“The purpose of the Sphinx is becoming a little clearer today. The Atlanteans of Egypt built it as a grandiose sculpture, the greatest memorial statue and dedicated it to their bright god - the Sun." — Paul Brighton.

“The pile of cobblestones left by the builders of the Great Pyramids during the quarrying of the stones turned in the time of Khafre (Cheops) into a huge reclining lion with the head of a man.” — I. E. S. Edwards.

These passages illustrate polar opinions about the Great Sphinx: from mystical perception to cold pragmatism. The statue, which has been buried in the sand for centuries, has always been shrouded in an aura of mystery, giving rise to speculation regarding the age of the Sphinx, the purpose and method of its creation, the existence inside hidden chambers, as well as the prophetic gift of the statue and its connection with the equally mysterious pyramids.

Mostly such theories were put forward by desperate Egyptologists and archaeologists, who tried in vain to single-handedly uncover the secrets of the Sphinx. Probably the national symbol of ancient and modern Egypt, standing like a sentry on the plateau at Giza, has played the same role at all times: century after century it has excited the imagination of poets, scientists, mystics, travelers and tourists. The Sphinx of Giza contains the entire essence of Egypt.

Facing the rising sun, the Great Sphinx sculpture is located on the Giza plateau, 6 miles west of Cairo on west bank Nila. The Egyptian government considers him to be the incarnation of the sun god, whom the Egyptians call Hor-Em-Akhet (Horus in the sky). The Sphinx occupies part of the territory of the necropolis in ancient Memphis - the residence of the pharaohs, where the three largest Egyptian pyramids are located - the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops), Khafre (Chephren) and Menkaure (Mycerinus). The monument is the largest surviving sculpture ancient world- 241 feet long and 65 feet high at its highest point.

Part of the uraeus (a sacred snake that protects from evil forces), his nose and ritual beard were destroyed over time. The beard is now kept in the British Museum. The elongated element on the sphinx's forehead is a fragment of the royal headdress. Although the head of the sphinx has been subject to the harmful effects of erosion for thousands of years, traces of the paint with which it was originally covered can still be seen near the ear of the statue. It is believed that the Sphinx's face was once painted in burgundy color. A small temple located between its paws houses a dozen painted steles erected in honor of the Sun God.

The Sphinx has suffered greatly from the ravages of time, human activity and environmental pollution in modern times. In fact, it was saved from complete destruction by a long stay in the sand. Over the centuries-old history of the monument, many attempts have been made to reconstruct the statue. They began back in 1400 BC. e., during the reign of Pharaoh Thutmose IV.

Once, after a hunt, the pharaoh dozed off in the shadow of the sphinx, and he dreamed that the huge beast was suffocating from the sand absorbing the statue. In a dream, the sphinx told the pharaoh that if he pulled out the beast and cleansed it of sand, he would receive the crown of Upper and Lower Egypt. Today, between the sphinx's front paws, you can see a granite stele called the Stele of Dreams, on which the legend of the pharaoh's dream is recorded.

Although the sculpture was cleared, it soon found itself back in the sand. When Napoleon arrived in Egypt in 1798, the Sphinx was already without a nose. However, the nose disappeared long before Napoleon’s arrival, as depicted in 18th-century paintings. One legend says that the nose was broken during a bombardment during the period of Turkish rule. According to another version, probably more plausible), in the 8th century. he was knocked down with a chisel by a Sufi who considered the Sphinx a pagan idol.

In 1858, the founder of the Egyptian Antiquities Service, Auguste Mariette, began excavating the sculpture, but only part of it was cleared. In 1925-1936 French engineer Emile Barèse, acting on behalf of the Antiquities Service, completed the excavation of the Sphinx. And probably for the first time since the legendary Ancient Egypt the sculpture became available for public viewing.

Most Egyptologists prefer to explain the riddle of the Great Sphinx as follows: the sculpture belongs to Khafre, the pharaoh of the IV dynasty. The image of a lion carved in stone with the face of Khafre himself was created in 2540, around the same time when the nearby pyramid of Khafre was erected. However, not a single inscription has yet been found confirming Khafre’s connection with the sphinx, nor any records about the time and purpose of creating the sculpture.

Considering the grandeur of the monument, such a fact seems rather strange and mysterious. Although not all Egyptologists agree with the traditional version, no one can say exactly when and by whom the Sphinx was erected. In 1996, a New York City detective and identification expert concluded that the Great Great Sphinx did not resemble Khafre, but was more like his elder father, Djedefre. Discussions on this matter are ongoing.

The unresolved question of the origin and purpose of the creation of the Sphinx gave rise to the emergence of more and more new versions of a mystical nature, such as the theory of the British occultist Paul Brighton or the version of the American medium and seer Edgar Cayce, put forward in the 40s of the 20th century. While in a trance, Case predicted that under the sphinx's front paws a chamber would be discovered containing a collection of manuscripts about the lives of those who survived the destruction of Atlantis.

The Great Sphinx was carved from soft limestone left over from a quarry used to build the pyramids. The paws were created separately from limestone blocks. One of the main features of the sculpture is that its head is not proportional to the body. Perhaps it was remade several times, changing the face of the sphinx at the direction of each subsequent pharaoh.

By style features it can be determined that it is unlikely that changes were made after the Late Kingdom period, which ended around 2181 BC. e. It is likely that the head originally depicted a ram or a falcon and was converted into a human one later. The restoration work carried out over thousands of years to preserve the head of the sphinx may also have transformed or altered the proportions of the face.

Any of these explanations could cause a change in the size of the head compared to the body, especially if we assume that the Great Sphinx is much older than traditional science believes.
IN lately There is lively debate regarding the dating of the monument. The author of one of the versions, John Anthony West, was the first to draw attention to the fact that the surface of the Sphinx was exposed to the forces of nature - and suffered more from water erosion than from wind and sand.

However, other structures on the plateau did not experience such a glow. West turned to geologists, and Boston University professor Robert Schoch, after studying the latest findings, confirmed that these were the results of water erosion. Although Egypt's climate is arid today, about 10,000 years ago it was humid and rainy. West and Schoch concluded that the Sphinx must have existed 7,000 to 10,000 years ago to have been eroded by water. Egyptologists rejected Schoch's theory, considering it incorrect. They argued that the frequent, once heavy thunderstorm rains in Egypt had ceased long before the appearance of the Sphinx.

A serious approach to the matter raises the question: why were no other traces of water erosion found on the Giza Plateau that could confirm the theory of West and Schoch? It couldn't rain just above the sphinx. West and Schoch were also criticized for not taking into account high level industrial pollution of the local atmosphere, which has had a devastating effect on the monuments of Giza for the last hundred years.

The author of another version about the time of creation and purpose of the Sphinx is Robert Bauval. In the 1989s. He published a paper in which he hypothesized that the three Great Pyramids of Giza, together with the Nile, create on earth a kind of three-dimensional hologram of the three stars of Orion's belt and the nearby Milky Way.

Based on Graham Hancock's version, set out in the famous book "Traces of the Gods", Bauval put forward the theory that the Sphinx, the nearby pyramids, and all kinds of ancient manuscripts are components some astronomical map associated with the constellation Orion. He concluded that in the best possible way Such a hypothetical map corresponded to the position of the stars in 10,500 BC. e., discarding the version that the Sphinx was created in more ancient times.

There are many legends about unusual phenomena related in one way or another to the Great Sphinx. Researchers state university Florida, Waseda University in Japan and Boston University, using ultra-sensitive technology, found a number of anomalies in the atmosphere above this place. However, these phenomena could also be natural. In 1995 during repair work In the parking lot near the statue, several tunnels and passages were discovered, two of which went deep underground next to the sphinx. Bauvel suggested that the passages were created at the same time as the statue.

In 1991 - 1993 a team of researchers led by Anthony West, studying traces of erosion on the monument using a seismograph, discovered something strange: holes, cavities or chambers were found several meters below the surface of the earth between the paws of the statue, as well as on the other side of the sphinx sculpture correct form. However, the expedition did not receive permission to conduct further research. The question arises: maybe there is a grain of truth in Edgar Cayce's prediction about the collection of manuscripts?

Today great statue collapsing from the winds, humidity and Cairo smog.

In 1950, development began on a large-scale and expensive project for the restoration and conservation of the monument. The first attempts to restore the monument led to even greater destruction, since cement, incompatible with limestone, was used to restore the structure. For six or even more years of reconstruction, about 2000 limestone blocks were used, various chemicals, but efforts were in vain. By 1988, the blocks on the left shoulder of the sphinx had collapsed.

Currently, attempts are ongoing to restore the statue under the strict supervision of the Supreme Council of Antiquities. Restorers are trying to restore the destroyed shoulder using part of the subsoil. Thus, today all attention is focused on preserving the monument, rather than carrying out excavations and further research. We can only wait. It will still be a long time before the Great Sphinx reveals her secrets.

B.Haughton
"Great secrets and mysteries of history"

Egypt is a country with an extraordinary culture and history. It was here that the first monumental architectural monuments in human history were built. Many people learn about Egyptian culture, pyramids and other sights from school, looking at photos or reading information on Wikipedia. In fact, each of these sculptures deserves to be touched and seen by as many tourists from all over the world as possible. It is considered one of the most impressive architectural monuments Egyptian Sphinx. This sculpture is full of mysteries and legends. In addition, the Great Sphinx in Egypt is classified as ancient sculptures. Its size is impressive and somewhat frightening. The length of the statue reaches 73 meters, and the height of the figure is 20 meters. The shape is no less striking - the head of a man is connected to the body and paws of a lion.

Where is the Sphinx

The popular attraction is located on the west bank of the Nile, in the city of Giza. Address: Nazlet El-Semman, Al Haram, Giza. The map shows the Great Sphinx in Egypt inside the Pyramid Complex at Giza, not far from the Pyramid of Cheops. The city of Giza is located 30 km from the capital of the state, Cairo.

How to get there

Since the Great Sphinx in Egypt uses in great demand For tourists, getting to it is not difficult. You can go straight to the Sphinx plateau by taxi. The journey will take about half an hour. According to tourists, a taxi will cost about 20-30 dollars. You can also spend a little more time and save money by taking a regular route. by bus from Cairo. Buses to Giza leave at intervals of about half an hour. The ticket price reaches 5-7 dollars. If your hotel is located in other areas of Egypt near the metro, from there you can get to Giza station. Further attractions are approximately 2 km away, which can be reached by taxi or on foot.

Origin story

The history of the Sphinx is full of mysteries that, thousands of years later, scientists cannot solve. Today science does not answer the question of when, why and who built the Sphinx in Egypt. However, there is still official version origin of the sculpture. According to the theory, the Sphinx is 4517 years old, as it was built in 2500 BC. Presumably the architect was Pharaoh Khafre. In making such a statement, scientists rely on the similarity of the material used for the construction of the Sphinx and the Pyramid of Khafre - the blocks are made of baked clay.

It is worth noting that German scientists put forward another hypothesis, according to which the landmark was erected in 7000 BC. This claim is based on studies of the material and erosion of the statue. According to the French Institute of Egyptology, the sculpture has undergone at least 4 restorations during its existence. One day, strong winds and sandstorms wiped out the Sphinx from the face of the Earth. Several centuries later, the statue was discovered by Khafre and restored.

There is also a theory according to which the customer was Pharaoh Khafre. The same one who, according to another hypothesis, was an architect. However, the obvious manifestations of the features of the Negroid race on the face of the Sphinx are, rather, a denying argument. Experts resorting to computer technologies, created the appearance of the pharaoh and his relatives. After comparative analysis the conclusion was that the statue and the pharaoh's family could not have similar facial features.

Purpose of the Sphinx

In ancient Egypt, people called the statue " rising sun"or they believed that it was dedicated to the Nile. Known fact the only thing that became was that the majority of civilization saw in sculpture a symbol of the divine principle, namely the Sun God - Ra. If we delve deeper into the origin of the name of the statue, the word “sphinx” is ancient Greek and means “strangler.” According to other assumptions, the sculpture was created as a symbol of the protection of the pharaohs after death and as an assistant in the afterlife. But more often, scientists agree that the image of the statue is a collective one, symbolizing the four seasons, where the wings are autumn, the paws are summer, the face is winter, and the body of the lion is spring.

Secrets of the Sphinx

For several millennia, scientists and researchers around the world have not been able to come to a consensus on the origin and purpose of sculpture. The mysteries of the Egyptian Sphinx remain unsolved and leave more questions than answers. Who, when and why built the statue are not the only mysteries.

Hall of Chronicles

The first who began to claim about existence underground passages , was Edgar Cayce, an American scientist. His claim was confirmed by Japanese scientists who discovered a five-meter rectangular chamber under the lion's left paw. Edgar Cayce expressed the idea that the Atlanteans left traces of their existence in the “hall of chronicles.” Astrologers, in turn, interpret the location of the room and pyramids in the Necropolis in their own way - in 1980, researchers drilled about 15 meters deep. Aswan granite was found here, although there is no natural occurrence of this rock here, which indicates traces of the “hall of chronicles.”

Disappearance of the Sphinx

Herodotus, ancient Greek philosopher, traveled around Egypt. After the trip, he began to describe in detail the location of the pyramids, their number, and age. Even the number of slaves involved and the food they were fed were included in the description. Among other things, Herodotus did not mention a word about the Egyptian Sphinx. Scientists believe that the statue was swept away by sand during this era. This happened with the sculpture more than once. In the last two centuries alone, the figure has been excavated more than 4 times. It was only in 1925 that the Egyptians were able to completely unearth the lion.

Guarding the Sunrise

One more interesting detail The statue has an inscription on its chest: “I look at your vanity.” The figure is endowed with majesty and mystery. The eyes radiate wisdom and alertness. The lips depict contempt and irony. It would seem that the statue has no power and cannot in any way influence the course of events. A story that happened to one journalist proves the opposite. A young photographer wanted to take unique photographs by climbing onto the statue. After trying to get closer, as if someone had pushed him, the journalist fell, and when he woke up, he discovered that the shots taken had been erased from the film. The magical power of the Sphinx showed up more than once. Therefore, the Egyptians firmly believe that the statue protects them and watches for the Sunrise.

Why does the Sphinx have no nose or beard?

Another amazing feature of the oldest statue in the world is the absence of a nose and beard. There are three most common versions on this matter. The first one says that The Sphinx's nose was hit by an artillery shot during the war with Napoleon. Official sources they reject this, since in the drawings of an earlier age the figure is already without a nose and beard. According to the second version, in the 14th century, an Islamic extremist climbed onto the figure and barbarically mutilated it, wanting to rid the world of the idol. After which the fanatic was caught and burned right at the feet of the lion.

The third version has scientific confirmation and speaks of the absence of parts of the face due to water erosion. This theory is supported by French and Japanese scientists.

• During excavations, tools, stone blocks, and the remains of workers' belongings were found at the foot of the statue, which suggests that the builders quickly abandoned the site after the Sphinx was completed.
• Excavations led by M. Lehner helped establish the approximate diet of the workers, judging by which we can safely say that the builders received decent wages.
• The Sphinx was colorful. Although the statue is now naturally sandy in color, there are still flecks of yellow and blue paint on the chest and face.
• The Egyptian Sphinx has ancient Greek roots. But the Greek figure in mythology is depicted as more cruel and sullen, in contrast to the Egyptian one.
• In Egypt there is a statue of an androsphinx because it lacks the wings and face of a woman.

Restoration of the Great Sphinx

There have been repeated attempts to restore and excavate the Sphinx from under the sand. The first who began to save the oldest sculpture were the pharaohs Thutmose IV and Ramses II. The Italians also cleaned the statue in 1817, and later in 1925. In the recent past, the Sphinx was closed to tourists for about 4 months, after which, in 2014, the restoration was completed.

What to see nearby

You can travel around Giza not only for the sake of the Great Sphinx. Nearby, on the plateau, there are 3 famous pyramids, including. All of them are located within walking distance and do not require additional transport, according to tourists.

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 of antiquity. The length of the body is 3 compartment cars (73.5 m), and the height is 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 upper 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 a human form. Restorations and renovations over many thousands of years could have reduced the head or enlarged the torso.

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 away rock 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, which is proven by drawings of the 18th century: 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. Frederic 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 areas brick wall, which stretches 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 project restoration and conservation.

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 2,000 limestone blocks were added to the structure, and chemical treatment, 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 son of Cheops, looks from the figure of the god who protects the pharaoh's journey to 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. aquatic 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 joint work “The Secret of the Sphinx” was presented, 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 across Egypt had 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, and studied the history and religion of 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 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. BC. This date is understandably disputed by Egyptologists, since not a single archaeological artifact dating from these years has been 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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It can be seen from afar, its power attracts the eye and many questions arise. To this day, the Great Sphinx remains one of the most ancient and mysterious statues. Its height is more than 20 meters. The width of the sculpture reaches 57 meters. It is surprising that the desert sands in the 17th century BC. swallowed up the Sphinx. The sculpture disappeared for several centuries. And only in the 5th century BC. Thutmose ordered it to be excavated. The last excavations were carried out by the Egyptian Antiquities Service in 1925.

The Great Sphinx as a collective image

The creators of the Sphinx gave great value astrology. Using her knowledge, and in particular, the stations of the Sun in the Zodiac: Taurus, Scorpio, Leo, Aquarius. In addition, when depicting the Sphinx, sculptors embodied in the sculpture the collective image of the pharaoh, Imhotep, and the gods Baboon and Horus. Therefore, the Sphinx was given the name “Living Image”.

Age of the Great Sphinx

There are different versions about when the Great Sphinx was created. Some believe the statue is 200,000 years old. According to scientist N.N. Sochevanov, the Great Sphinx began to be built 44 thousand years BC. and finished after 1200 years. Many who study the age of the giant sculpture focus on the processes occurring in the limestone as a result of erosion. Dr. R. Schoch, professor of geology at Boston University, takes into account the degree of erosion of the rock and believes that the Sphinx was created around 5000-6000 BC, since it rained during this period.

Unfortunately, time has not been kind to the figure, and people treated her barbarously. The Sphinx's face is disfigured. In the 14th century, one of the sheikhs, in order to fulfill the covenant of Muhammad, who forbade depicting human face, damaged the sculpture. The head of the Sphinx was used for target practice by the Mamelukes.

Now the place in Egypt where the monumental structure is located is a place for excursions. The majestic Great Sphinx evokes fear and wonder at the same time.

You can learn more about the history of Egypt and beyond at the Abdin Palace, which is now a museum complex.

Great Sphinx on the map of Cairo

It can be seen from afar, its power attracts the eye and many questions arise. To this day, the Great Sphinx remains one of the most ancient and mysterious statues. Its height is more than 20 meters. The width of the sculpture reaches 57 meters. It is surprising that the desert sands in the 17th century BC. swallowed up the Sphinx. The sculpture disappeared for several centuries. And only in the 5th century BC. Thutmose ordered it to be excavated. ..." />

The Great Sphinx, standing on the Giza plateau, is the most ancient and grandiose sculpture ever created by man. Its dimensions are impressive: the length is 72 m, the height is about 20 m, the nose was as tall as a person, and the face was 5 m in height.

According to many studies, the 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.

The Sphinx is located on the western bank of the Nile facing the sunrise. His gaze is directed to that point on the horizon where the sun rises on the days of the spring and autumn equinox. The huge statue, made of monolithic limestone, a fragment of the base of the Giza plateau, represents the torso of a lion with the head of a man.

1. The 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 construction places of worship, 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 deposited from the western part of the desert. Indeed, the Sphinx was regularly “freed” from sand deposits until the 20th century.

The purpose of creating the Great Sphinx is also unknown. Modern science believes that it had religious significance and preserved the peace of the dead pharaohs. It is possible that the colossus performed some other function that has not yet been clarified. This is indicated by both its exact eastern orientation and the parameters encrypted in the proportions.

2. Older than the pyramids

Restoration work that began in connection with emergency condition 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 Nile bed 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.

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3. What is the Sphinx sick with?

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.

Over many millennia, the Sphinx was repeatedly buried under sand. Somewhere around 1400 BC. e. Pharaoh Thutmose IV, after a wonderful dream, ordered to dig up the Sphinx, installing a stele between the front paws of the lion in honor of this event. However, then only the paws and the front part of the statue were cleared of sand. Later, the giant sculpture was cleaned under the Romans and Arabs.

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.

4. 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."

The ancient Egyptian name of the statue has not been preserved; the word “Sphinx” is Greek and is associated with the verb “to strangle”. The Arabs called the Sphinx "Abu el-Khoya" - "father of horror." There is an assumption that the ancient Egyptians called the sphinxes “seshep-ankh” - “the image of Being (Living)”, that is, the Sphinx was the embodiment of god on earth.

5. 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.

Now the Great Sphinx is badly damaged - its face is disfigured, the royal uraeus in the form of a cobra raised on its forehead has disappeared, and the festive shawl that hung from its head to its shoulders has partially broken off.

6.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.

People did not spare the face and nose of the statue. Previously, the absence of a nose was associated with the actions of Napoleonic troops in Egypt. Now its loss is associated with the vandalism of a Muslim sheikh, who tried to destroy the statue for religious reasons, or the Mamluks, who used the head of the statue as a target for their cannons. The beard was lost in the 19th century. Some of its fragments are kept in Cairo, some in the British Museum. TO 19th century, according to the descriptions, only the head and paws of the Sphinx were visible.