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 the head of a woman, 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 west bank Nile, next to the Egyptian pyramids at 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 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 to subsequently install the 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
The largest statue in Egypt is the Sphinx. Legends of Egypt. History of the Sphinx.Each civilization has its own symbols, which are considered integral parts of the people, their culture and history. The Sphinx of Ancient Egypt is an immortal proof of the power, strength and greatness of the country, a silent reminder of the divine origin of its rulers, who have sunk into the centuries, but left on earth the image of eternal life. National symbol Egypt is considered one of the greatest architectural monuments of the past, which still inspires involuntary fear with its impressiveness, an aura of secrets, mystical legends and centuries-old history.
Monument in numbers
The Egyptian Sphinx is known to each and every inhabitant on earth. The monument is carved from a monolithic rock, has the body of a lion and the head of a man (according to some sources - a pharaoh). The length of the statue is 73 m, height - 20 m. The symbol of the power of royal power is located on the Giza plateau west coast the Nile River and is surrounded by a wide and fairly deep ditch. The Sphinx's thoughtful gaze is directed to the east, towards the point in the heavens where the Sun rises. The monument was covered by sand many times and was restored more than once. The statue was completely cleared of sand only in 1925, striking the imagination of the inhabitants of the planet with its scale and size.
History of the statue: facts versus legends
In Egypt, the Sphinx is considered the most mysterious and mystical monument. Its history has aroused great interest for many years and special attention historians, writers, directors and researchers. Everyone who has had the chance to touch eternity, which the statue represents, offers their own version of its origin. Locals The stone landmark is called the “father of horror” due to the fact that the Sphinx is the keeper of many mysterious legends and a favorite place for tourists - lovers of mysteries and science fiction. According to researchers, the history of the Sphinx goes back more than 13 centuries. Presumably, it was built in order to fix astronomical phenomenon- reunion of three planets.
Origin myth
There is still no reliable information about what this statue symbolizes, why it was built and when. The lack of history is replaced by legends that are passed down orally and told to tourists. The fact that the Sphinx is the oldest and largest monument in Egypt gives rise to mysterious and absurd stories about it. There is an assumption that the statue guards the tombstones of the greatest pharaohs - the pyramids of Cheops, Mikerin and Khafre. Another legend says that the stone statue symbolizes the personality of Pharaoh Khafre, the third - that it is a statue of the god Horus (god of the sky, half-man, half-falcon), watching the ascent of his father, the Sun God Ra.
Legends
In ancient times Greek mythology The Sphinx is mentioned as an ugly monster. According to the Greeks, the legends of Ancient Egypt about this monster sound like this: a creature with the body of a lion and the head of a man was born by Echidna and Typhon (a half-snake woman and a giant with a hundred dragon heads). It had the face and breasts of a woman, the body of a lion and the wings of a bird. The monster lived near Thebes, lay in wait for people and asked them a strange question: “Which living creature moves on four legs in the morning, on two in the afternoon, and on three in the evening?” None of the wanderers trembling with fear could give the Sphinx an intelligible answer. After which the monster sentenced them to death. However, the day came when the wise Oedipus was able to solve his riddle. “This is a person in childhood, maturity and old age,” he answered. After this, the crushed monster rushed from the top of the mountain and crashed against the rocks.
According to the second version of the legend, in Egypt the Sphinx was once a God. One day, the heavenly ruler fell into an insidious trap of the sands, called the “cage of oblivion,” and fell asleep in an eternal sleep.
Real facts
Despite the mysterious overtones of the legends, true story no less mystical and mysterious. According to the initial opinion of scientists, the Sphinx was built at the same time as the pyramids. However, in the ancient papyri, from which information about the construction of the pyramids was gleaned, there is not a single mention of a stone statue. The names of the architects and builders who created the grandiose tombs for the pharaohs are known, but the name of the person who gave the world the Sphinx of Egypt still remains unknown.
True, several centuries after the creation of the pyramids, the first facts about the statue appeared. The Egyptians call her “shepes ankh” - “living image”. Scientists were unable to give the world any more information or scientific explanation of these words. But at the same time, the cult image of the mysterious Sphinx - a winged maiden-monster - is mentioned in Greek mythology, numerous fairy tales and legends. The hero of these tales, depending on the author, periodically changes his appearance, appearing in some versions as a half-man, half-lion, and in others as a winged lioness.
Story ancient egypt about the Sphinx
Another puzzle for scientists was the chronicle of Herodotus, who in 445 BC. described in great detail the process of building the pyramids. He told the world interesting stories about how the structures were erected, over what period of time and how many slaves were involved in their construction. The narrative of the “father of history” even touched upon such nuances as the feeding of slaves. But, oddly enough, Herodotus never mentioned the stone Sphinx in his work. The fact of the construction of the monument was also not found in any of the subsequent records.
Helped shed light for scientists on the riddle of the Sphinx, the work of the Roman writer Pliny the Elder “Natural History”. In his notes, he talks about the next cleansing of sand from the monument. Based on this, it becomes clear why Herodotus did not leave a description of the Sphinx to the world - the monument at that time was buried under a layer of sand. So how many times has he found himself trapped in the sand?
First "restoration"
Judging by the inscription left on the stone stele between the monster’s paws, Pharaoh Thutmose I spent a year liberating the monument. Ancient writings say that, as a prince, Thutmose fell asleep at the foot of the Sphinx and had a dream in which the god Harmakis appeared to him. He predicted the prince's ascension to the throne of Egypt and ordered the release of the statue from the sand trap. After some time, Thutmose successfully became pharaoh and remembered his promise to the deity. He ordered not only to dig up the giant, but also to restore it. Thus, the first revival of the Egyptian legend occurred in the 15th century. BC It was then that the world learned about the grandiose structure and unique cult monument of Egypt.
It is known for certain that after the revival of the Sphinx by Pharaoh Thutmose, it was once again dug up during the reign of the Ptolemaic dynasty, under the Roman emperors who captured Ancient Egypt, and the Arab rulers. In our time, it was again liberated from the sands in 1925. To this day, the statue has to be cleaned after sandstorms, as it is an important tourist site.
Why is the monument missing a nose?
Despite the antiquity of the sculpture, it has practically been preserved in its original form, embodying the Sphinx. Egypt (photo of the monument is presented above) managed to preserve its architectural masterpiece, but failed to protect it from the barbarity of people. The statue does not currently have a nose. Scientists suggest that one of the pharaohs, for a reason unknown to science, ordered the nose of the statue to be knocked off. According to other sources, the monument was damaged by Napoleon's army by firing a cannon at its face. The British chopped off the monster’s beard and transported it to their museum.
However, the later discovered notes of the historian Al-Makrizi dated 1378 say that the stone statue no longer had a nose. According to him, one of the Arabs, wanting to atone for religious sins (The Koran prohibited the image human faces), broke off the giant's nose. In response to such an atrocity and desecration of the Sphinx, the sands began to take revenge on the people, advancing on the lands of Giza.
As a result, scientists came to the conclusion that in Egypt the Sphinx lost its nose as a result of strong winds and floods. Although this assumption has not yet found real confirmation.
The Stunning Secrets of the Sphinx
In 1988, as a result of exposure to acrid factory smoke, a significant part of the stone block (350 kg) broke off from the monument. UNESCO, concerned appearance and the condition of the tourist and cultural site, renovations were resumed, thereby opening the way for new research. As a result of a careful study of the stone blocks of the pyramid of Cheops and the Sphinx by Japanese archaeologists, a hypothesis was put forward that the monument was built much earlier than the great tomb of the pharaoh. The finding was a stunning discovery for historians, who had assumed that the pyramid, Sphinx and other funerary structures were contemporary. The second, no less surprising discovery was a long narrow tunnel discovered under the left paw of the predator, connected to the Cheops pyramid.
After Japanese archaeologists, hydrologists took up the most ancient monument. They found traces of erosion on his body from a large water flow that moved from north to south. After a series of studies, hydrologists came to the conclusion that the stone lion was a silent witness to the Nile flood - a biblical catastrophe that occurred about 8-12 thousand years ago. American explorer John Anthony West explained the tracks water erosion on the lion's body and their absence on the head is evidence that the Sphinx existed during the Ice Age and dates back to any period before 15 thousand BC. e. According to French archaeologists, the history of Ancient Egypt can boast of the oldest monument that existed even at the time of the destruction of Atlantis.
Thus, the stone sculpture tells us about the existence greatest civilization, which managed to erect such a majestic structure, which became an immortal image of the Past.
Ancient Egyptians' worship of the Sphinx
The pharaohs of Egypt regularly made pilgrimages to the foot of the giant, which symbolized the great past of their country. They made sacrifices on the altar, which was located between his paws, burned incense, receiving from the giant a silent blessing for the kingdom and throne. The Sphinx was for them not only the embodiment of the Sun God, but also a sacred image that granted them hereditary and legal power from their ancestors. He personified powerful Egypt, the history of the country was reflected in his majestic appearance, embodying each image of the new pharaoh and turning modernity into a component of eternity. Ancient writings glorified the Sphinx as a great creator god. His image reunited the past, present and future.
Astronomical explanation of the stone sculpture
According to the official version, the Sphinx would have been built in 2500 BC. e. by order of Pharaoh Khafre during the reign of the Fourth Ruling dynasty pharaohs. The huge lion is located among other majestic structures on the stone plateau of Giza - three pyramids. Astronomical studies have shown that the location of the statue was chosen not by blind inspiration, but in accordance with the point of intersection of the path of the celestial bodies. It served as an equatorial point indicating the exact location on the horizon of the sunrise site on the day of the vernal equinox. According to astronomers, the Sphinx was built 10.5 thousand years ago.
It is noteworthy that the pyramids of Giza are located on the ground in exactly the same order as the three stars of Orion's Belt in the sky that year. According to legend, the Sphinx and the pyramids recorded the position of the stars, the astronomical time, which the ancient Egyptians called first. Since the heavenly personification of the god Osiris, who ruled at that time, was Orion, man-made structures were built to depict the stars of his belt, in order to perpetuate and record the time of his power.
The Great Sphinx as a tourist attraction
Currently, a giant lion with a human head attracts millions of tourists eager to see with their own eyes the legendary stone sculpture, shrouded in the darkness of centuries-old history and many mystical legends. The interest of all mankind in it is due to the fact that the secret of the creation of the statue remained unsolved, buried under the sands. It's hard to imagine how many secrets the Sphinx holds. Egypt (photos of the monument and pyramids can be seen on any travel portal) can be proud of its great history, outstanding people, grandiose monuments, the truth about which their creators took with them to the kingdom of Anubis - the god of death. Great and impressive is the huge stone Sphinx, the history of which remains unsolved and full of secrets. Still focused calm look statues into the distance and his appearance is still imperturbable. For how many centuries has he been a silent witness to human suffering, the vanity of rulers, the sorrows and troubles that befell the Egyptian land? How many secrets does the Great Sphinx keep? Unfortunately, no answers have been found to all these questions over the years.
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.
For restoration ancient monument hundreds of millions of dollars are needed. There is no such money. In the meantime Egyptian authorities restore the sculpture on their own.
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.
Secret room.
In one of the ancient Egyptian treatises, on behalf of the goddess Isis, it is reported that the god Thoth placed in a secret place “ holy books”, which contain “the secrets of Osiris”, and then cast a spell on this place so that the knowledge would remain “undiscovered until Heaven gives 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, a more detailed study underground premises The Egyptian authorities did not allow the Japanese to carry it out.
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.
Older than civilization
First, in 1991, a geology professor from Boston conducted an analysis of the erosion of the surface of the Sphinx and concluded that the age of the Sphinx must be at least 9,500 thousand years old, that is, the Sphinx is at least 5,000 years older than scientists thought! Secondly, Robert Bauval, using modern technologies computer modeling, found that about 12,500 years ago (11th century BC), early morning, the rise of the constellation Leo was clearly visible right above the place where the sphinx was built. He logically assumed that the sphinx, which closely resembles a Lion, was built on this site as a symbol of this event. Well, the third nail in the coffin of the views of official science was hammered by police artist Frank Domingo, who drew identikit photographs. He stated that the Sphinx has nothing in common with the face of Pharaoh Khafre. So now we could safely say that the Sphinx was built long before any civilization known to science.
Huge voids under the sphinx
Of course, all these discoveries and statements could be hidden under a thick layer of dust scientific offices, but then, as luck would have it, Japanese researchers came to Egypt. It was 1989, then a group of scientists from Waseda, led by Professor Sakuji Yoshimura, using modern electromagnetic radar instruments, discovered tunnels and rooms directly under the sphinx. Immediately after their discovery, the Egyptian authorities intervened in the research, and the Yoshimura group was deported from Egypt for life. The same discovery was repeated in the same year by Thomas Dobecki, an American geophysicist. True, he only managed to explore a small area under the right paw of the sphinx, after which he was also promptly expelled from Egypt.
Three very strange events
In 1993, a robot was sent into a small tunnel (20x20 cm) that led from the burial chamber of the Cheops pyramid, which found inside this same tunnel a wooden door with brass handles, into which it safely rested. Next, for 10 years, scientists developed a new robot with the goal of opening the door. And in 2003 they launched it into the same tunnel. It must be admitted that he successfully opened the door, and behind it the already narrow tunnel began to narrow even more. The robot could not drive further, but in the distance it saw another door. A new robot, with the purpose of opening the second “flap”, was launched in 2013. After which tourist access to the pyramids was finally closed, and all research results were classified. Since then there has been no official news.
Secret city
But there are many unofficial ones, one of which is actively lobbied and promoted by the American Cayce Foundation (the same one, by the way, that allegedly predicted the discovery of a certain secret room under the Sphinx). According to their version, in 2013 they finally drove through the second door of the tunnel, after which a stone slab with hieroglyphs rose from the ground between the front paws of the sphinx with hieroglyphs that told about the room under the sphinx and a certain Hall of Evidence. As a result of excavations, the Egyptians found themselves in this very first room, which turned out to be a kind of hallway. From there, the researchers descended to the tier below and found themselves in a round hall from which three tunnels led to the Great Pyramid. But then there are some very strange data. Allegedly, in one of the tunnels the road was blocked by known to science an energy field that three certain great people were able to remove. After which a 12-story building was discovered, going underground. The dimensions of this structure are truly grandiose and more reminiscent of a city than a building - 10 kilometers wide and 13 kilometers long. In addition, the Casey Foundation claims that the Egyptians were hiding a certain Rod of Thoth - an archaeological artifact of world significance, which supposedly possesses the power of technologies unknown to mankind.
More questions than answers
Of course, at first glance, the theory of Cayce's followers seems complete nonsense. And everything would have been so if the Egyptian government had not partially confirmed the discovery of someone underground city. It is clear that about some energy force fields no information was received from official authorities. Also, the Egyptian authorities did not recognize the fact that they did get into the city, therefore, what was found there is also unknown. But the fact of recognition of the discovery of an underground city remains. So the sphinx makes wishes for people new riddle, and we can only make every effort to solve it.
According to many studies, Egyptian Sphinx hides even more mysteries than the Great Pyramids. No one knows for sure when and for what purpose this gigantic 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're talking about 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.
Secret room
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.
The Egyptian Sphinx was recognized as one of the most mysterious sculptures of our Earth. The Sphinx rises above the vast expanses of the desert in the Valley of the Kings on the Gizo plateau. Now the Gizo Plateau is the city of Giza on the outskirts of Cairo, home to more than 900 thousand inhabitants. When you drive along its streets, the pyramids are already looming on the horizon. The necropolis, on the territory of which the pyramids are located, occupies approximately 2000 square meters. m. and declared a protected area. These pyramids are considered one of the wonders of the world. The city can be said to have already come close to the pyramids. Literally 100 meters from residential areas stands the Sphinx, and behind it the pyramids.
There are nine pyramids in total.
Three of them are the most famous. It is believed that the pyramids are about 5 thousand years old, the sphinx is about 3.5 thousand years old. These structures were known to the ancient Greeks, but for them, as for us, they were hoary antiquity. “Forty centuries look down on you from the heights of these pyramids,” Napoleon Bonaparte told his soldiers before the Battle of Giza, 1798. The height of the pyramids of Cheops is 138.75 m, Khafre (son of Cheops) - 136.4 m, Mikkerin (grandson) - 55.5 m. Visually, the pyramid of Khafre (in the center) seems higher, because it stands on more high place... Without actually seeing them, you imagine something completely monumental, but from a distance the pyramids seem small, and up close, they are not as huge as many would like to see.
The Sphinx is located closer to the city, as if guarding the pyramids. In ancient times, the Nile had such a wide bed that the Sphinx stood right on the river bank. Around the pyramids of Khafre and Mikkerin there are several more small pyramids (very badly destroyed) - the tombs of their wives, children, concubines... Initially, the pyramids were lined with granite blocks and had heights several meters higher. But over the course of centuries of history, these blocks, as well as some directly from the pyramids, were used to build Cairo. Many famous mosques were built from the granite casing of the pyramids. By the way, I will say that the casing made the pyramids absolutely smooth, and not compliant as they are now. The real names of the pharaohs who rested in the pyramids are Khufu, Khafre and Menkaur (Cheops, Khafre and Mikkerin, respectively). Moreover, Cheops and Khafre were not related, and Mikkerin is the son of Khafre. In the pyramid of Khafre the inscription "G. Belzoni. 1818." The discoverer wrote this on March 2, 1818. The dimensions of the burial chamber are 14.2m x 5m x 6.8m (length, width and height, respectively). The Sphinx's nose was shot off from a cannon, but not by Napoleonic soldiers (as some claim), but by Turkish Mamluks - Muslims do not like the display of human faces. The Arabs call the pyramids "Al-Ahram" ("pyramids") and the Sphinx - "Abu Hall" ("father of horror").
Pyramid of Cheops.
The largest known pyramid is Cheops. He was the pharaoh of the 4th dynasty (2600 BC). The pyramid is tetrahedral, with a square base. The height of the pyramid is 147 m, the base has a side of 228 m. Stone blocks weighing 2.5 tons each were used to construct the pyramid. At the same time, the quality of surface treatment makes us doubt that we modern people, we understand life, it is impossible to insert a knife blade between the blocks. The pyramid is oriented with its entrance to the north. Inside the pyramid there are three burial chambers, which are rooms measuring 11 by 5 meters and about 6 m high. The pharaoh’s mummy was missing from the sarcophagus, as were the supposed objects and decorations. Perhaps it was plundered in ancient times. On the southern side of the pyramid is the so-called Solar Boat. On it, Cheops went to the other world, which, of course, could carry symbolic meaning. The boat was discovered disassembled during excavations in 1954. It is made of cedar without the use of nails.
Pyramid of Khafre
It is believed that the Pyramid of Khafre was built almost simultaneously with the Pyramid of Cheops. A difference of 40 years against the backdrop of thousands of years of history looks like an insignificant period of time.
The pyramid is a little smaller. Base 215 meters, height 145 meters. Slightly different ratios create the illusion that it is larger than the Cheops pyramid. The two great pyramids differ from each other in the preservation of the basalt cladding at the top of the Pyramid of Khafre. A complex of structures associated with the pyramid is being traced. Temples, road, pyramid. Khafre was mummified in the lower temple.
Pyramid of Mikerin
This pyramid, significantly different in size, completes the ensemble of the great pyramids. Its dimensions are as follows: height - 67 m, base 108 m. The pyramid contains a single burial chamber. The chamber was created in the rocky base of the pyramid. The relatively small size of the pyramid emphasizes the greatness of the first two.
How were the pyramids created? Many scientists believe they know how, others doubt it. In any case, it was a great work of a great people. The ancient quarries where the stone for the pyramids was mined are still visible. An ancient pier was discovered not far from the pyramids; the stones were delivered by ship.
In the vicinity of the great pyramids there are several small pyramids of the wives of the pharaohs, the tombs of the Egyptian aristocracy.
Sphinx
The Sphinx is the largest solid sculpture in the world (after the explosion of Buddha statues by the Taliban in Afghanistan)... For five thousand years, the Sphinx has been meeting the sunrises, it faces the east, its lips are closed. The facial features are believed to correspond to the image of Pharaoh Khafre. This is a mysterious creature with the body of a lion and the head of a man, carved from the same stone. The length of the sphinx from the tip of its paws to its tail is 57.3 m, its height is 20 m. Nestled at the huge paws of the sphinx is a small temple, now completely destroyed. Quite well preserved. And if you also take into account that the Germans took the crown to their museum, and the French to the Louvre, and Napoleon actually fired cannons at it during the Egyptian campaign... Although it is restored from time to time, it does not feel like a remake. You cannot approach the statue directly - it stands on a high pedestal, and tourists walk around at paw level along a special parapet perimeter, so it turns out that there is an insurmountable deep ditch between tourists and the Sphinx. When a person stands, especially at dawn, between the paws of the Great Sphinx of Egypt and sees how the rising sun illuminates his face, he is overcome with shyness and awe. At this moment, you clearly feel how old this colossal statue is - almost as old as time itself. They say that it is much older than the 4500 years that Egyptologists give it; it is quite possible that it goes back to the last Ice Age, when, as is believed, a civilization capable of creating such monuments could not yet exist. The Sphinx is the greatest mystery of antiquity. It is still not known for certain who, why and when erected this grandiose structure.
Myths and legends of the Sphinx
This majestic monument is fraught with many secrets and mysteries; for thousands of years it has been shrouded in myths and legends, it has been worshiped and feared, it has seen the change of eras and civilizations, and only it, the Sphinx of Giza, has remained the imperishable and silent keeper of the secrets of the distant past.
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He was once considered eternal god. Then he fell into the trap of oblivion and plunged into enchanted dream. What secret does this one keep? majestic guardian? In the myths of the ancient Greeks, the Sphinx is a monster generated by Typhon and Echidna, with the face and breasts of a woman, the body of a lion and the wings of a bird. The Sphinx was located on a mountain near the city of Thebes and asked everyone who passed by a riddle - “Which living creature walks on four legs in the morning, on two in the afternoon, and on three in the evening?” The Sphinx killed those who were unable to provide a solution. Oedipus solved the riddle - “Man in childhood, maturity and old age.” After this, the Sphinx threw herself off the cliff.
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. Another legend tells that this huge predator guards the peace of the pyramids day and night, and with the help of the “third eye” monitors the circulation of the planets, Sirius and the rising of the Sun, feeding cosmic force. In exchange for this he had to make sacrifices.
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Another legend says that giant statue The mysterious beast is guarded by the “elixir of immortality.” According to legends, the founder of esoteric knowledge, Hermes Trismegistus, owned the secrets of making the “philosopher’s stone,” with which metal could be turned into gold. Also, " philosopher's stone"was the basis for the creation of the "elixir of immortality." According to legend, Trismegistus was the son of an Egyptian god named Thoth, who built the first pyramid on the banks of the Nile and erected the Sphinx next to the pyramid complex in Giza, designed to protect the recipe for the “elixir of immortality”, which was hidden in its depths.
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Initially, in myths, the Egyptian Sphinx retained the features of a lion with the head of a man. He wandered along the roads near Parnassus, devouring passers-by. In the myths of the ancient Greeks, the Sphinx is a monster born of Typhon and Echidna, with the body of a lion, the face and breasts of a woman, and the wings of a bird. Having settled on a mountain near the city of Thebes, the Sphinx asked everyone who passed by a riddle: “Which living creature walks on four legs in the morning, on two in the afternoon, and on three in the evening?” Those who failed to solve the riddle were killed by the Sphinx. Oedipus was able to give the answer - “Man in childhood, maturity and old age.” After which the Sphinx threw herself off the cliff.
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The Arabs living in the area called the statue Abul Khol, which means “father of horror.” As philologists have established, the full name of the statue meant “the living image of Khafre.” Thus, the Sphinx was the embodiment of King Khafre with symbols royal power and the body of the king of the desert. Consequently, in the understanding of the ancient Egyptians, the Sphinx in one person represented a god and a lion guarding its pyramid.
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Many mystical teachings and magicians of all times have tried to find magical explanations for the purpose of the Sphinx. Here is what the classic of occultism Eliphas Levi wrote in his “History of Magic”: “Hermes Trismegistus formulated his symbol, called the Emerald Tablet: “What is below is like what is above, and what is above is like what is below, for actions of miracles of one essence." Light is Isis, or the moon, fire is Osiris, or the sun; they are the mother and father of the great Tellus, and she is the universal substance. Hermes Trismegistus states that these forces reached their absolute manifestation at the moment when the earth was created. Four manifestations of a single substance were represented by the Sphinx. His wings corresponded to air, his bull's body to earth, his woman's breasts to water, and his lion's paws to fire. This is the secret of the three pyramids with square bases and triangular faces. By erecting these monuments, Egypt tried to erect the Pillars of Hercules of universal science.
How old is the Sphinx?
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. For a long time, scientists considered the Sphinx to be the same age as the Great Pyramids, but there is one oddity here. The fact is that in the ancient papyri that have reached us and dating back to the era of the construction of the pyramids, not the slightest mention of the Sphinx was found. And, if hieroglyphs brought to us the names of the builders of the Great Pyramids, who created the Sphinx remains a mystery. We found the answer in the works of the ancient Roman scientist and writer Pliny the Elder. In his " Natural history“It is said that in his time the Sphinx was once again cleansed from the sands of the Western Desert, which literally swallowed it up. It is not known exactly how often the Sphinx was covered with sand, but it becomes clear why there were periods in history when there was no mention of the Sphinx. It’s just that the same Herodotus, describing the greatness of Ancient Egypt, could not tell us about the Sphinx, because he did not see it - it was buried under a many-meter layer of sand. Studying the sculpture, scientists came to the conclusion that the Sphinx was periodically hidden under a layer of sand, and from time to time it had to be dug up. In the last century, a stele was found in Egypt on which was carved a text compiled in the 15th century BC during the reign of Pharaoh Thutmose IV. The text says that the pharaoh had a sign in a dream - if he was able to clear the Sphinx of sand, then his reign would be prosperous and long. It also says that the sculpture was dug up after almost a year. In our time, archaeologists have received information that the Sphinx was dug out of the sand during the reign of the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt, then under the Arab rulers and Roman emperors. Even today, after strong sandstorms, the statue has to be cleaned, although there is much less sand now than before. The statue was finally cleared of sand in the mid-1920s.
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Based on these facts and phenomena, scientists concluded that the Sphinx was erected much earlier than previously thought. But there are many different hypotheses about the time of construction of the statue. Therefore, Egyptologists of the world to this day have not come to a common opinion. Studies of significant traces of erosion indicated traces of a flood that once occurred in these places. And the estimated date of the event was named - 8000 BC, and repeated research carried out by the British pushed this date back to 12000 BC. In addition, it turned out that traces of erosion occur on the processed part of the rock on which the Sphinx is installed, which means that it stood there even before the flood. French archaeologists claim that the dating of the flood that occurred in Egypt coincides with the date of the destruction of Atlantis according to Plato... Other scientists are trying to calculate the time of the creation of the Sphinx from the Bible, believing that the erosion could have been caused by the Great Flood. Based on the description of the weather in Egypt (the dream of the pharaoh, unraveled by Joseph), it can be assumed that the Sphinx was erected around 2820-2620 BC. This hypothesis is indirectly confirmed by an Arab legend, which says that the pyramids were built to save the Egyptians from the Great Flood. And the Sphinx was erected in order to warn people about the impending disaster. Therefore, the Sphinx's gaze is wary, and its third eye is directed into Space.
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The Roerichs and Helena Blavatsky believed that the Sphinx was built by the Atlanteans about 200 thousand years ago. A famous philosopher Jorge A. Livraga, believes that the descendants of the Atlanteans built the Great Pyramid, and a thousand years later - the Great Sphinx. According to N. N. Sychenov, “The construction of the Sphinx began 42.2 thousand years BC and the construction was completed 1200 years later.”
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The famous American medium Edward Cayce claimed that "The Sphinx and the pyramids of Cheops were built between 10490 and 10390 BC." Boston University geology professor Robert Schoch, based on studies of traces of water erosion of the Sphinx, believes that the time of creation of the statue lies between 7000 and 5000 BC, because it was during this period that heavy rains fell over Egypt, which could have caused erosion.
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John West believes that most of the erosion occurred during an earlier, rainy period - around 10,000 BC.
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Other scientists divide the time of the creation of the Sphinx and the time of construction of the pyramids.
However, many ancient legends and tales testify against this different nations: Greeks, Romans, Chaldeans, Arabs. These legends tell that a tunnel was dug underground and a hiding place was built. The tunnel served as a connection between Great Pyramid and the Sphinx, which was used by the priests...
Sensational secrets of the Sphinx revealed during its renovation
Time has been kind to this one great monument ancient history, but people treated him much less respectfully. One Egyptian ruler ordered the Sphinx's nose to be taken off. At the beginning of the 18th century, the giant's face was fired from a cannon, and Napoleon's soldiers fired guns into his eyes. The British beat off the stone beard and took it to the British Museum.
Nowadays, the acrid smoke of Cairo factories and car exhaust are destroying the stones. In 1988, a huge block weighing 350 kilograms broke off from the Sphinx’s neck and fell. The emergency condition of the sculpture caused concern among UNESCO. Repairs began which caused new interest to the mysteries of the Sphinx and the opportunity to re-explore the grandiose sculpture. The discoveries were not long in coming.
First sensation: Japanese archaeologists, led by Professor Yoshimura, using special instruments, first illuminated the massif of the Cheops pyramid, and then examined the stones of the Sphinx. The conclusion was amazing: the stones of the sculpture are older than the blocks of the pyramid.
Second sensation: there was a discovery under the left paw of a stone lion of a narrow tunnel leading towards the Cheops pyramid.
Third sensation: traces of erosion were discovered on the Sphinx large flow water that moved from north to south. It was not the flood of the Nile, but a biblical catastrophe that occurred around eight to twelve thousand years BC.
Fourth sensation: French archaeologists made an interesting remark: the dating of the Egyptian stream coincides with the date of the death of the legendary Atlantis!
Fifth sensation: The face of the Sphinx is not the face of Khafre.
It is believed that the Sphinx was built by Pharaoh Khafre 4.5 thousand years ago. For more than half of its life, the sphinx was buried up to its neck in sand. Since it was heavily damaged by erosion, the idea arose greater antiquity sphinx: erosion from water, not from sand and wind. Geological survey showed the same thing. 10 thousand years ago there were lakes in the Sahara. Schock and West presented their findings at the Geological Society of America's annual meeting. A furious debate began between geologists and Egyptologists. The front and sides are more susceptible to erosion. While the back part is smaller, which means it was most likely made later. The front is twice as old as the back. How old is the sphinx? At first glance, the face of the sphinx is absolutely similar to the face of Pharaoh Khafre, which seems to prove the time of its creation. But detailed analysis all parameters showed that the face of the sphinx and the face of the pharaoh are not identical. Proportions and shapes do not match. And special studies were done that proved that the faces on the sculpture of Pharaoh Khafre in the Cairo Museum and the face of the Sphinx are different.
Conclusions:
The Sphinx has always been considered the keeper of knowledge, the guardian of the portal leading to the world of higher intelligence, a symbol of strength human nature... The personification of the unity and balance of the forces of nature of the earth with the higher forces living in the Universe. Everything came together in the Great Sphinx. The ideal symbol of initiation into eternal life. And the mystery of the origin of the Sphinx goes back to time immemorial. What do we know about those times? Practically nothing, but the legends and myths that have survived to this day raise many questions and practically do not provide answers to them. However, it can be assumed that in the depths of centuries on our Earth there existed highly developed civilization, and its representatives, possessing developed science, could foresee the coming catastrophe and try to preserve their knowledge for future generations. One of the ancient legends says: “When the Sphinx speaks, life on Earth will go out of its usual circle.” But for now the Sphinx remains silent...
When was it built? When was it reconstructed? In honor of whom and by whom it was created... Most likely, there will never be exact answers to these questions... After all, the deeper science advances, the more questions arise...
Let's study the Sphinx statue in more detail and understand what it is ancient building, that it haunts millions of people who study this issue? Where is it located, who built it and how did the architectural monument appear?
The Sphinx is one of the most famous and at the same time, completely unstudied structure of humanity. Some sources say that the Sphinx is the guardian of the tombs of the Egyptian pharaohs, while others believe that it appeared long before the appearance of those very tombs. Entire cults have been created that confidently claim that the Sphinx is alive and exalt it to the rank of God.
Egypt is a country that is very spoiled by tourists who want to solve the mysteries that lie within: the mystery of the pyramid, interesting facts about and the meaning of the statues.
The most visited place is the Sphinx statue itself. The Great Sphinx is the biggest and unsolved mystery of ancient Egypt. The Sphinx statue is located in the Giza Valley, which is on the west bank of the Nile River in Egypt. Information about who actually created it is unknown to this day. Also, the Sphinx was awarded the title of the oldest statue on the planet that has not yet been destroyed. Speaking about its size, its length reaches 72 meters, and its height is at least 20 meters. What is his head worth? After all, the Sphinx's face is 5 meters long, but its nose was approximately the height of an average person.
Therefore, in order for a tourist to be able to capture the majesty of this statue in a photo, he must have a powerful lens, since this will be quite problematic to do with a smartphone. Also, it’s hard not to notice that between the paws there is a stele that was erected by Pharaoh Thutmose IV. Around the Sphinx there is a moat, the depth of which is 2.5 m and the width is 5.5 m. Near the statue there are no less famous pyramids, which are the tombs of famous Egyptian pharaohs: Cheops, Mykernas, and also Hebren.
The Legend of the Sphinx in Egypt
If earlier the great Sphinx instilled an unknown sacred horror in people, now it is no more no less than a sculpture that is simply located above a pit, and not, as in ancient times, a head sticking out of the sand that looks like a lion and a man at the same time. It's hard to believe, but judging by archaeological excavations and studies, it was found that the construction of such hollow sphinxes was intended as a place for the execution of people. After all, with Greek language, the word “sphinga” is nothing more than “suffocate”. Perhaps among those who have comprehended painful death Inside such statues were those who built them.
The history of the creation of the Sphinx in Egypt
Alas, although it is believed that the statue has been preserved almost perfectly, the flaws are still visible to the naked eye. This is of course natural state, for a statue whose age is thousands of years, because the time of creation is not known exactly. In its original form, there was a headdress on the head that accurately imitated a cobra, which supposedly rose up to the face. Unfortunately, the board that fell onto the shoulders was also broken off. There are also residual fragments of the ceremonial beard. Her remains can soon be seen in museums in Great Britain, and a copy was also found in the Cairo Museum. But it is not known exactly who knocked off the nose, but there is an assumption that his heirs could have done this according to Muhammad’s will. The covenant stated that it was forbidden to depict a human face in statues, and it was ordered that the nose of the Sphinx be knocked off so that its appearance would be less human-like.
The history of origin goes back to the distant past, and it is difficult to say how many years ago this sculpture was erected. It is also ambiguous how the sculpture was built, which pyramid is guarded, and who created it? There is an assumption that the Sphinx is dedicated to the great Nile, as well as heavenly body The sun, because it is not for nothing that its head is directed towards the east. Also, it is symbolic that the head is made in the likeness of a lion, and as you know, the lion has always been considered the incarnation of God, and it was depicted to deal with enemies. But there is also a myth that the sculpture was intended as a guard, and maybe even a guardian, for the deceased great pharaohs.
Unfortunately, it is no longer clearly visible to the naked eye how much the Sphinx has suffered both from the passage of time and from the worst enemy historical sculptures - people. But the greatest harm is caused by constant sandstorms, which blow gusty winds from the north. Not so long ago, another destruction occurred - a piece of the sculpture, whose weight was about 350 kg, was broken off. Now just imagine for a second how much the entire Sphinx weighs, if you had the opportunity to check it.
But if, nevertheless, you still have the desire to see an improved copy of the greatest Sphinx, then visit China. And in which city to look and what is it made of, you ask? Head to the outskirts of Shijiazhuang and enjoy what a replica of the Great Sphinx looks like. Thanks to the ingenuity and hard work of the Chinese, you can easily see what is inside the statue, as well as what is under it.
Pyramids and Sphinx
We have already said that there are three pyramids near the Sphinx sculpture. So is the Great Sphinx connected with the Cheops pyramid? Many scientists argue that such a connection is possible, since the Cheops Pyramid is also one of the oldest landmarks that has survived to this day. Its dimensions are no less impressive than the Sphinx itself. They say that the original height of the Cheops pyramid was as much as 146.7 meters. But alas, over time she upper part disappeared, and the height of the pyramid has already become slightly smaller, namely 137.3 meters. And it was precisely this height that was enough until 1880 to consider this pyramid the most tall building in the world, but technical progress did not stand still and works of art began to appear that could surpass the Cheops pyramid.
What is under the Sphinx
Continuing to say that the study of the Sphinx continues now, it would be appropriate to mention the fact that back in 1990 a council of specialists was created. They were concerned by the fact that parts of the sculpture began to fall off, and this has already caused concern to UNESCO. Therefore, it was decided to create a traveling laboratory, in which research began with the help of analyzers and heavy-duty computers. Ultrasonic checks were also carried out. The head of the Sphinx was scanned and very dangerous cracks were discovered that could lead to the destruction of the world heritage. The consultation experts concluded that for partial restoration it was necessary to allocate about hundreds of millions of dollars, and the obligatory condition was that the entire structure had to be covered with a plastic sarcophagus and tourists should not be allowed to visit. After all, they say that in just one 20th century more damage was caused than in the entire 4,000 years before that.
But, as expected, the results of the consultation did not attract support from sponsors and no money was obtained. Therefore, the consultation went home, and the Egyptians themselves began to reconstruct the great Sphinx on their own. Synthetic compounds were used to strengthen the pedestal. It was also requested that the UK government return museum exhibit- a beard so that they can begin to strengthen the main part - the head! And this is not a lot, not a little - 900 tons.
After the reconstruction began, there was even greater genuine interest among tourists. Namely, will they be able to restore the most ancient sculpture of humanity to its original appearance? And most importantly, when will it be open to the public again?
The master plan allocated ten years for restoration, but as we know, meeting the deadlines for reconstruction of such a scale is quite problematic. Even travel companies sponsored funding so that their tourists could visit these attractions as soon as possible. Foreign geologists and hydrologists were invited, because the problem of brackish groundwater arose. And the work began to boil with new strength and energy.
Soon Japanese experts also began studying, and it was the scientists from the Tokyo Institute who concluded that the stones from which the Sphinx sculpture was made were much older than the stones of the pyramids. What was meant was not a specific geological age, but the time during which the stone from which the attractions were made was processed.
There are a lot of mysteries, but not all have been solved! Therefore, do not forget to include a visit to the pyramids and the Great Sphinx in your list of excursions when you are in Egypt.
