animal, but here it’s the other way around: a man’s head the size of a house on the body of a lion.
Maybe this suggests that the power and strength of the lion combined with human wisdom and the ability to control this power? But to whom did this strength and wisdom belong? Whose facial features are carved in stone?
Unraveling the secret of construction: interesting facts
The world's leading Egyptologist Mark Lehner spent 5 years next to the mysterious creature, studying him, the materials and rock around him. He compiled detailed map statues and came to a clear conclusion: the statue was carved from limestone, which lies at the base of the Giza plateau.
First, they hollowed out a trench in the shape of a horseshoe, leaving a huge block in the center. And then the sculptors carved a monument out of it. Blocks weighing up to 100 tons for the construction of the walls of the temple in front of the Sphinx were taken from here.
But this is only part of the solution. The other is how exactly did they do it?
Together with Rick Brown, an expert on ancient tools, Mark reproduced the tools depicted in tomb drawings that were over 4,000 years old. These were copper chisels, a two-handed pestle and a hammer. Then, with these tools, they cut out a detail of the monument from the limestone block: the missing nose.
This experiment made it possible to calculate that they could have worked on creating the mysterious figure one hundred sculptors during three years . At the same time, they were accompanied by a whole army of workers who created tools, hauled rocks and did other necessary work.
Who broke the colossus' nose?
When Napoleon arrived in Egypt in 1798, he saw a mysterious monster without a nose, as 18th-century drawings prove: the face was like this long before the arrival of the French. Although one may come across the opinion that the nose was recaptured by the French military.
There are other versions. For example, it is called the shooting of Turkish (according to other sources - English) soldiers, whose target was the face of an idol. Or there is a story about a fanatical Sufi monk in the 8th century AD who mutilated a “blasphemous idol” with a chisel.
Fragments of the ritual beard of the Egyptian Sphinx. British Museum, Photo from EgyptArchive
Indeed, there are traces of wedges driven into the bridge of the nose and near the nostril. It looks like someone hammered them in on purpose to break off the part.
Prophetic dream of the prince at the Sphinx
The monument was saved from complete destruction by the sands that covered it for millennia. Attempts to restore the colossus have been made since Thutmose IV. There is a legend that while hunting, resting in the midday shade of a structure, the king’s son fell asleep and had a dream. The giant deity promised him the crown of the Upper and Lower Kingdoms and in return asked him to free him from the consuming desert. The granite Dream Stele, installed between the paws, preserves this history.
Drawing of the Great Sphinx 1737 Hood. Frederik Norden
The prince not only dug up the deity, but also surrounded him with a high stone wall. At the end of 2010, Egyptian archaeologists excavated sections of the brick wall, which stretched 132 m around the monument. Scientists believe that this is the work of Thutmose IV, who wants to protect the statue from drifts.
The story of the grief-restoration of the Sphinx in Giza
Despite the efforts, the structure was filled up again. In 1858, part of the sand was cleared by Auguste Mariette, founder of the Egyptian Antiquities Service. And in the period from 1925 to 1936. French engineer Emile Barais completed the clearing completely. Perhaps for the first time, the divine beast was once again exposed to the elements.
It is also clear that the statue is being destroyed by wind, humidity and exhaust fumes from Cairo. Realizing this, the authorities are trying to preserve the ancient monument. In the last century, in 1950, a huge and expensive restoration and conservation project was started.
But on initial stage work, instead of benefit, only caused additional damage. The cement used for repairs, as it turned out later, was incompatible with limestone. Over 6 years, more than 2000 limestone blocks were added to the structure, chemical treatment was carried out, but... this did not bring a positive result.
How M. Lehner guessed who the Great Sphinx of Egypt depicts
Excavations of the Temple of Khafre (foreground).
The Kheop Pyramid is in the background.
Photograph by Henri Bechard, 1887
The tombs of the pharaohs change their shape and size over time. And appear. And the Great Sphinx is the only one.
A significant number of Egyptologists believe that he represents Pharaoh Khafre (Hawr) from the fourth dynasty, because. a similar small stone silhouette with his face was found nearby. The sizes of the blocks of Khafre's tomb (circa 2540 BC) and the monster also match. Despite their claims, no one knows for sure when and by whom this statue was installed in Giza.
Mark Lehner found the answer to this question. He studied the structure of the Sphinx Temple, which is located 9 meters away. On the days of the spring and autumn equinox, the sun at sunset connects the two sanctuaries of the temple and the pyramid of Khafre with one line.
The religion of the ancient Egyptian kingdom was based on the worship of the Sun. Locals they worshiped the idol as an incarnation of the Sun God, calling it Khor-Em-Akhet. Comparing these facts, Mark determines the original purpose of the Sphinx and his identity: Khafre's face the son of Cheops, looks from the figure of a god who protects the pharaoh's journey to the afterlife, making it safe.
In 1996, a New York detective and identification expert revealed that the resemblance was more noticeable to Khafre's older brother Djedefre (or son, according to other sources). The debate on this topic is still ongoing.
How old is the giant anyway? Writer vs. Scientists
Explorer John Anthony West
There is now a lively debate about the dating of the monument. Writer John Anthony West was the first to notice marks on the lion's body. one erosion. Other structures on the plateau show wind or sand erosion. He contacted geologist and associate professor at Boston University Robert M. Schoch, who, after studying the materials, agreed with West's conclusions. In 1993, their collaboration“The Secret of the Sphinx,” which received an Emmy Award for Best Research and a nomination for Best Documentary.
Although today this area is arid, about 10,000 years ago the climate there was humid and rainy. West and Schoch concluded that for the observed effects of water erosion to occur, the age of the Sphinx must be from 7000 to 10,000 years.
Scientists have rejected Schoch's theory as wildly flawed, pointing out that the once common violent rain storms throughout Egypt ceased before the sculpture's appearance. But the question remains: why was it only this Giza structure that showed signs of water damage?
Spiritual and supernatural interpretations about the purpose of the Sphinx
The famous English journalist Paul Brunton spent a lot of time traveling in Eastern countries, lived with monks and mystics, studied history and religion Ancient Egypt. He explored royal tombs and met famous fakirs and hypnotists.
His favorite symbol of the country, a mysterious giant, told him its secrets during a night spent in the Great Pyramid. The book “In Search of Mystical Egypt” tells how one day the secret of all things was revealed to him.
American mystic and prophet Edgar Cayce is confident in the theory that can be read in his book about Atlantis. He pointed out that the secret knowledge of the Atlanteans was kept next to the Sphinx.
Sketch by Vivant Duvon from 1798. Shows a man emerging from a hole in the top.
Writer Robert Bauval published an article in 1989 that the three pyramids at Giza, relative to the Nile, formed a kind of three-dimensional "hologram" on the ground of the three stars of Orion's belt and the Milky Way. He developed a complex theory that all the structures of a given area, together with the ancient Scriptures, constitute an astronomical map.
The most suitable position of the stars in the sky for this interpretation was in 10500 BC. e.. This date is understandably disputed by Egyptologists, since no one archaeological artifact, dating from these years, was not excavated here.
New riddles of the Sphinx in Egypt?
There are various legends about secret passages associated with this artifact. Research by the University of Florida and Boston University, as well as Waseda University in Japan, revealed various anomalies around the figure. Although, it is possible that these are natural features.
In 1995, workers renovating a nearby parking lot came across a series of tunnels and paths, two of which plunge underground not far from the stone body of the man-beast. R. Bauval is convinced that these structures are the same age.
Between 1991 and 1993, while studying damage to the monument using a seismograph, Anthony West's team discovered regular-shaped hollow spaces or chambers located at a depth of several meters between the forelimbs and on either side of the mysterious image. But permission for a deeper study was not received. The mystery of the underground rooms has not yet been solved.
The Sphinx in Egypt continues to excite inquiring minds. There are many conjectures and assumptions surrounding the most ancient monument on our planet. Will we ever find out who and why left this mark on Earth?
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