Sphinx but not a statue in the desert. Great Sphinx as an object of tourism. Nobody knows who built the Sphinx

Each civilization had its own sacred symbols that brought something special to culture and history. The Egyptian guardian of the tombs, the sphinx, is proof of the greatest strength of the country and people, their power. This is a monumental reminder of the divine rulers, who gave the world the image eternal life. The majestic guardian of the desert inspires fear in people to this day: its origin and existence is shrouded in mystery, mystical legends and milestones in history.

Description of the sphinx

The Sphinx is the majestic tireless guardian of the Egyptian tombs. At his post, he had to see many - they all received a riddle from him. Those who found a solution moved on, and those who did not have an answer - great grief awaited.

Riddle of the Sphinx: “Tell me, who walks on four legs in the morning, two in the afternoon, and three in the evening? None of all the creatures living on earth changes like him. When he walks on four legs, then he has less strength and moves more slowly than at other times?

There are several options for the origin of this mysterious creature. Each version was born in different corners planets.

Egyptian guards

The symbol of the greatness of the people - a statue erected in Giza, on the left bank of the Nile River - a sphinx creature with the head of one of the pharaohs - Khafre - and the massive body of a lion. The Egyptian guard is not just a figure, it is a symbol. The body of a lion contains the incommensurable strength of a mythical animal, and the upper part speaks of a sharp mind and incredible memory.

In Egyptian mythology, creatures with the head of a ram or a falcon are mentioned. These are also guardian sphinxes. They are installed at the entrance to the temple to the glory of the gods Horus and Amon. In Egyptology, this creature has varieties depending on the type of head, the presence of functional elements, gender.

Historians claim that the true purpose of the Egyptian sphinxes is to protect the treasures and the body of the deceased pharaoh. Sometimes they were installed at the entrance to temples to scare away thieves. Only meager descriptions of the life of this mythical creature have come down to us. We can only guess what role he was assigned in the life of the ancient Egyptians.

Predator from ancient Greece

Egyptian mythological writings have not survived, but have survived to this day Greek legends. Some researchers suggest that the Greeks borrowed the image of a mysterious creature from the Egyptians, but the right to create the name belongs to the inhabitants of Hellas. There are those who think quite differently: Greece is the birthplace of the Sphinx, and Egypt borrowed it and modified it for themselves.

Both creatures in different mythological texts have similarities only in bodies, their heads are different. The Egyptian sphinx is a male, the Greek is depicted as a woman. She has a bull tail and big wings.

Opinions on the origin of the Greek Sphinx vary:

Some scriptures say that the predator is the child of the union of Typhon and Echidna.
Others claim that this is the daughter of Orff and Chimera.

The character, according to legend, was sent to King Lai as a punishment for stealing the son of King Pelop and taking him away with him. The Sphinx guarded the road at the entrance to the city and she asked each wanderer a riddle. If the answer was wrong, she ate the person. The predator received the only solution to the riddle from Oedipus. The proud creature could not stand the defeat and threw himself on the rocks, this completes his life path in the ancient Greek writings.

Hero of myths in modern texts

The vigilant guard flashed on the pages of works more than once and everywhere he was associated with power and mysticism. To pass through the road guarded by the sphinx, you can only correctly answer the riddle. Joanne Rowling used this image in the book "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" - these are vigilant servants to whom magicians trusted their magical values.

For some science fiction writers, the sphinx is a monster, with some subspecies of genetic mutations.

Sphinx statue at Giza

The monument with the face of Khafre over the tomb of the pharaoh is located on the left bank of the Nile, is part of the whole complex of architecture of the plateau of Ancient Egypt, a few kilometers from the main pyramid in the ensemble - Cheops.

The length of the statue is about 73 m, height 20. It can be seen even from Cairo, although it is located 30 km from Giza.

The Egyptian Sphinx Monument is one of the most popular tourist spots, so it is easy to get to the complex. It is easy to take a taxi to the plateau, the trip from the center will take no more than half an hour. The cost is not more than 30 dollars. If you need to save money and have a lot of time, the bus will do. Some hotels provide a free shuttle service to the Great Sphinx Plateau.

The history of the origin of the Egyptian sphinx

Scientific texts do not accurate description why and who erected this statue, some guesswork. There is evidence that the construction is 4517 years old. Its creation dates back to 2500 BC. e. The architect is supposedly called Pharaoh Khafre. The material of which the Sphinx is composed coincides with the creator's pyramid. The blocks are made of fired clay.

Researchers from Germany suggested that the statue was erected in 7000 BC. e. The hypothesis was put forward on the basis of test samples of the material and erosional changes in clay blocks.

Egyptologists from France claim that the Sphinx statue has gone through several restorations.

purpose

The ancient name of the statue of the Sphinx is " rising Sun”, the inhabitants of ancient Egypt thought that it was a building to the glory of the greatness of the Nile. Many civilizations saw in the sculpture a divine principle and a reference to the image of the Sun God - Ra.

According to some assumptions of researchers, the sphinx is an assistant for the pharaohs in the afterlife and the guard of the tombs from ruin. A composite image associated with several seasons at once: the wings are responsible for autumn, the paws indicate summer, the body is spring, and the head corresponds to winter.

Secrets of the Egyptian Sphinx Statue

For several millennia, Egyptologists cannot agree, they argue about the origin of such a large monument and its true purpose. The Sphinx is fraught with many mysteries, to find the answer to which is not yet possible.

Is there a hall of chronicles

Edgar Cayce, an American architect, was the first to claim that there were underground passages under the statue of the Sphinx. His statement was also confirmed by Japanese researchers who, using X-rays, found a rectangular chamber 5 m long under the lion's left paw. Hypothesis of Edgar Cayce says: the Atlanteans decided to perpetuate the traces of their presence on earth in a special "hall of chronicles."

Archaeologists put forward their theory. In 1980, when drilling 15 m deep, the presence of Aswan granite and traces of the memorial room was proved. In this place of the country there are no deposits of this mineral. It was brought there on purpose and the “hall of chronicles” was inlaid with it.

Where did the Sphinx go?

The ancient Greek philosopher and historian Herodotus, traveling through Egypt, made notes. Upon returning home, he made accurate map the location of the pyramids in the complex, indicating the age according to eyewitnesses and the exact number of sculptures. In his chronicles, he included the number of slaves involved and even detailed the food they were served.

Surprisingly, there is no mention of a great sphinx in his documents. Egyptologists suggest that during the explorations of Herodotus, the statue was completely buried under the sands. This happened to the sphinx several times: in two centuries it was dug up at least 3 times. In 1925, the statue was completely cleared of sand.

Why is he facing east

An interesting fact: on the chest of a large Egyptian sphinx there is an inscription "I look at your fuss." He is indeed majestic and mysterious, wise and wary. There was a barely perceptible smirk on his lips. It seems to many that the monument cannot change the fate of a person in any way, but the facts say otherwise.

One photographer allowed himself too much: he climbed onto the statue for spectacular photos, but felt a push in the back and fell. When he woke up, he did not see the pictures on the camera, despite the fact that all this time he was alone, and the camera was film.

The mystical guardian showed his abilities more than once, so the inhabitants of Egypt are sure that the statue keeps their peace and watches the Sunrise.

Where is the nose and beard of the sphinx

There are several suggestions why the sphinx lacks a nose and beard:

During the great Egyptian campaign of Bonaparte, they were repulsed by artillery shells. The images of the Egyptian Sphinx made earlier than this event refute this theory - parts are already missing on them.
The second theory claims that in the 14th century Islamic extremists tried to mutilate it, obsessed with the idea of ridding the inhabitants of the idol. The vandals were caught and publicly executed right next to the statue.
The third theory is based on erosional changes in sculpture due to the effects of wind and water. This option is accepted by researchers from Japan and France.

Restoration

Researchers have repeatedly made attempts to restore the statue of the great Egyptian sphinx and completely clear it of sand. Ramses II is the first to excavate a folk symbol. Then the restoration was carried out by Italian Egyptologists in 1817 and 1925. In 2014, the statue was closed for cleaning and restoration for several months.

Some Fascinating Facts

In different historical documents there are records that help to better understand the life of the people of Ancient Egypt and get ground for reflection on the origin of the great sphinx:

Excavations of the plateau around the statue revealed that the builders of this gigantic monument left the place of work at the end of the construction quickly. There are remnants of mercenaries' belongings, tools and household items everywhere.
During the construction of the statue of the Sphinx, a high salary was paid - this is evidenced by the excavations of M. Lehner. He managed to calculate the approximate menu of the worker.
The statue was multicolored. Wind, water and sand tried to destroy the sphinx and the pyramids on the plateau, mercilessly affecting them. But despite this, traces of yellow and blue paint remained in some places on his chest and head.
The first mention of the Sphinx belongs to ancient Greek writings. In the epic of Hellas, this is a female creature, cruel and sad when the Egyptians transformed it - the statue has a male face with an almost neutral expression.
This is an androsphinx - he has no wings and he is a man.

Despite the past millennia, the sphinx is still majestic and monumental, full of mysteries and shrouded in myths. He fixes his gaze into the distance and calmly watches the sunrise. Why the Egyptians made this mythical creature their main symbol is a mystery of antiquity that cannot be solved. We are left with only speculation.

It can be seen from afar, its power attracts the eye and many questions arise. Until now, the Great Sphinx remains one of the most ancient and mysterious statues. Its height is over 20 meters. The width of the sculpture reaches 57 meters. It is surprising that the sands of the desert in the 17th century BC. devoured the Sphinx. For several centuries the sculpture disappeared. And only in the 5th century BC. Thutmose ordered it to be excavated. In 1925 there were last time excavations by the Egyptian Antiquities Service.

Great Sphinx as a collective image

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

Age of the Great Sphinx

There are various versions about when the Great Sphinx was created. Some believe the statue is 200,000 years old. According to the 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 a giant sculpture are guided by the processes occurring in limestone as a result of erosion. Dr. R. Schoch, professor of geology at the University of Boston, takes into account the degree of erosion of the rock and believes that the Sphinx was created around 5000-6000 BC, as it rained during this period.

Unfortunately, time did not spare the figure, and people treated her barbarically. The face of the Sphinx is disfigured. In the 14th century, one of the sheikhs, in order to fulfill the covenant of Muhammad, which forbade the depiction of a human face, damaged the sculpture. The head of the Sphinx was used for training as targets and Mamelukes.

Now the place in Egypt where the monumental building is located is a place for excursions. The majestic Great Sphinx causes fear and surprise at the same time.

You can learn more about the history of Egypt and not only in the Abdin Palace, which is now a museum complex.

The Great Sphinx on the map of Cairo

When talking about places where developed ancient civilizations existed, the first thing that comes to mind is Ancient Egypt. This country, like a magician's cylinder, keeps many secrets and mysteries. The pyramid complex, located in a valley near Cairo, is one of them. But not only the burial places of the ancient rulers of Egypt annually attract millions of tourists to this valley. Most Interest among them and among scientists causes a mysterious figure Great Sphinx, which is a symbol of Egypt and a world cultural and historical heritage.

On west bank great river Nile, in the city of Giza, located in the southwestern suburbs of Cairo, not far from the Pyramid of Pharaoh Khafre, there is a sculpture of the Sphinx, the oldest of all surviving monumental sculptures. Hewn by the hands of ancient masters from a huge limestone rock, it is a figure with the body of a lion and the head of a man. The eyes of this mythical entity are directed to that place on the horizon, above which the sun appears on the days of the seasonal equinoxes, revered by the ancient Egyptians as the highest deity. The dimensions of the Great Sphinx are amazing: the height exceeds 20 meters, and the length of the mighty body is more than 72 meters.

The secret of the origin of the Sphinx.

For many centuries, the mystery of the origin of the Sphinx statue in Egypt haunts adventurers, scientists, tourists, poets and writers. Despite the fact that historians have been trying for centuries to find out when and by whom, and most importantly why this grand building, so far it has not been possible to get closer to the solution. In ancient papyri there is detailed evidence of the construction of many pyramids, the names of those who participated in their creation are mentioned. However, no such data was found about the Sphinx, which gave impetus to disagreements in the interpretation of the age and purpose of erecting this monument.

The first recorded historical mention of it is considered to be the writings of Pliny the Elder, dating from the beginning of the first century AD. In them, the ancient Roman writer and historian noted that regular work was carried out to clear the statue of the Sphinx in Egypt from sand. It is noteworthy that even the real name of the monument has not been preserved. And the one by which it is now known is of Greek origin and means “strangler”. Although many Egyptologists tend to believe that his name means "the image of Being" or "the image of God."

A lot of controversy arises in the scientific world about the age of the Sphinx. Some researchers believe that the similarity of the materials from which the monument was carved and the stone blocks used in the construction of the Khafre pyramid is indisputable evidence of their same age, i.e. they date back to 2500 BC. However, in the early 90s of the XX century, a group of Japanese archaeologists, while studying the Sphinx, came to a stunning conclusion: the traces of processing left on the stone indicate an earlier origin of the monument. This fact is confirmed by geological studies based on the influence of erosion on the surface of the Sphinx, which allowed the 70th century BC to be considered the moment the monument appeared. And the research of hydrologists, who studied the effect of rain flows on the limestone from which the monument was created, pushed back its age by another 3-4 millennia.

There is still no consensus on whose head is on the body of the Egyptian Sphinx. According to some assumptions, earlier it was a statue of a lion, and the human face was carved much later. Some researchers attribute it to Pharaoh Khafre, explaining this by the similarity of the statue with the sculptural images of the pharaohs of the VI dynasty. Others suggest that this is the image of Cheops, and others - the great Cleopatra. There is also a fantastic assumption that this is one of the rulers of the mythical Atlantis.

For millennia, time dominated the appearance of the Great Sphinx. Over the years, the cobra, a symbol of divine power, which was placed on the forehead of the statue, collapsed and disappeared, and the festive headdress covering the head was partially destroyed. Unfortunately, the man also had a hand in this. Wishing to fulfill the precepts left to the Muslims by the Prophet Muhammad, one of the rulers in the XIV century ordered to beat off the nose of the sculpture. Cannon shots in the 18th century severely damaged the face, and the soldiers of the Napoleonic army in the early 19th century used the Sphinx as a target during practice shooting. Later, when research was being conducted in the Valley of the Pyramids, a false beard was beaten off from the face of the Sphinx statue in Egypt, fragments of which are kept in the Cairo and British Museums. Today on state ancient monument affected by car exhaust and nearby lime factories. According to studies carried out over the past 20th century, the monument suffered more damage than in all the past millennia.

Restoration work.

For many centuries of the existence of the Sphinx, the sands have repeatedly covered it. The first clearings, during which only the front paws were released, were undertaken under Pharaoh Thutmose IV. To commemorate this, they placed commemorative sign. In addition to excavations, primitive restoration work was carried out to strengthen the lower part of the statue.

In 1817, Italian scientists managed to clear the chest of the Sphinx from the sand, but more than a hundred years passed before its complete release. This happened in 1925. In the late 80s of the XX century, a part of the right shoulder of the statue collapsed. During the restoration work, about 12,000 limestone blocks were replaced.

Geolocation work carried out in 1988 by Japanese scientists made it possible to discover a narrow tunnel starting under the left paw. It stretches in the direction of the Khafre pyramid and goes deeper. A year later, during the implementation of seismic surveys, a rectangular chamber was found, located under the forelimbs of the Sphinx. All this indicates that the Great Sphinx is in no hurry to reveal all its secrets.

After restoration work completed at the end of 2014, the ancient statue again became available to tourists. In the evening, the Sphinx greets visitors in several languages, which, together with the illumination, creates an incredible effect.

To preserve this majestic structure for future descendants, the Egyptian government plans to build a glass sarcophagus over it to protect the monument of history and culture from adverse conditions.

The large sphinx, whose figure is carved from solid rock and faces east, is much older than the pyramids located in the Giza Valley. This fact is proved by the inventory stele, discovered in the vicinity of Cairo in 1857.

According to inscriptions engraved on ancient granite, the Sphinx was restored in the era of Pharaoh Khafre, whose reign dates back presumably to 2558 BC. e. Previously, it was believed that the half-lion-half-man was only erected at this time.

Mysteries of the ancient Sphinx

The Sphinx is located next to the pyramid of Khafre, so scientists agreed that a stone lion with a human head is the guardian of the tomb of the great king of the Egyptian people. However, in the papyri, which described the course of the construction of the pyramids, there is no information about the huge sculpture.

There is no such information in the records of Herodotus, who visited Egypt in the 5th century BC. e. How could an ancient Greek historian fail to notice a figure whose height is 20 m and width 57 m?

Previously, it was believed that the head of the Sphinx has a portrait resemblance to Khafre. In 1993, the famous American identikit compiler Frank Domingo was invited to Egypt for independent research.

For identification, a sculpture of the pharaoh, kept in the museum of Cairo, was used. results comparative analysis showed that the faces of the Sphinx and Khafre have nothing in common.

Witness of the Flood

By the end of the 20th century, the decrepit state of the half-lion figure caused restoration work. In 1988, a group of archaeologists from Japan, led by Professor Yoshimura, used electronic equipment to explore the pyramids and the Sphinx. The results were staggering: the material from which it is made huge statue, much older than the pyramid blocks.

Second sensational discovery was the discovery of a tunnel sculpture under the paw. By the way, at the beginning of the 20th century, the American clairvoyant Edgar Cayce suggested that there was a hidden room under the Sphinx, which is a repository of centuries-old scrolls with information about disappeared civilizations.

The traces of erosion on his body also testify to the ancient origin of the guardian of the pyramids. In the 90s of the XX century, hydrologists came to the conclusion that these depressions are the result of the action of powerful water flows.

According to paleoclimatologists, the last showers of such force irrigated the lands of Egypt seven thousand years ago, but even they could not have damaged the statue so badly. Scientists believe that damage could cause more major disaster- Global flood.

An ancient legend says that when the half-lion, half-man speaks, life on Earth will change its course. Perhaps the Sphinx harbors knowledge that can fundamentally change humanity. What other mysteries does the witness of the events that took place more than 8 thousand years ago hide in himself?

While there is no answer to this question, the silent prophet of the desert knows how to keep secrets. But it is known that the ancient pharaohs.

October 17th, 2016

Great Sphinx of Giza, Great Sphinx of Egypt (Great Sphinx) worldwide famous monument, carved from a monolithic rock with the body of a lion and the head of a man. The Great Sphinx is a unique statue 73 m long and 20 m high, 11.5 meters at the shoulders, face width 4.1 m, face height 5 m, carved from a limestone monolith that forms the rocky base of the Giza plateau. Along the perimeter, the body of the Sphinx is surrounded by a moat 5.5 meters wide and 2.5 meters deep. Nearby are 3 world-famous Egyptian pyramids.

There are some interesting information which you might not know. Here, check yourself...

Disappearing Sphinx

It is generally accepted that the Sphinx was erected during the construction of the Khafre pyramid. However, in the ancient papyri relating to the construction of the Great Pyramids, there is no mention of him. Moreover, we know that the ancient Egyptians meticulously recorded all the costs associated with the construction places of worship, but economic documents relating to the construction of the Sphinx have not 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 he did not say a word about the Sphinx.

Before Herodotus, Hecateus of Miletus visited Egypt, after him - Strabo. Their records are detailed, but there is no mention of the Sphinx there either. Could the Greeks fail to notice the 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”, which mentions that in his time (1st century AD) the Sphinx was once again cleared of the sands applied from the western part of the desert. Indeed, the Sphinx was regularly "liberated" from sand drifts until the 20th century.

ancient pyramids

Restoration work, which began to be carried out in connection with the emergency state of the Sphinx, began to lead scientists to the idea that the Sphinx may be older than previously thought. To test this, Japanese archaeologists, led by Professor Sakuji Yoshimura, first illuminated the pyramid of Cheops with an echo sounder, and then examined the sculpture in a similar way. Their conclusion struck - the stones of the Sphinx are older than those of the pyramid. It was not about the age of the breed itself, but about the time of its processing. Later, the Japanese were replaced by a team of hydrologists - their findings also became a sensation. On the sculpture, they found traces of erosion caused by large flows of water.

The first assumption that appeared in the press was that in ancient times the bed of the Nile passed in another place and washed the rock from which the Sphinx was carved. Hydrologists' guesses are even bolder: "Erosion is rather traces not the Nile, but the 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 is 8 thousand years BC. e. British scientists, repeating the 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 scholars, occurred around 8-10 thousand BC. e.

Clickable 6000px,...late 1800s

What is wrong with the Sphinx?

The Arab sages, struck by the majesty of the Sphinx, said that the giant is timeless. But over the past millennia, the monument has suffered a lot, and, first of all, the person is to blame for this. At first, the Mamluks practiced accuracy of shooting at the Sphinx, their initiative was supported by Napoleonic soldiers. One of the rulers of Egypt ordered to beat off the nose of the sculpture, and the British stole a stone beard from the giant and took it to the British Museum. In 1988, a huge stone block broke away from the Sphinx and fell with a roar. She was weighed and horrified - 350 kg. This fact caused the most serious concern of UNESCO. It was decided to assemble a council of representatives of various specialties in order to find out the reasons that destroy ancient building. 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 paws of the Sphinx were in no less deplorable condition. According to experts, the Sphinx, first of all, is harmed by human life: the exhaust gases of automobile engines and the acrid smoke of Cairo factories penetrate into the pores of the statue, which gradually destroys it. Scientists say that the Sphinx is seriously ill. Hundreds of millions of dollars are needed to restore the ancient monument. There is no such money. In the meantime, the Egyptian authorities are restoring the sculpture on their own.

Mysterious face

Among the majority of Egyptologists, there is a firm belief that the face of the pharaoh of the IV dynasty Khafre is imprinted in the appearance of the Sphinx. This confidence cannot be shaken by anything - neither by the absence of any evidence of the connection between the sculpture and the pharaoh, nor by the fact that the head of the Sphinx was repeatedly remade. The well-known expert on the monuments of Giza, Dr. I. Edwards, is convinced that Pharaoh Khafre himself peeps through 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 found, 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 stored in the Cairo Museum - it is on it that the appearance of the Sphinx is verified. To confirm or deny the identification of the Sphinx with Khafre, a group of independent researchers involved the well-known New York policeman Frank Domingo, who created portraits to identify suspects, in the case. After a few months of work, Domingo concluded: “These two works of art depict two different faces. The frontal proportions - and in particular the angles and facial protrusions when viewed from the side - convince me that the Sphinx is not Khafre.

Mother of Fear

The Egyptian archaeologist Rudwan Ash-Shamaa believes that the Sphinx has a female couple and it is hidden under a layer of sand. The Great Sphinx is often referred to as the "Father of Fear". According to the archaeologist, if there is a "Father of fear", then there must be a "Mother of fear". In his reasoning, Al-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, 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. In support of his theory, the archaeologist gives several arguments. 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 it.

Chamber of Secrets

In one of the ancient Egyptian treatises, on behalf of the goddess Isis, it is reported that the god Thoth placed in secret place"sacred books", which contain "the secrets of Osiris", and then cast a spell on this place so that knowledge would remain "undiscovered until Heaven gives birth to beings who will be worthy of this gift." Some researchers are still confident in the existence of a "secret room". They remember how Edgar Cayce predicted that one day in Egypt, under 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 mankind about a highly developed civilization that existed millions of years ago.

In 1989, a group of Japanese scientists using the radar method discovered a narrow tunnel under the left paw of the Sphinx, leading towards the pyramid of Khafre, and an impressive cavity 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 is a large rectangular chamber. But in 1993, his work was suddenly suspended. local authorities. Since that time, the Egyptian government officially forbids geological or seismological research around the Sphinx.

Sphinx and executions.

The word "sphinx" in the Egyptian language is etymologically related to the word "seshep-ankh", which in literal translation into Russian means "the image of the Existing". Another well-known translation of this word is “image of the living”. Both of these expressions have a single semantic content - "the image of the living God." In Greek, the word "sphinx" is etymologically associated with the Greek verb "sphinga" - to suffocate.

Since 1952, five hollow sphinxes have been discovered in Egypt, each of which served as a place of executions and at the same time the grave of the executed. Archaeologists who uncovered the secret of the sphinxes were horrified to discover that the bone remains of many hundreds of corpses covered the floors of the sphinxes in a thick layer. Leather straps hung from the ceilings with the remains of human leg bones. It is believed that among these corpses there could be workers who built the pyramids and tombs of the Egyptian pharaohs, and were sacrificed in order to preserve their secrets.

The apparently hollow bodies of sphinxes deliberately scattered throughout the country served as a place of execution and torture for an extended period of time. The death of the executed was long and painful, and the bodies of the victims hung by the feet were deliberately not removed. The screams of the dying were bound to terrify the living.

The fear of winged sphinxes was so great that it has survived for centuries. When in 1845, during excavations in the ruins of Kalah, a winged sphinx with a human head was found, all workers from local residents panicked. They refused to continue excavations, because the ancient legend was still alive that the winged sphinx would bring misfortune to them and cause the death of all living on earth.

And further...

Clickable 3200 px

This is a familiar look. It seems that the pyramids are lost somewhere far away in the desert, covered with sand, and to get to them, you need to make a long camel journey.

Let's see how things really are.

Clickable 4200 px

Giza is modern name large Cairo necropolis, occupying approximately 2000 square meters. m.

The third place in terms of population after Cairo and Alexandria is occupied by this city, which is home to more than 900 thousand inhabitants. In fact, Giza merges with Cairo. Here are the famous Egyptian pyramids: Cheops, Khafre, Mikeren and the Great Sphinx.