The Sphinx in Egypt represents the same mystery for scientists as the pyramids and the Valley of the Kings. Let's try to understand the purpose of its creation and the methods of its construction. Let's find out what they say in the 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
Great Sphinx.
Egypt Author: Most likely Hamish2k, the first uploader - Most likely Hamish2k, the first uploader, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link The Sphinx in Egypt is the most grandiose surviving sculpture of antiquity. The length of the body is 3 compartment cars (73.5 m), and the height is a 6-story building (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 appears that the upper part was rebuilt 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 reduce the head or enlarge the body.
Where is the Sphinx?
The monument is located in the necropolis of Memphis next to the pyramidal structures of Khufu (Cheops), Khafre (Chephren) and Menkaure (Mycerinus) about 10 km from Cairo, on the western bank of the Nile River on the Giza Plateau.
Nutrition
When using ready-made food, preference is given to super-premium or premium products - they are individually selected for kittens, castrated, sterilized and pregnant pets.
A diet of regular products is selected with a specialist and should include:
- lean meats and offal, previously frozen or processed with boiling water;
- boiled sea fish - 2-3 times a week;
- vegetables;
- cereals;
- cottage cheese, kefir or fermented baked milk – 2 times a week;
- eggs, preferably quail and hard cheese – once a week.
The products are introduced one by one and in small portions, so that if an allergic reaction occurs, the cause can be easily determined. To replenish energy, the majority of your cat's diet should be high-carbohydrate foods.
You should not give sphinxes:
- legumes;
- potatoes;
- pork;
- sausages;
- fat;
- sweet;
- salty;
- smoked food.
With a natural diet, you should additionally select a vitamin complex with a veterinarian and give it in a course once every six months.
Advice! If a cat eats natural products, he needs to brush his teeth and give him a cracker to chew 1-2 times a week to remove plaque.
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?
Cost and principles of choice when buying kittens
The cost is affected by the presence of defects such as:
- underdeveloped muscles;
- small ears;
- muzzle is too long or too narrow;
- the presence of fur in some areas of the body, more than 3 mm.
The price for each Sphynx kitten is set individually by the breeder - first of all, it depends on the pedigree and the opportunity to take part in exhibitions in the future. Buying such a pet will cost on average $600–1000. The cat is sold together with a passport, vaccination certificates and pedigree.
If you have no plans for exhibition activities, you can find a baby for 100–300 dollars - these animals have some external defects that do not meet the standards.
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 a detailed map of the statue 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 one hundred sculptors could have worked on the creation of the mysterious figure for 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.
Definition
What is a sphinx? This word first appeared in the Land of the Pyramids, and later spread throughout the world. So, in ancient Greece you can find a similar creature - a beautiful woman with wings. In Egypt, these creatures were most often masculine. The sphinx with the face of the female pharaoh Hatshepsut is famous. Having received the throne and pushed aside the rightful heir, this powerful woman tried to rule like a man, even wearing a special false beard. Therefore, it is not surprising that many statues of this time have found her face.
What function did they perform? According to mythology, the sphinx acted as the guardian of tombs and temple buildings, which is why most of the statues that have survived to this day were discovered near such structures. Thus, in the temple of the supreme deity, solar Amun, approximately 900 of them were found.
So, answering the question of what a sphinx is, it should be noted that this is a statue characteristic of the culture of Ancient Egypt, which, according to mythology, guarded temple buildings and tombs. The material used for creation was limestone, which was quite abundant in the Country of the Pyramids.
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.
Mysteries of history
Let's get acquainted with the secrets of the Egyptian Sphinx, many of which have not yet been solved:
- Legend has it that there are three underground passages under the giant monument. However, only one of them was found - behind the giant's head.
- The age of the largest sphinx is still unknown. Most scholars believe that it was built during the reign of Khafre, but there are those who consider the sculpture to be more ancient. Thus, her face and head retained traces of the influence of the water element, which is why the hypothesis arose that the giant was erected more than 6 thousand years ago, when a terrible flood hit Egypt.
- Perhaps the army of the French emperor is wrongly accused of causing damage to the great monument of the past, since there are drawings by an unknown traveler in which the giant is already depicted without a nose. Napoleon was not yet born at that time.
- As you know, the Egyptians knew writing and documented in detail everything on papyri - from conquests and the construction of temples to the collection of taxes. However, not a single scroll was found that contained information about the construction of the monument. Perhaps these documents simply have not survived to this day. Perhaps the reason is that the giant appeared long before the Egyptians themselves.
- The first mention of the Egyptian Sphinx was found in the works of Pliny the Elder, which talks about the work of excavating the sculpture from sand.
The majestic monument of the Ancient World has not yet revealed all its mysteries to us, so its research continues.
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 it with a high stone wall. At the end of 2010, Egyptian archaeologists excavated sections of the brick wall, which stretched 132 m around the monument. Scientists believe that this is the work of Thutmose IV, who wants to protect the statue from drifts.
Cultural and historical significance of the structure
According to historians, in almost all ancient civilizations the lion was the personification of the sun and solar deity. In the drawings of the ancient Egyptians, the pharaoh was often depicted as a lion, attacking the enemies of the state and exterminating them. It was on the basis of these beliefs that the version was built that the great Sphinx is a kind of mystical guard protecting the peace of the rulers buried in the tombs of the Giza Valley.
It is still not known what the inhabitants of Ancient Egypt called the Sphinx. It is believed that the word “sphinx” itself is of Greek origin and is literally translated as “strangler.” In some Arabic texts, in particular in the famous collection “A Thousand and One Nights,” the Sphinx is called nothing less than “Father of Terror.” There is another opinion, according to which the ancient Egyptians called the statue “the image of being.” This once again confirms that the Sphinx was for them the earthly incarnation of one of the deities.
The story of the grief-restoration of the Sphinx in Giza
Despite the efforts, the structure was filled up again. In 1858, part of the sand was cleared by Auguste Mariette, founder of the Egyptian Antiquities Service. And in the period from 1925 to 1936. French engineer Emile Barais completed the clearing completely. Perhaps for the first time, the divine beast was once again exposed to the elements.
It is also clear that the statue is being destroyed by wind, humidity and exhaust fumes from Cairo. Realizing this, the authorities are trying to preserve the ancient monument. In the last century, in 1950, a huge and expensive restoration and conservation project was started.
But at the initial stage of work, instead of benefit, only additional damage was caused. The cement used for repairs, as it turned out later, was incompatible with limestone. Over 6 years, more than 2000 limestone blocks were added to the structure, chemical treatment was carried out, but... this did not bring a positive result.
Appearance of the Egyptian sphinxes
The appearance of sphinxes differs depending on the breed - there are two main types that are not related to each other:
- Canadian - animals with bare skin;
- Donskaya - the pet may have a small amount of hair on the body, especially in the area of the paws and tail.
After crossing them with other breeds, the following varieties of Sphynx cats appeared:
| Breed | Description |
| Peterbald | A mixture of the Don Sphynx and an Oriental cat made it possible to breed a hairless cat with an Oriental appearance. |
| Ukrainian Levkoy | After crossing the Scottish Fold with the Don breed, kittens are born without hair, with drooping ears. |
| Bambino and minskin | Hairless cats with short legs originated from the Canadian Sphynx and the Munchkin. |
| Elf | Hairless cats with ears turned outward are the result of selection between the Canadian species and the Curl. |
According to the standards, gray, purple, white, red, black, blue and pink sphinxes are distinguished - the color of the pet can be one tone or two-tone.
Is it true that there are no allergies to hairless cats?
Many people believe that due to the lack of hair, sphinxes do not provoke an allergic reaction, but in fact this is a mistaken opinion:
- Most often, an allergy does not occur to wool, but to a protein contained in the saliva, secretions from the skin or urine of cats and kittens.
- The Sphynx's body produces a large amount of sebum, which can become an allergen.
Important! You can keep this breed if you are allergic to saliva - in this case you need to wash your hands after each contact with the animal.
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. Photo by Henri Bechard, 1887 The tombs of the pharaohs change their shape and size over time. Mastabas and pyramids 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. Local residents 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 its identity: the face of Khafre, the son of Cheops, looks out from the figure of a god who protects the pharaoh's journey to the afterlife, making it safe.
In 1996, a New York detective and identification expert revealed that the resemblance was more noticeable to Khafre's older brother Djedefre (or son, according to other sources). The debate on this topic is still ongoing.
Top 10: facts, assumptions and theories about the Great Sphinx of Giza
The Great Sphinx is sometimes called the eighth wonder of the ancient world, because this man-made giant is indeed a world-famous symbol of ancient Egypt, endlessly impressive to both amateurs and scientists. This amazing monument allows us to look far back into the past, and some researchers hope that one day the Sphinx will even help us unravel the secrets of the pyramids near which it is located. You will be surprised, but scientists are still puzzling over the mysteries of the ancient Egyptians. In this list you will learn not only about the secrets of Giza themselves, but also that some of the secrets of the Sphinx are protected even by the authorities of modern Egypt.
10. Drowning in the Sands
Photo: Wikimedia
For many years, the most famous and outstanding minds of the Western world did not see the Great Sphinx in its entirety. Even Napoleon saw only the head of the Sphinx when he arrived in Egypt back in 1798. The rest of the stone sculpture was already buried in the sand. It was only thanks to the persistence of the French engineer Emil Baraize that the statue was excavated almost completely, revealing itself to the world in its current form for the first time in thousands of years.
Many researchers gave up, but Barez devoted more than 10 years to his mission and saved the huge statue of the Sphinx from a huge amount of sand that surrounded and covered most of the body of the mythical beast. In all its beauty and glory, the monument appeared before the world community in 1936.
Some of the prominent scientists of past centuries who also embarked on very large-scale excavations, but later abandoned their venture, included Giovanni Caviglia (leading Egyptologist of the late 18th and early 19th centuries), Auguste Mariette (respected French Egyptologist of the 19th century) , and Gaston Maspero (Gaston Maspero, a recognized Egyptologist of the early 19th century).
9. Carved from one monolith
The ancient Sphinx was carved from one single piece of limestone rock, and the finished sculpture is 73 meters long and 20 meters high. Agree, these are impressive dimensions for a monolith! Although the current dimensions of the monument are slightly larger than the original ones due to additional stone blocks. The Great Sphinx of Giza is the largest Sphinx known to science.
To say that this is an amazing achievement in the history of construction and architecture would not be laudatory enough. It is not without reason that some theorists even suggest that the famous pyramids and the Sphinx appeared in Egypt not without the intervention of extraterrestrial civilizations, because all these buildings were indeed ahead of their time. Whether they are real aliens or simply long-forgotten and lost technologies of an ancient culture, all Egyptian historical monuments deserve special attention and recognition.
Even the Temple of the Sphinx, built not far from the sculpture itself, was and remains a phenomenal structure made of blocks whose total weight exceeds 200 tons. The temple was built at the same time as the Sphinx itself, and scientists still do not fully understand how the ancient Egyptians managed to organize such a large-scale construction.
8. Nobody knows who exactly built the Great Sphinx
The construction of the Sphinx was a grandiose undertaking, but neither outside nor inside the complex scientists found a single mention of who was responsible for the creation of this monument, for what purpose and when exactly it began to be carved out of stone.
Many adherents of classical theories and the most recognized Egyptologists insist that it was Pharaoh Khafre who started the construction of the monument. Researchers came to this conclusion thanks to mentions of this ruler on a stone slab discovered between the paws of the giant Sphinx. The tablet was nicknamed the “Stele of Sleep”, and there is still a lot of controversy surrounding it. In addition, many archaeologists claim that the Sphinx was partly carved in the image and likeness of Pharaoh Khafre, although a number of other scholars consider such claims to be unfounded.
One way or another, we still don’t know exactly who exactly started the construction of the Great Sphinx, and the Stele of Dreams can only indicate who was involved in the appearance of the slab itself.
7. According to ancient texts, the Great Sphinx spoke with Pharaoh Thutmose IV
Photo: Captmondo
According to ancient Egyptian legend, before Thutmose IV became the ruler of a great empire, while hunting, he decided to rest in the shadow of the head of the Great Sphinx, which was already buried up to his neck in sand. The tale says that in a dream, a deity appeared to Thutmose, embodied in a mythical creature with a lion's body, and spoke to the sleeping prince. The Sphinx promised the young man that if he cleared the sand-covered statue, he would become the next pharaoh. Thutmose came from a royal family, but initially he was not supposed to succeed his father.
Waking up, the prince began to dig and clear the sand around the neck and head of the stone beast until he achieved real success in this matter. As we know from both folklore and history, the deity kept his word, because Thutmose eventually became the ruler of ancient Egypt. The legend was inscribed on that very Stele of Sleep, a stone slab lying between the paws of the Great Sphinx.
6. Second Sphinx...
Photo: Robster1983 at English Wikipedia
It is possible that a huge number of Egyptian artifacts, resting under the centuries-old desert sands, are still waiting for the day of their discovery. Perhaps archaeologists will find hundreds of other buildings and sculptures that are now hidden underground. Some researchers even claim that somewhere in Egypt there is another Great Sphinx, easily comparable in size and significance to the one located in Giza.
Writers and Egyptologists Gerry Cannon and Malcolm Hutton are almost certain of this, and right now they are looking for evidence of this theory, studying a huge amount of written sources in the hope of finding the trail of a forgotten monument. They want to find the Second Great Sphinx for a fairly simple reason - in most ancient works of art, sphinxes were always depicted in pairs. That is why some archaeologists suggest that next to the well-known Sphinx of Giza there once stood (lay) another one of the same kind. Perhaps for some reason it was destroyed, but Egyptologists hope to find at least some ruins confirming its former existence. They say that these creatures were built in pairs as the embodiment of the union of the Sun God and the Moon God.
5. The Great Sphinx has existed since the beginning of time
As we have already found out, almost nothing is known about the initiator of the creation of the Great Sphinx, and only the Stele of Dreams says that the monument has always been here, since the “first time,” also called Zepi Tepi (the moment of the creation of all things). According to ancient Egyptian texts, during the Zepi Tepi period, the gods lived among people, and these were golden times for everyone.
Of course, most scientists are sure that this is just an ancient fairy tale, although there are also historians who believe that the old legend is not without meaning. One such Egyptologist is Robert Bauval, and he has spent decades of his life studying the Great Sphinx of Giza, its origins and purpose. Beauval's work, known as the Orion Correlation Theory, is based on the assumption that the Sphinx and the Pyramids of Giza are associated with an asterism in the constellation Orion. Beauval believes that around 10,450 BC the location of the pyramids corresponded almost perfectly to Orion's belt.
If the Egyptologist's theory is correct, this means that the Great Sphinx is almost 12,500 years old, which is much older than what is generally believed in scientific circles. In the next paragraph, you will meet another famous and respected expert, who also claims that the ancient monument is almost 12.5 thousand years old. Moreover, this scientist in no way connects his opinion with Beauval’s theory.
4. Water erosion refutes the most generally accepted opinion about the age of the Sphinx of Giza
Leading Egyptologists insist that the ancient sculpture was built about 4,500 years ago, but recently there is growing evidence that the Great Sphinx appeared in the Egyptian desert much earlier. One of the researchers who has devoted many years to studying this issue is geologist Robert Schoch, and he is convinced that it is the traces of water erosion on the sides of the monument that can indicate the true age of the ancient sculpture.
According to Schoch's research, the level of corrosion indicates that the Sphinx stood here for much longer than 4 thousand years, and during this time it was subject to constant and regular rainfall. The most interesting thing about this statement is that according to independent geological reports, there has been no rainy weather in Egypt for quite a long time - almost 7-12 thousand years or even more.
If this is true, then the Sphinx may well be 12 thousand years old. Some controversial research suggests that the Great Sphinx appeared in the Egyptian desert hundreds of thousands of years ago.
3. Great Sphinx or Anubis?
Photo: Ancient Pages
Most famous Egyptologists believe that the face of the Sphinx was carved in the likeness of the previously mentioned Pharaoh Khafre, although there are versions that it does not belong to a person at all. One theory is that it is entirely a lion, carved from stone as a symbol of the zodiac lion. Although in the history of ancient Egypt, lions were not considered such a status animal that such a huge monument would be built in its honor. In addition, the creature's pose is not quite typical of ordinary lions. Given the enormity of the project, it would be logical to expect that the animal would be rendered as believably as possible and that its high status would be mentioned at least somewhere.
The pose of the statue suggests a dog rather than a lion. This is especially interesting considering that the legendary Anubis was considered a deity with the body of a man and the head of a jackal (the canine family). The supernatural being was called a guide to the afterlife and a guardian of necropolises. Giza can just be counted among the ancient cemeteries, so the Great Sphinx could well have appeared here precisely as the patron of the tombs of pharaohs and noblemen. It is possible that initially it was Anubis, and then the face of the sculpture was changed according to the wishes of some influential Egyptian several centuries after its construction?
2. Tomb of Osiris
Today Osiris is considered more of a legend and a fairy tale than a real person. However, a shaft discovered in the 20th century in one of the buildings near the Great Sphinx may turn out to be the real tomb of an ancient deity.
There are many theories surrounding the discovery of this crypt. Some scholars argue that the tomb is a symbolic place for ritual practices, although other Egyptologists believe that it was a real tomb, built for a real person, who was revered as the god Osiris.
Followers of one of the alternative scientific movements that support the version of Osiris who lived among people preach the theory of paleocontact (the influence of aliens). These researchers believe that the legendary Osiris was in fact neither a deity nor a man, but rather an alien from another planet. To prove their claims, adherents of the theory of ancient astronauts cite an example of photographs of a supposed copy of the Giza necropolis on Mars, where unidentified objects resemble terrestrial pyramids and the sphinx, and they are located almost the same as ancient Egyptian buildings. There is a version that the shaft discovered inside the tomb of Osiris in Giza is a real star gate.
1. Hall of Chronicles
There are rumors that somewhere under the Great Sphinx there is a room with ancient texts, which the most intrigued researchers have already spent a lot of time searching for. Legend has it that the Hall of Chronicles contains esoteric knowledge and a complete chronology of all historical events from the beginning of time. Some researchers believe that the creators and keepers of this room were people from the sunken Atlantis who migrated and settled in Egypt many millennia ago. These people allegedly managed to preserve invaluable information that could provide answers to the most important questions of humanity.
It is said that the famous American mystic Edgar Cayce described the Hall of Records in great detail several times. Many scientists are skeptical about the medium's predictions and such talents in general, however, the accuracy of Cayce's other predictions and even the cases when he allegedly managed to heal people from incurable diseases more than once forced experts to throw up their hands in bewilderment. Could his descriptions of the secret chamber under the Great Sphinx also be true? The only way to find out is to examine the Sphinx itself, but this is not so easy...
Bonus! Empty space under the Sphinx
Remember in the last paragraph we talked about the mystical Hall of Records? In 1997, Joe Jahoda and Dr. Joseph Schor conducted seismological studies, the results of which suggest that there are mysterious voids under the Great Sphinx monument. Just where the medium Edgar Cayce predicted... Further experiments helped reveal that this space consists of very clear right angles that could not appear there by themselves under the influence of time. They are clearly man-made. Jahoda and Shor suggest that under the Great Sphinx, there really is a secret room in which incredible discoveries can await archaeologists. Scientists even tried to get permission from the Egyptian authorities to excavate, but they were refused.
Another research group has requested permission to work not only under the Great Sphinx, but also in the tunnel system that supposedly connects the Sphinx to the Pyramids of Giza. As in the case of Shor and Jahoda, these archaeologists were not allowed to organize any excavations. What exactly are the Egyptian authorities hiding from the rest of the world?
How old is the giant anyway? Writer vs. Scientists
Researcher John Anthony West
There is currently a lively debate over the dating of the monument. Writer John Anthony West was the first to notice signs of water erosion on the lion's body. 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 the Sphinx would have to be between 7,000 and 10,000 years old to produce the observed effects of water erosion.
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?
Character
Sphinx personality traits:
- Sociability - pets are very attached to the owner, preferring to sleep in their arms or under a blanket on the bed. Cats always greet their owner, they are touchy, but they don’t hold a grudge for a long time. Sometimes a pet's behavior can be overly annoying.
- Playful is an active animal, often getting into mischief at a young age. Due to the lack of fur, sphinxes are not recommended to be taken outside, so it is important to pay enough attention to your pet. In its absence, the cat becomes lethargic and apathetic. They easily find a common language with children.
- Intelligence - Sphynxes quickly get used to the tray and are easy to train. They can be taught to fetch toys, lie down, or stand up on command.
- Lack of aggression - if a cat doesn’t like something, the animal will prefer to hide rather than start scratching or biting.
The St. Petersburg and Canadian Sphynxes are considered the most “talkative,” while the Don variety of cats is considered the most silent. Like other types of cats, sphinxes are characterized by a love of boxes, excessive curiosity and a wary attitude at first towards new people or other animals.
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 the Milky Way. He developed a complex theory that all the structures of a given area, together with the ancient Scriptures, constitute an astronomical map.
The most suitable position of the stars in the sky for this interpretation was in 10500 BC. BC. This date is understandably disputed by Egyptologists, since not a single archaeological artifact dating from these years has been excavated here.
Another assumption is based on photographs of the surface of Mars taken in 1976. They show structures “similar” to the Sphinx and the pyramids in Egypt. You can view the photos on the Zen Architecture channel.
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 to claim the existence of 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, an ancient Greek philosopher, traveled to 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
Another interesting detail of the statue is the inscription on the 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 Sphinx demonstrated magical power 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 says that the nose of the Sphinx was knocked off by an artillery shot during the Napoleonic War. Official sources reject this, since in drawings from 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.
