For centuries the Great Sphinx of Giza has been the most mysterious and legendary statue in the world. It has not yet been established by whom and for what purpose the sculpture was erected. This does not prevent the Sphinx from remaining a historical heritage. Perhaps you have not heard these little-known facts about the famous sculpture!
The Great Sphinx is the oldest statue in the history of mankind
Although the dates for the construction of the statue are uncertain, the Sphinx of Giza is considered the oldest monument in history. However, there are more ancient sphinxes, for example, depicting the half-brother and sister of Pharaoh Khafren, during whose reign, according to historians, the Great Sphinx was erected.
The largest statue in the world
The Sphinx of Giza, 72 meters long and 20 meters high, is considered the largest monolithic statue in the world. It's amazing how in ancient times man managed to erect such a gigantic, centuries-old sculpture.
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The Sphinx had different names
It was not always called the Great Sphinx. In 1400 BC. The Sphinx was referred to as the "Statue of the Great Khepri", in honor of the god who was dreamed of by Pharaoh Thutmose IV. The Sphinx was also called "Horem-Akhet" or "Mountains on the horizon", "balkhib" and "bilhow".
The Sphinx was buried under the sand for a long time
The reason for the long-term presence of the sculpture under the sand is the winds and weather conditions of the Egyptian desert. The first restoration of the sphinx took place in the 15th century BC, by the forces of Thutmose IV. Three millennia later, the sculpture was again buried under the sands until the 19th century. It wasn't until the 1920s that the Sphinx was excavated and rebuilt.
Once the Sphinx lost its crown
During the 1920 restorations, some parts of the sculpture were significantly damaged, including the crown, which was later restored with soft limestone in the 1930s. In 1988, a 320-kilogram part of the statue's shoulder fell off, which was later also restored.
The Sphinx and its missing nose
One of the most widespread legends about the absence of a nose at the statue says that Napoleon Bonaparte ordered to beat off the nose, this was indicated in many documents. However, later, according to the early sketches of the Sphinx, historians determined that Napoleon was not to blame: the statue had lost its nose even before his birth.
The Sphinx was once colorful
Now the Sphinx merges with the sandy surroundings, although it used to be multi-colored - this is confirmed by the remnants of red paint, which are still visible on the statue's face, and traces of blue and yellow paint found on the body. The colors “faded” over time due to the weather conditions of the desert.
The Sphinx had a beard
The fact that the statue has a beard is confirmed by the remains that were removed due to severe erosion. They are now kept in the British Museum and the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities in Cairo. Some experts argue that the Sphinx was not originally bearded, the element was added later, during the reconstruction under Thutmose IV.
The Egyptian Sphinx is a more "positive" statue than the Greek Sphinx
Initially in Greek mythology, the Sphinx was described as a cruel, insidious creature. The Egyptian Sphinx is a positive version of the Greek: he is merciful, strong and kind, as his cult, which has existed for a long time, also showed.
It is unknown who built the Sphinx
Although scientists have determined that the Sphinx was built by people, the question of who exactly remains open to this day. The most popular version says: The Sphinx was erected during the reign of Pharaoh Khafre, which dates back to about 2500 BC. Many people notice the similarity of the face of the statue with the appearance of the pharaoh. A number of archaeologists believe that it was Hefren who ordered the construction of a giant monument with his own face.
Whoever erected the Sphinx did not complete the construction
According to one of the historical theories, the Sphinx was supposed to look more impressive than we see it now. The fact is that American and Egyptian archaeologists during the study of the sculpture discovered large stone blocks and sets of tools nearby. This clearly indicates that the construction of the Sphinx has been suspended for some unknown reason.
The workers who erected the statue had great food
Although many are convinced that the Sphinx was built by slaves who suffered in difficult conditions, the American archaeologist Mark Lehner found an interesting find proving that the workers were well fed. As a result of excavations near the monument, the archaeologist determined that the builders had a regular diet, including beef and lamb.
For a long time there was a cult of the Sphinx
The worship of the Sphinx arose after its construction. The reason was the mystical visions of Pharaoh Thutmose IV, in which the sphinx appeared to him as a virtuous being. In addition, the Egyptian Sphinx, according to many people, is endowed with mystical power, which made it even more popular.
The Sphinx is surrounded by many theories
The secrets of the Sphinx of Giza are the central subject of a number of theories, including astronomical ones. The notorious archaeologist Mark Lehner mentioned in one of his works that the Sphinx with the pyramids of Giza was built to process solar energy. In another theory, British writer Graham Hancock tells about the correlation of the location of the Sphinx, pyramids and the Nile River with the stars of the constellations Leo, Orion, and the Milky Way.
The Sphinx of Giza is not actually a sphinx
If you go into the details of the term "sphinx", then the Sphinx of Giza does not coincide with its traditional description. By definition from classical Greek mythology, a sphinx is a creature with wings, the body of a lion, and the head of a woman.