Student Pigal ErkanStudent Pigal Erkan

THE SPHINXTHE SPHINX

The Great Sphinx of Giza (Arabic: The Great Sphinx of Giza (Arabic: الهول الهول أبو , ,Abū al HūlAbū al Hūl أبوEnglish: English: The Terrifying OneThe Terrifying One), commonly referred to ), commonly referred to as the Sphinx, is a limestone statue of a reclining or as the Sphinx, is a limestone statue of a reclining or couchant sphinx (a mythical creature with a lion's couchant sphinx (a mythical creature with a lion's body and a human head) that stands on the Giza body and a human head) that stands on the Giza PlateauPlateau on the west bank of the Nile in Giza, Egypt.on the west bank of the Nile in Giza, Egypt.

It is the largest monolith statue in the world, It is the largest monolith statue in the world, standing 73.5 metres (241 ft) long, 6 metres (20 ft) standing 73.5 metres (241 ft) long, 6 metres (20 ft) wide, and 20.22 m (66.34 ft) high. It is the oldest wide, and 20.22 m (66.34 ft) high. It is the oldest known monumental sculpture, and is commonly known monumental sculpture, and is commonly believed to have been built by ancient Egyptians of believed to have been built by ancient Egyptians of the Old Kingdom during the reign of the pharaoh the Old Kingdom during the reign of the pharaoh Khafra (c. 2558–2532 BC).Khafra (c. 2558–2532 BC).

When was the Great Sphinx When was the Great Sphinx

built?built? Good question, but no one has the exact answer! Good question, but no one has the exact answer!

The Great Sphinx of Giza is carved of rock, so it cannot The Great Sphinx of Giza is carved of rock, so it cannot be dated by the radio carbon technique. The only other be dated by the radio carbon technique. The only other method of dating the Sphinx would be by using old method of dating the Sphinx would be by using old Egyptian texts that refer to its existence and Egyptian texts that refer to its existence and construction. The problem is that there are no such construction. The problem is that there are no such texts, therefore, no definite facts are known. The great texts, therefore, no definite facts are known. The great monument was definitely in existence in the time of monument was definitely in existence in the time of Khufu (Cheops). Pharaoh Thutmose IV had a granite Khufu (Cheops). Pharaoh Thutmose IV had a granite stele known as the Dream stele placed between the stele known as the Dream stele placed between the paws (A stele was a stone slab, decorated with text paws (A stele was a stone slab, decorated with text which served as a monument. But the sphinx probably which served as a monument. But the sphinx probably dates back to the generations before the Pharaoh dates back to the generations before the Pharaoh Menes who established the 1st Egyptian dynasty in the Menes who established the 1st Egyptian dynasty in the Early Dynastic Period. These people were called in the Early Dynastic Period. These people were called in the priestly chronicles "the Servants of Horus" and were priestly chronicles "the Servants of Horus" and were the early people who settled in Egypt and who were the early people who settled in Egypt and who were Aryans during the Predynastic Period 5550 BC - 3050 Aryans during the Predynastic Period 5550 BC - 3050 BC.  However other scholars believe that the Great BC.  However other scholars believe that the Great Sphinx of Giza was built during the period of the Old Sphinx of Giza was built during the period of the Old Kingdom of Egypt during the 3rd millennium BC. The Kingdom of Egypt during the 3rd millennium BC. The Old Kingdom is often referred to as "the Age of the Old Kingdom is often referred to as "the Age of the Pyramids" when the Great pyramids of Giza were built, Pyramids" when the Great pyramids of Giza were built, in close proximity to the Great Sphinx. The time period in close proximity to the Great Sphinx. The time period of the Old Kingdom covers 2686 BC - 2181 BC. So of the Old Kingdom covers 2686 BC - 2181 BC. So there is no definitive answer to when the Great Sphinx there is no definitive answer to when the Great Sphinx was built and who built the sphinx - it is no wonder was built and who built the sphinx - it is no wonder that people often refer to the Mystery or Riddle of the that people often refer to the Mystery or Riddle of the Sphinx.Sphinx.

Location of the Great Sphinx Location of the Great Sphinx ..

The location of the The location of the Great Sphinx of Giza is Great Sphinx of Giza is on the Giza Plateau, on the Giza Plateau, bordering the Sahara bordering the Sahara Desert, on the west Desert, on the west bank of the Nile River, bank of the Nile River, near modern-day Cairo. near modern-day Cairo. Mysterious passages Mysterious passages pierce the great Sphinx pierce the great Sphinx and connect it with the and connect it with the Second Pyramid  built Second Pyramid  built by the Pharaoh Khafre, by the Pharaoh Khafre, which is three hundred which is three hundred feet west of it.feet west of it.

What Materials Were Used To What Materials Were Used To Built THE GREAT SPHINX?Built THE GREAT SPHINX?

The sphinx is built of soft sandstone and The sphinx is built of soft sandstone and would have disappeared long ago had it not would have disappeared long ago had it not been buried for so long. The body is 200 feet been buried for so long. The body is 200 feet (60m) in length and 65 feet (20m) tall. The face (60m) in length and 65 feet (20m) tall. The face of the sphinx is 13 feet (4m) wide and its eyes of the sphinx is 13 feet (4m) wide and its eyes are 6 feet (2m) high. Part of the uraeus (sacred are 6 feet (2m) high. Part of the uraeus (sacred cobra), the nose and the ritual beard are now cobra), the nose and the ritual beard are now missing. . The beard from the sphinx is missing. . The beard from the sphinx is displayed in the British Museum. The statue is displayed in the British Museum. The statue is crumbling today because of the wind, humidity crumbling today because of the wind, humidity and the smog from Cairo. Attempts to restore it and the smog from Cairo. Attempts to restore it have often caused more harm than good. No one have often caused more harm than good. No one can be certain who the figure is to personify. It can be certain who the figure is to personify. It is possible that it is Chephren. If that is so, it is possible that it is Chephren. If that is so, it would then be the oldest known royal portrait in would then be the oldest known royal portrait in such large scale. Some say that it was built after such large scale. Some say that it was built after the pyramid of Chephren was complete. It may the pyramid of Chephren was complete. It may have been set as a sort of scarecrow to guard his have been set as a sort of scarecrow to guard his tomb. Still others say it is the face of his tomb. Still others say it is the face of his guardian deity, rather than Chephren himself. guardian deity, rather than Chephren himself. The image of the sphinx is a depiction of royal The image of the sphinx is a depiction of royal power. Only a pharaoh or an animal could be power. Only a pharaoh or an animal could be shown this way, with the animal representing a shown this way, with the animal representing a protective deity. protective deity.

Who Made The Great Sphinx?Who Made The Great Sphinx?

Probably the most recognized Probably the most recognized statue in the world, and one of the statue in the world, and one of the very oldest, the Sphinx sits near very oldest, the Sphinx sits near the edge of the Giza plateau as it the edge of the Giza plateau as it sits near the edge of recorded sits near the edge of recorded human history. Conventional human history. Conventional archaeology believes the Sphinx archaeology believes the Sphinx dates to the reign of Pharaoh dates to the reign of Pharaoh Chephren (Khafre) (Fourth Chephren (Khafre) (Fourth Dynasty, 2558-2532), builder of Dynasty, 2558-2532), builder of the Second Pyramid of Gisa, which the Second Pyramid of Gisa, which stands behind it. The head of the stands behind it. The head of the Sphinx was carved from a natural Sphinx was carved from a natural hill, the body was excavated from hill, the body was excavated from the surrounding stone, and the the surrounding stone, and the stone blocks that were removed in stone blocks that were removed in that excavation were used in the that excavation were used in the construction of the Sphinx temple construction of the Sphinx temple just to the east.just to the east.

HISTORY OF THE CONSERVATION HISTORY OF THE CONSERVATION

OF THE SPHINX OF THE SPHINX  Any conservation campaign that is Any conservation campaign that is

undertaken on the Sphinx now or in the undertaken on the Sphinx now or in the future must heed the lessons of the past. This future must heed the lessons of the past. This reasoning underlies the present efforts to reasoning underlies the present efforts to document the history of conservation on the document the history of conservation on the Sphinx. Only with a clear understanding of Sphinx. Only with a clear understanding of what has transpired in the precinct over the what has transpired in the precinct over the years--indeed from the time of the earliest years--indeed from the time of the earliest restoration by Thutmosis IV in 1400 BC restoration by Thutmosis IV in 1400 BC through the interventions of the 1980s, and through the interventions of the 1980s, and right up to the present change of policy--can right up to the present change of policy--can we comprehend the current state of affairs we comprehend the current state of affairs direction. In my opinion most of the direction. In my opinion most of the conservation campaigns in the past were conservation campaigns in the past were conceived as stop-gap solutions, with no long-conceived as stop-gap solutions, with no long-term strategy in mind for protecting the term strategy in mind for protecting the Sphinx. Some of these temporary measures Sphinx. Some of these temporary measures even damaged the Sphinx more than even damaged the Sphinx more than benefited it. This section will outline and benefited it. This section will outline and review the five phases of conservation from review the five phases of conservation from 1400 BC through 1987, and then describe the 1400 BC through 1987, and then describe the work in progress in the current (1989-work in progress in the current (1989-present) campaign.present) campaign.

Early EgyptologistsEarly Egyptologists Some of the early Egyptologists and excavators of the Giza pyramid Some of the early Egyptologists and excavators of the Giza pyramid

complex believed the Great Sphinx and other structures in the Sphinx complex believed the Great Sphinx and other structures in the Sphinx enclosure predated the traditional date of construction (the reign of enclosure predated the traditional date of construction (the reign of Khafra or Khephren, 2520–2492 BC).Khafra or Khephren, 2520–2492 BC).

In 1857, Auguste Mariette, founder of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, In 1857, Auguste Mariette, founder of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, unearthed the much later Inventory Stela (estimated Dynasty XXVI, unearthed the much later Inventory Stela (estimated Dynasty XXVI, cc. . 678–525 BC), which tells how Khufu came upon the Sphinx, already buried 678–525 BC), which tells how Khufu came upon the Sphinx, already buried in sand. Although certain tracts on the Stela are considered good in sand. Although certain tracts on the Stela are considered good evidence, this passage is widely dismissed as Late Period historical evidence, this passage is widely dismissed as Late Period historical revisionism.revisionism.

Gaston Maspero, the French Egyptologist and second director of the Gaston Maspero, the French Egyptologist and second director of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, conducted a survey of the Sphinx in 1886 and Egyptian Museum in Cairo, conducted a survey of the Sphinx in 1886 and concluded:concluded:

"The Sphinx stela shows, in line thirteen, the cartouche of Khephren. I "The Sphinx stela shows, in line thirteen, the cartouche of Khephren. I believe that to indicate an excavation carried out by that prince, following believe that to indicate an excavation carried out by that prince, following which, the almost certain proof that the Sphinx was already buried in sand which, the almost certain proof that the Sphinx was already buried in sand by the time of Khafre and his predecessors [i.e. Dynasty IV, by the time of Khafre and his predecessors [i.e. Dynasty IV, c.c. 2575– 2575–2467 BC]."2467 BC]."

In 1904, English Egyptologist E. A. Wallis Budge wrote in In 1904, English Egyptologist E. A. Wallis Budge wrote in The Gods of the The Gods of the EgyptiansEgyptians::

"This marvelous object [the Great Sphinx] was in existence in the days of "This marvelous object [the Great Sphinx] was in existence in the days of Khafre, or Khephren,Khafre, or Khephren, and it is probable that it is a very great deal older and it is probable that it is a very great deal older than his reign and that it dates from the end of the archaic period [than his reign and that it dates from the end of the archaic period [c.c. 2686 BC]."2686 BC]."

Discoveries Discoveries In The In The Great Great SphinxSphinx