Egyptian Sphinx -
Sphinx Egypt - Egypt Sphinx
Most people first associate "sphinx" to the
Great Sphinx of Egypt, which was 'rediscovered' by the western world
when Napoleon's soldiers came across it in 1798. However, there are
other sphinxes in Egypt as well as in other cultures and myth (see Greek
and Mars links below). In 1854 Layard wrote in Discoveries at Nineveh
(Assyria) of his excavation of two alabaster sphinxes at a palace
entrance. These sphinxes, about 5'x5' (1.5m), were winged, beardless,
and had ornamental caps. Layard believed they may have been altars.
In Egypt alone there are enough
sphinxes that they have been categorized by type: crisophinx (lion body
with ram head), hierocosphinx (lion body with hawk head), and
androsphinx (lion body with human head, like the Great Sphinx). Viewed
as protectors and guardians, the lesser sphinxes are often seen at
temple entrances. Rows of sphinx statues can be found at Luxor and
Kamak, and new statues are still being found. Since 1994 Jean Yves
Emperor has been conducting an underwater dig in Alexandria harbor. He
believes he has discovered the remains of the Pharos Lighthouse wonder,
and has thus far located 26 sphinx statues dating from Sesostris III
(12th Dynasty, 1991-1786 BCE) through Psamtik III (circa 525 BCE in the
26th Dynasty).
The name itself derives from the Greek
word "sphingo," to strangle, or "sphingein," to bind tight, based on the
Greek Sphinx's habit of strangling its victims. The name was
subsequently applied to the Egyptian and other arabic sphinxes because
of their physical similarity to descriptions of the mythical Greek
Sphinx, although the construction of the Great Sphinx certainly predates
the Greek story.
Although it is unknown what the Great
Sphinx was originally called by the Egyptians, it is referred to circa
1500 B.C.E. as Hor-em-akht (Horus in the Horizon), Bw-How (Place of
Horus) and also as Ra-horakhty (Ra of Two Horizons).
An air of mystery has always surrounded
the inscrutable Sphinx, causing speculation about its true age and
purpose, method of construction, hidden chambers, role in prophesy,
proximity to the equally mysterious pyramids and helping to associate it
with riddles and secret knowledge.
Location
The Great Sphinx is located in Egypt
on the Giza (Gizeh) plateau, situated about six miles west of Cairo.
This area is part of the necropolis of ancient Memphis, the seat of
power for the pharaohs. The Sphinx faces due east a short distance from
a trio of large pyramids (Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops), Khafre
(Chephren) and Menkaura (Mycerinus)). Giza is a rich archaeological site
which also contains the smaller Queen's pyramids, temples, causeways,
and numerous rectangular tombs (mastabas) for attendants and other
family members.
Follow the image below for a full-size
view of a computer model reconstruction of the Giza "complex."
Description
The Great Sphinx is a statue with the
body of a male lion with the head of a human. The Great Sphinx was
excavated and carved from a relatively soft, natural limestone
outcropping on the Giza Plateau. The extensions which fan out at the
sides of the head are part of the royal nemes (striped headcloth). At
one time there was a uraeus (rearing cobra headpiece which protected
from evil forces) and a narrow beard. It looms 241 feet long and 65 feet
high.
Between the forelegs of the Sphinx and
in front of his chest, is the "Dream" Stela (a carved or inscribed
commemorative stone slab or pillar) of Thutmose IV (c.1400-1390 BCE).
This granite stela dates from the first year of Thutmose's reign and
recounts a dream from his early years in which the Sphinx (or Horus?)
promised him kingship. In return, Thutmose would clear the sand from
around the body of the Sphinx. In front of the stela is a freestanding
altar, a remnant of a chapel placed here during the reign of Rameses II
(c.1279-1213 BCE).
Age of the Sphinx
The traditional and probably still
majority view is that the Great Sphinx was built at the same time as the
nearby Pyramid of Khafre (Khaf-Ra, Chephren) in about 2540 B.C.E. The
face of the Great Sphinx has been thought to be Khafre's, though recent
evidence casts doubt on this notion (see below).
However there has been lively debate in
recent years arguing that it may be anywhere from two to four times that
old. John Anthony West first noticed weathering patterns on the Sphinx
that were consistent with water erosion rather than erosion produced by
wind and sand. These patterns were not found on other structures on the
plateau. Geologist Robert Schock agreed that water erosion was in
evidence.
Egypt is arid today, but about 10,000
years ago the land was wet and rainy. West and Schock conclude the
Sphinx must be on the order of 7,000 to 10,000 years old in order to
have the marks of water erosion they found.
Also, Robert Bauval and Graham Hancock
have developed a theory that the Sphinx, when considered with the
neighboring pyramids and ancient writings, is part of, and possibly the
first element of, a kind of astronomical map related to the
constellation Orion. They have concluded that the "best fit" for this
map is found for the position of the stars as they were in 10,500 B.C.E.
Finally, there are no inscriptions or
writings that directly indicate the builder or date of construction for
the Sphinx. There are, in fact, some minor references that the Sphinx
existed prior to the pyramids.
The evidence is controversial. Yet
consider ... even using the traditional age, the Great Sphinx is 4,500
years old! Even the standing stones at ancient Stonehenge are not that
old (though special use of the site itself dates to the 8th or 9th
millennium). This Sphinx's great age is part of its wonder, and a big
part of the reason we have insufficient written record to know more
about its age and construction.
Construction and Maintenance
The Great Sphinx was not 'carved' in
the usual sense of the word, rather giant blocks of soft limestone were
quarried around the Great Sphinx to give its basic shape. This is why
the Great Sphinx appears to sit below the surrounding land in its own
'nook.' These blocks, some many times more massive than the blocks used
in pyramid construction (up to about 70 tons, and measuring
30'x10'x12'), were used to build the 'sphinx temple' located immediately
in front of the Great Sphinx. Additional shaping of the body was done,
then finer shaping was accomplished by casing or sheathing the body with
masonry. (Similarly, the blocks used to construct the pyramids, while
finely and masterfully fitted, did not produce smooth faces. Their
step-like sides were shaped with masonry, as can be seen in the pyramid
of Khafre where only the top remains shaped.)
The head was more traditionally
sculpted from the same stone, and the forepaws were separately made from
blocks of limestone.
As many of the ancient marvels, the
Sphinx has suffered the ravages of time, man and modern pollution. The
rearing cobra headpiece (uraeus) that sat on the king's forehead is
lost, the nose is damaged (though contrary to popular it was lost prior
to the arrival of Napoleon's army), and the beard now consists of only
museum fragments. The Great Sphinx has fallen to disrepair and been
mostly covered by sand many times. Records indicate as early as 1400
B.C.E. Thutmose IV cleared sand covering the Sphinx. Most recently,
after at least four clearings since 1800, a massive and expensive
restoration and preservation project has been underway from 1950 to the
present. Early on in this project, regular cement was used for repairs
which was incompatible with the limestone, and actually caused
additional damage.
There is some speculation that the
Sphinx may have started as a yardang. According to this theory, a
limestone outcrop which perhaps already suggested a head or face was
carved with no body. The head would have appeared to stand on the ground
much like the states of Easter Island. Much later, perhaps following
major climate changes, the excavation took place which formed the body
as we know it today. If this theory has merit, the origins of the Sphinx
(although not as a sphinx) could be very ancient indeed
Who Does the Sphinx Represent
Egyptologists have long believed that
the head of the Great Sphinx was intended to be a likeness of the
pharaoh Khafre because of the proposed dates of its construction, the
use of the royal headpiece and its physical relationship to Khafre's
pyramid.
However, in 1996, a NY detective and
expert in identification, took various measurements of the size, angles
and proportions of the head and concluded that it did not match known
representations of Khafre's face. There was a greater resemblance to
Khafre's elder brother Djedefre, however the lack of any records
regarding the head leaves us in a bit of a quandary. It is possible, but
not likely, that the Great Sphinx was given a generic royal head.
Guardian's Sphinx site (links below) has a facial comparison showing the
Sphinx, Khafre and Djedefre, though comparison is difficult without
seeing several angles in detail.
You can tell by examining some of
the photographs that the head of the Great Sphinx is relatively small in
relation to the lion body, which is otherwise in correct proportion.
Possible explanations could be that the head has been re-carved one or
more times since the first image was constructed. A subsequent pharaoh,
or pharaohs, may have preferred to see his own likeness, or perhaps the
original head was that of a ram or hawk and the shape left insufficient
material for an accurate facial rendering without reducing the size of
the head even further. Repairing damage to the head over thousands of
years might have necessitated reducing or altering facial proportions.
All this could account for the small size of the head in relation to the
body, particularly if the Great Sphinx is older than traditionally
believed.
Mystical Connections
While
the Sphinx has always been a wonder, and certainly a mystery in modern
times, its "mystical connections" probably began in the 1940's with the
American psychic and prophet Edgar Cayce. In a trance he predicted that
a chamber would be found under the front paws of the Sphinx which would
contain a library of records originating with the survivors of the
destruction of Atlantis. While this may sound far-fetched, intriguing
bits of evidence have emerged.
Workers restoring the Sphinx located a
doorway in its side. Old photographs show that this door was at least
partially open at one time. The full extent of this opening have not
been explored.
In 1995 workers renovating a parking
lot near the Sphinx uncovered a series of tunnels and pathways, two of
which dip further underground near the Sphinx. Bauval believes these are
ancient and probably contemporaneous with the Sphinx itself.
While examining evidence of erosion,
West's team used a seismograph around the Sphinx. They found evidence of
hollow, regularly shaped spaces or chambers a few meters below ground
between the paws and to either side of the Sphinx. To date, no further
examination has been allowed.
It is very possible there are chambers
under or near the Sphinx. Certainly the fantastic discoveries have not
come to an end. Witness Kent Weeks' discovery of KV5 in 1989. As
excavation has continued to the present, the largest and most elaborate
tomb in the Valley of the Kings has been revealed, believed built by
Ramses II as a tomb for his sons.