Sphinx in Egypt: secrets, riddles and scientific facts. The meaning of the great sphinx in the mythology of Egypt

Another proof was presented to us by the Japanese scientist Sakuji Yoshimura in 1988. He was able to determine that the stone from which the Sphinx was carved is older than the blocks of the pyramids. He used echolocation. Nobody took him seriously. Indeed, the age of a rock cannot be determined by echolocation.

The only serious proof of the “theory of antiquity of the Sphinx” is the “Inventory Stele”. This monument was found in 1857 by Auguste Mariette, the founder of the Cairo Museum (pictured left).

On this stele there is an inscription that Pharaoh Cheops (Khufu) found the statue of the Sphinx already buried in the sand. But this stele was created during the 26th dynasty, that is, 2000 years after the life of Cheops. Don't trust this source too much.

One thing we can say for sure - the Sphinx has the head and face of a pharaoh. This is evidenced by the nemes headdress (or klaft) (see photo) and the decorative element uraeus (see photo) on the forehead of the sculpture. These attributes could only be worn by the pharaoh of Upper and Lower Egypt. If the statue had a nose, then we would be closer to the solution.

By the way, where is the nose?

The mass consciousness is dominated by the version that the nose was shot down by the French in 1798-1800. Napoleon then conquered Egypt, and his gunners trained by shooting at the Great Sphinx.

This is not even a version, but a "fiction". In 1757, the Danish traveler Frederick Louis Norden published sketches he had made at Giza, and the nose was gone. At the time of publication, Napoleon hadn't even been born yet. You can see the sketch in the photo on the right, there really is no nose.

The reasons for the accusations of Napoleon are clear. The attitude towards him in Europe was very negative, he was often called a "monster". As soon as there was a reason to accuse someone of damaging the historical heritage of mankind, of course, he was chosen as the “scapegoat”.

As soon as the version about Napoleon began to be actively refuted, a second similar version arose. It says that the Mamluks fired cannons at the Great Sphinx. We can't explain why public opinion gravitates so much towards the cannon hypothesis? It is worth asking sociologists and psychoanalysts about this. This version also has not received confirmation.

A proven version of the loss of the nose is expressed in the work of the Arab historian al-Makrizi. He writes that in 1378 the nose of the statue was beaten off by a religious fanatic. He was outraged that the inhabitants of the Nile Valley worship the statue and bring gifts to it. We even know the name of this iconoclast - Mohammed Saim al-Dahr.

Nowadays, scientists have studied the area of ​​the nose of the Sphinx and found traces of a chisel, that is, the nose was chipped off with this particular tool. There are two such traces in total - one chisel was hammered under the nostril, and the second from above.

These traces are small, and the tourist does not notice them. However, you can try to imagine how this fanatic could do it. Apparently, he was lowered down on a rope. The Sphinx lost its nose, and Saim al-Dakhr lost his life, he was torn to pieces by the crowd.

From this story, we can conclude that the Sphinx was still in the 14th century the object of worship and worship of the Egyptians, although almost 750 years have passed since the beginning of the domination of the Arabs.

There is another version of the statue's loss of the nose - natural causes. Erosion destroys the statue, and it even fell off part of the head. It was installed back during the last restoration. And this statue had many restorations.

The Egyptian Sphinx hides many secrets and mysteries, no one knows for sure when and for what purpose this giant sculpture was built.

Disappearing Sphinx

ancient pyramids

What is wrong with the Sphinx?

Mysterious face

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

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

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.

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. The results of the 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 stunning: the material from which the huge statue is made is much older than the blocks of the pyramids.

The 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 the damage could have been caused by a larger catastrophe - the 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.

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

"A pile of cobblestones, left by the builders of the Great Pyramids during the extraction of stones, turned into a huge recumbent lion with the head of a man in the time of Khafre (Cheops)." — I. E. S. Edwards.

These passages illustrate polar opinions about the Great Sphinx: from mystical perception to cold pragmatism. The statue, which has been 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 no less mysterious pyramids.

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

Facing the rising sun, the sculpture of the Great Sphinx is located on the Giza plateau 6 miles west of Cairo on the west bank of the Nile. 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 (Mykerin). The monument is the largest surviving sculpture of the ancient world - 241 feet long and 65 feet high at its highest point.

Part of the ureya (sacred snake that protects from evil forces), his nose and ritual beard collapsed over time. The beard is now in the British Museum. The elongated element on the forehead of the sphinx is a fragment of the royal headdress. Although the sphinx's head has been eroded for thousands of years, traces of the paint that originally covered it can still be seen near the statue's ear. It is believed that once the face of the sphinx was painted burgundy. In a small temple located between its paws, there are a dozen painted stelae erected in honor of the sun god.

The Sphinx has suffered greatly from the ravages of time, human activities and pollution in our time. In fact, it was saved from complete destruction by a long stay in the sands. During the centuries-old history of the monument, many attempts have been made to reconstruct the statue. They began as early as 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 a huge beast was suffocating from the sand absorbing the statue. In a dream, the sphinx told the pharaoh that if he pulled the beast out and cleaned it of sand, he would receive the crown of Upper and Lower Egypt. Today, between the front paws of the sphinx, you can see a granite stele called the Stele of Dreams, on which the legend of the dream of the pharaoh is recorded.

Although the sculpture was cleared away, 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 the arrival of Napoleon, which is captured in the paintings of the XVIII century. 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 VIII century. he was knocked down with a chisel by a Sufi who considered the sphinx to be a pagan idol.

In 1858, the founder of the Egyptian Antiquities Service, Auguste Mariette, began excavating the sculpture, but only a part of it was cleared. In 1925-1936. French engineer Emile Barez, acting on behalf of the Antiquities Service, completed the excavation of the Sphinx. And, probably, for the first time since the days of 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, approximately at the same time when the nearby pyramid of Khafre was erected. However, not a single inscription has yet been found confirming the connection of Khafre with the Sphinx, and no records of the time and purpose of the creation of the sculpture either.

Given 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 detective from New York, an expert in the field of identifications, came to the conclusion that the Great Great Sphinx does not look like Khafre, but more like his elder veil Djedefre. Discussions about this are ongoing.

The unresolved issue of the origin and purpose of the creation of the sphinx gave rise to 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 XX century. While in a trance, Case predicted that a chamber would be discovered under the front paws of the sphinx, which contains a collection of manuscripts about the lives of those who survived after the destruction of Atlantis.

The Great Sphinx was carved from the soft limestone left in the quarry, from which materials were taken to build the pyramids. The paws were created separately from limestone blocks. One of the main features of the sculpture is that her head is not proportional to her body. Perhaps it was repeatedly remade, changing the face of the sphinx at the direction of each subsequent pharaoh.

From the stylistic features, one can determine that it is unlikely that changes were made after the period of the Late Kingdom, which ended around 2181 BC. e. It is likely that the original head depicted a ram or a falcon and was remade into a human later. The restoration work carried out over the millennia to preserve the Sphinx's head may also have transformed or changed 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 conventional science believes.
Recently, there has been a 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 a similar radiance. West turned to geologists, and Boston University professor Robert Schoch, after studying the latest finds, confirmed that these were the results of water erosion. Although the climate of Egypt today is arid, around 10,000 years ago it was humid and rainy. West and Schoch concluded that for it to be subject to water erosion, the Sphinx must have existed 7,000 to 10,000 years ago. Egyptologists rejected Schoch's theory, considering it incorrect. They argued that the frequent once torrential thunderstorms 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 could not rain only over the Sphinx. West and Schoch have also been criticized for failing to take into account the high levels of industrial pollution in the local atmosphere that have had a devastating effect on Giza's monuments for the last hundred years.

The author of another version about the time of creation and purpose of the Sphinx is Robert Bauvel. In the 1989s. he published a paper in which he hypothesized that the three Great Pyramids at 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 of the famous book Footprints of the Gods, Bauval theorized that the Sphinx, the nearby pyramids, and all sorts of ancient manuscripts were part of an astronomical map associated with the constellation Orion. He came to the conclusion that such a hypothetical map corresponded best 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, one way or another connected with the Great Sphinx. Researchers at Florida State University, Waseda University in Japan, and Boston University have found a number of anomalies in the atmosphere above the site using ultra-sensitive technology. However, these phenomena could also be of a natural nature. 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. Bauval suggested that the passages were created at the same time as the statue.

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

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

In 1950, the development of a large-scale and expensive project for the restoration and preservation of the monument began. The first attempts to restore the monument led to its 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 were used, but the efforts were in vain. By 1988, the blocks of the left shoulder of the sphinx had collapsed.

Currently, attempts to restore the statue under the strict supervision of the High Council of Antiquities do not stop. Restorers are trying to repair the collapsed shoulder using some of the subsoil. Thus, today all attention is focused on the preservation of the monument, and not on excavations and further research. We just have to wait. It will be a long time before the Great Sphinx reveals its secrets.

B.Hoton
"Great mysteries and mysteries of history"

Each civilization has its own symbols, which are considered integral parts of the people, their culture and history. The Sphinx of Ancient Egypt is an immortal proof of the power, strength and greatness of the country, a silent reminder of the divine origin of its rulers, who have sunk into centuries, but left an image of eternal life on earth. The national symbol of Egypt is considered one of the greatest architectural monuments of the past, which still inspires involuntary fear with its impressiveness, a halo of secrets, mystical legends and centuries of history.

Monument in numbers

The Egyptian Sphinx is known to everyone and every inhabitant on earth. The monument is carved from a monolithic rock, has the body of a lion and the head of a man (according to some sources - a pharaoh). The length of the statue is 73 m, height - 20 m. The symbol of the power of royal power is located on the Giza plateau on the western coast of the Nile River and is surrounded by a wide and rather deep moat. The thoughtful gaze of the Sphinx is directed to the east, towards that point in the heavens where the Sun rises. The monument has been covered with sand many times and has been restored more than once. The statue was completely cleared of sand only in 1925, striking the imagination of the inhabitants of the planet with its scale and size.

History of the sculpture: facts against legends

In Egypt, the Sphinx is considered the most mysterious and mystical monument. His story has attracted great interest and special attention of historians, writers, directors and researchers for many years. Everyone who has had a chance to touch the eternity that the statue represents offers their own version of its origin. The locals call the stone sight "the father of horror" because the Sphinx is the keeper of many mysterious legends and a favorite place for tourists who love mysteries and fantasy. According to researchers, the history of the Sphinx has more than 13 centuries. Presumably, it was built in order to record the astronomical phenomenon - the reunion of the three planets.

origin myth

Until now, there is no reliable information about what this statue symbolizes, why it was built and when. The lack of history is replaced by legends that are passed from mouth to mouth and told to tourists. The fact that the Sphinx is the oldest and largest monument in Egypt gives rise to mysterious and ridiculous stories about it. There is an assumption that the statue guards the tombstones of the greatest pharaohs - the pyramids of Cheops, Mykerin and Khafre. Another legend says that the stone statue symbolizes the personality of the pharaoh Khafre, the third - that it is a statue of the god Horus (god of heaven, half-man, half-falcon), watching the ascent of his father - the Sun God Ra.

legends

In ancient Greek mythology, the Sphinx is mentioned as an ugly monster. According to the Greeks, the legends of Ancient Egypt about this monster sound like this: a creature with a lion's body and a human head gave birth to Echidna and Typhon (a half-snake woman and a giant with a hundred dragon heads). It had the face and chest of a woman, the body of a lion and the wings of a bird. The monster lived not far from Thebes, lay in wait for people and asked them a strange question: “Which living being moves on four legs in the morning, two in the afternoon, and three in the evening?” None of the wanderers trembling with fear could give the Sphinx an intelligible answer. After which the monster sentenced them to death. However, the day came when the wise Oedipus was able to solve his riddle. “This is a man in childhood, maturity and old age,” he replied. After that, the crushed monster rushed from the top of the mountain and crashed against the rocks.

According to the second version of the legend, in Egypt the Sphinx was once God. One day, the heavenly ruler fell into an insidious trap of the sands, called the "cell of oblivion", and fell asleep in it with eternal sleep.

Real facts

Despite the mysterious overtones of the legends, the real story is no less mystical and mysterious. According to the initial opinion of scientists, the Sphinx was built at the same time as the pyramids. However, in the ancient papyri, from which information about the building of the pyramids was obtained, there is not a single mention of a stone statue. The names of architects and builders who created grandiose tombs for the pharaohs are known, but the name of the person who gave the world the Egyptian Sphinx is still unknown.

True, a few centuries after the creation of the pyramids, the first facts about the statue appear. The Egyptians call her "shepes ankh" - "a living image." Scientists could not give the world any more information and scientific explanation of these words. But at the same time, the cult image of the mysterious Sphinx - a winged monster maiden - is mentioned in Greek mythology, numerous fairy tales and legends. The hero of these tales, depending on the author, periodically changes his appearance, appearing in some versions as a half-man, half-lion, and in others as a winged lioness.

The history of ancient Egypt about the Sphinx

Another puzzle for scientists was the chronicle of Herodotus, who in 445 BC. described in great detail the process of building the pyramids. He told the world interesting stories about how the structures were erected, for how long and how many slaves were involved in their construction. The narration of the "father of history" touched even such nuances as the food of the slaves. But, oddly enough, Herodotus never mentioned the stone Sphinx in his work. In none of the subsequent records, the fact of the erection of the monument was also found.

The work of the Roman writer Pliny the Elder "Natural History" helped scientists shed light on the mystery of the Sphinx. In his notes, he talks about the next cleansing of the monument from sand. Based on this, it becomes clear why Herodotus did not leave the description of the Sphinx to the world - the monument at that time was buried under a layer of sand drifts. So how many times has he been trapped in the sand?

The first "restoration"

Judging by the inscription left on the stone stele between the monster's paws, Pharaoh Thutmose I spent a year freeing the monument. Ancient writings tell that, being a prince, Thutmose fell asleep at the foot of the Sphinx and had a dream in which the god Harmakis appeared to him. He predicted the prince's ascension to the throne of Egypt and ordered the statue to be released from the sand trap. After some time, Thutmose successfully became pharaoh and remembered the promise given to the deity. He ordered not only to dig up the giant, but also to restore it. Thus, the first revival of the legend of Egypt took place in the 15th century. BC. It was then that the world learned about the grandiose construction and the unique cult monument of Egypt.

It is known for certain that after the revival of the Sphinx by Pharaoh Thutmose, it was once again dug up during the reign of the Ptolemaic dynasty, under the Roman emperors who captured Ancient Egypt, and the Arab rulers. In our time, it was again freed from the sands in 1925. Until now, the statue has to be cleaned after sandstorms, as it is an important tourist attraction.

Why is the monument missing a nose?

Despite the antiquity of the sculpture, it has practically survived in its original form, embodying the Sphinx. Egypt (the photo of the monument is presented above) managed to preserve its architectural masterpiece, but failed to protect it from the barbarism of people. The statue does not currently have a nose. Scientists suggest that one of the pharaohs, for reasons unknown to science, ordered to beat off the nose of the statue. According to other sources, the monument was damaged by Napoleon's army, firing a cannon at his face. The British, on the other hand, chopped off the beard of the monster and sent it to their museum.

However, in the later records of the historian Al-Maqrizi from 1378, it is said that the stone statue no longer had a nose. According to him, one of the Arabs, wanting to atone for religious sins (the Koran forbade the depiction of human faces), chipped off the giant's nose. In response to such a crime and abuse of the Sphinx, the sands began to take revenge on people, advancing on the lands of Giza.

As a result, scientists came to the conclusion that in Egypt the Sphinx lost its nose as a result of strong winds and floods. Although this assumption has not yet found real confirmation.

The Stunning Secrets of the Sphinx

In 1988, as a result of exposure to caustic factory smoke, a decent part of a stone block (350 kg) broke off from the monument. UNESCO, concerned about the appearance and condition of the tourist and cultural site, resumed repairs, thereby paving the way for new research. As a result of a thorough study of the stone blocks of the pyramid of Cheops and the Sphinx by Japanese archaeologists, a hypothesis was put forward that the monument was built much earlier than the great tomb of the pharaoh. The conclusion was a stunning discovery for historians, who assumed that the pyramid, the Sphinx, and other funerary structures were contemporaries. The second, no less surprising discovery was a long narrow tunnel discovered under the left paw of a predator, connected to the pyramid of Cheops.

After Japanese archaeologists, hydrologists took up the most ancient monument. They found traces of erosion on his body from a large water stream that moved from north to south. After a series of studies, hydrologists came to the conclusion that the stone lion was a silent witness to the flood of the Nile - a biblical catastrophe that occurred about 8-12 thousand years ago. American researcher John Anthony West explained the traces of water erosion on the body of a lion and their absence on the head as evidence that the Sphinx existed during the Ice Age and dates back to any period before 15 thousand BC. e. According to French archaeologists, the history of Ancient Egypt can boast of the oldest monument that existed even at the time of the death of Atlantis.

Thus, the stone statue tells us about the existence of the greatest civilization, which managed to erect such a majestic structure, which became the immortal image of the Past.

The admiration of the ancient Egyptians before the Sphinx

The pharaohs of Egypt regularly made pilgrimages to the foot of the giant, which symbolized the great past of their country. They made sacrifices on the altar, which was between his paws, burned incense, receiving from the giant a silent blessing on the kingdom and throne. The Sphinx was for them not only the incarnation of the sun god, but also a sacred image that gave them hereditary and legitimate power from their ancestors. He personified powerful Egypt, the history of the country was reflected in its majestic form, embodying each image of the new pharaoh and turning modernity into a component of eternity. Ancient writings glorified the Sphinx as a great creator god. His image reunited the past, present and future.

Astronomical explanation of the stone sculpture

According to the official version, the Sphinx would have been built in 2500 BC. e. by order of Pharaoh Khafre during the reign of the Fourth Ruling Dynasty of Pharaohs. A huge lion is located among other majestic structures on the stone plateau of Giza - the three pyramids. Astronomical studies have shown that the location of the statue was chosen not by blind intuition, but in accordance with the point of intersection of the path of heavenly bodies. It served as the equatorial point, indicating the exact location on the horizon of the place of sunrise on the day of the vernal equinox. According to astronomers, the Sphinx was built 10.5 thousand years ago.

It is noteworthy that the pyramids of Giza are located on the earth in exactly the same order as the three stars of Orion's Belt in the sky that year. According to legend, the Sphinx and the pyramids fixed the position of the stars, the astronomical time, which the ancient Egyptians called the first. Since the heavenly personification of the god Osiris, who ruled at that time, was Orion, man-made structures were built to depict the stars of his belt in order to perpetuate and fix the time of his power.

The Great Sphinx as a tourist attraction

Currently, a giant lion with a human head attracts millions of tourists who are eager to see the legendary stone sculpture shrouded in the darkness of centuries of history and many mystical legends. The interest of all mankind in it is due to the fact that the secret of the creation of the statue remained undisclosed, buried under the sands. It is hard to imagine how many secrets the Sphinx keeps in itself. Egypt (photos of the monument and pyramids can be seen on any tourist portal) can be proud of its great history, outstanding people, grandiose monuments, the truth about which their creators took with them to the kingdom of Anubis, the god of death. Great and impressive is the huge stone Sphinx, whose history has remained unsolved and full of secrets. Still, the calm gaze of the statue is directed into the distance, and its appearance is still imperturbable. How many centuries has he been a silent witness of human suffering, the vanity of rulers, the sorrows and misfortunes that befell the Egyptian land? How many secrets does the Great Sphinx keep in itself? Unfortunately, all these questions have not been answered for many years.

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 convene a council of representatives of various specialties in order to find out the reasons that destroy the ancient structure.

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.

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 a secret place "holy books" that contain the "secrets of Osiris", and then cast a spell on this place so that knowledge remained "undiscovered until The sky will not give birth to creatures that 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 by local authorities. Since that time, the Egyptian government officially forbids geological or seismological research around the Sphinx.

Older than civilization

First, in 1991, a professor of geology from Boston analyzed the erosion of the sphinx's surface and concluded that the age of the sphinx must be at least 9,500 thousand years, that is, the sphinx is at least 5,000 years older than scientists thought! Secondly, Robert Bauval, using modern computer modeling techniques, discovered that about 12,500 years ago (11th century BC), in the early morning, the rise of the constellation Leo was clearly visible right above the place where the sphinx was built. He logically assumed that the sphinx, which is very reminiscent of a lion, was built on this site as a symbol of this event. Well, the third nail in the coffin of the views of official science was hammered by the police artist Frank Domingo, who painted sketches. He stated that the sphinx had nothing to do with the face of Pharaoh Khafre. So now it was safe to say that the Sphinx was built long before any civilization known to science.

Huge voids under the sphinx

Of course, all these discoveries and statements could have been hidden under a thick layer of dust from scientific rooms, but then, as luck would have it, Japanese researchers arrived in Egypt. It was 1989, when a group of scientists from Waseda, led by Professor Sakuji Yoshimura, using modern electromagnetic radar devices, discovered tunnels and rooms right under the sphinx. Immediately after their discovery, the Egyptian authorities intervened in the research, and the Yoshimura group was deported from Egypt for life. The same discovery was repeated in the same year by Thomas Daubecki, an American geophysicist. True, he managed to explore only a small area under the right paw of the sphinx, after which he was also promptly expelled from Egypt.

Three very strange events

In 1993, a robot was sent into a small tunnel (20x20 cm) that went from the burial chamber of the Cheops pyramid, which found a wooden door with brass handles inside this very tunnel, into which it successfully rested. Next, for 10 years, scientists have been developing a new robot to open the door. And in 2003 they launched it into the same tunnel. It must be admitted that he safely opened the door, and behind it the already narrow tunnel began to narrow even more. The robot could not go further, but in the distance he saw another door. A new robot, with the aim of opening the second "shutter", was launched in 2013. After that, tourist access to the pyramids was finally closed, and all research results were classified. Since then there has been no official news.

secret city

But there are many unofficial ones, one of which is actively lobbied and promoted by the American Casey Foundation (the one, by the way, who allegedly predicted the discovery of some secret room under the sphinx). According to their version, in 2013 they drove through the second door of the tunnel, after which a stone slab with hieroglyphs rose from the ground between the front paws of the sphinx, which told about a room under the sphinx and a certain Hall of Testimony. As a result of excavations, the Egyptians got into this very first room, which turned out to be a kind of hallway. From it, the researchers went down a tier below and found themselves in a round hall from which three tunnels went to the Great Pyramid. But then there are very strange data. Allegedly, in one of the tunnels, the road was blocked by an energy field unknown to science, which three certain great people were able to remove. After that, a 12-storey building was discovered, going underground. The dimensions of this structure are truly grandiose and more like a city than a building - 10 kilometers wide and 13 kilometers long. In addition, the Casey Foundation claims that the Egyptians concealed a certain rod of Thoth, an archaeological artifact of world significance, which supposedly has the power of technologies unknown to mankind.

More questions than answers

Of course, at first glance, the theory of Cayce's followers seems to be complete nonsense. And everything would have been so if the Egyptian government had not partially confirmed the discovery of a certain underground city. It is clear that there was no information from the official authorities about some energy force fields. Also, the Egyptian authorities did not recognize the fact that they did get into the city, therefore, what was found there is also not known. But the fact of recognition of the discovery of the underground city remains. So the Sphinx gives people a new riddle, and we just have to make every effort to still solve it.