Sphinx is a Greek word of Egyptian origin. The Greeks called this a mythical monster with a woman's head, a lion's body and bird wings. It was the offspring of the hundred-headed giant Python and his half-snake wife Echidna; Other famous mythical monsters also originated from them: Cerberus, Hydra and Chimera. This monster lived on a rock near Thebes and asked people a riddle; whoever could not solve it was killed by the Sphinx. This is how the Sphinx destroyed people until Oedipus solved its riddle; then the Sphinx threw himself into the sea, since fate determined that he would not survive the correct answer. (By the way, the riddle was quite simple: “Who walks in the morning on four legs, at noon on two, and in the evening on three?” - “Man!” answered Oedipus. “In infancy he crawls on all fours, in adulthood he walks on two legs, and in old age he leans on a stick.")

In the Egyptian understanding, the Sphinx was neither a monster nor a woman, like the Greeks, and did not ask riddles; it was a statue of a ruler or god, whose power was symbolized by the lion's body. Such a statue was called shesep-ankh, i.e. “living image” (of the ruler). From the distortion of these words the Greek “sphinx” arose.

Although the Egyptian Sphinx did not ask riddles, the huge statue itself under the pyramids at Giza is a riddle incarnate. Many tried to explain his mysterious and somewhat contemptuous smile. Scientists asked questions: who does the statue depict, when was it created, how was it carved?

After a hundred years of study, which included drilling machines and gunpowder, Egyptologists discovered the real name of the Sphinx. The surrounding Arabs called the statue Abu'l Hod - "Father of Terror", philologists found out that this is the folk etymology of the ancient "Khorun". Behind this name were hidden several even more ancient ones, and at the end of the chain stood the ancient Egyptian Haremakhet (in Greek Harmakhis), which meant "Chorus in the sky." The choir was the name of the deified ruler, and the sky was the place where, after death, this ruler merges with the Sun god. The full name meant: "The living image of Khafre." So, the Sphinx depicted pharaoh Khafre(Khefre) with the body of the king of the desert, a lion, and with symbols of royal power, i.e. Khafre - a god and a lion guarding his pyramid.

Riddles of the Sphinx. Video

There is not and has never been a statue in the world larger than the Great Sphinx. It is hewn from a single block left in a quarry where stone was mined for the construction of the pyramid of Khufu and then Khafre. It combines a remarkable creation of technology with wonderful artistic invention; Khafre's appearance, known to us from other sculptural portraits, despite the stylized nature of the image, is conveyed correctly, with individual features (wide cheekbones and large, lagging ears). As can be judged by the inscription at the feet of the statue, it was created during Khafre’s lifetime; therefore, this Sphinx is not only the largest, but also the oldest monumental statue in the world. From its front paw to its tail is 57.3 meters, the height of the statue is 20 meters, the width of the face is 4.1 meters, the height is 5 meters, from the top to the earlobe is 1.37 meters, the length of the nose is 1.71 meters. The Great Sphinx is over 4,500 years old.

Now it is badly damaged. The face was disfigured, as if it had been hit with a chisel or shot with cannonballs. The royal uraeus, a symbol of power in the form of a cobra raised on the forehead, disappeared forever; the royal nemes (celebratory scarf descending from the back of the head to the shoulders) is partially broken off; from the “divine” beard, a symbol of royal dignity, only fragments remained, found at the feet of the statue. Several times the Sphinx was covered with desert sand, so that only one head stuck out, and not always its entire head. As far as we know, the pharaoh was the first to order it to be excavated at the end of the 15th century BC. e. According to legend, the Sphinx appeared to him in a dream, asked for this and promised the double crown of Egypt as a reward, which, as evidenced by the inscription on the wall between his paws, he subsequently fulfilled. Then he was freed from captivity by the Sais rulers in the 7th century BC. e., after them - the Roman emperor Septimius Severus at the beginning of the 3rd century AD. e. In modern times, the Sphinx was first dug up by Caviglia in 1818, doing this at the expense of the then ruler of Egypt Muhammad Ali, who paid him 450 pounds sterling - a very large sum for those times. In 1886, his work had to be repeated by the famous Egyptologist Maspero. The Sphinx was then excavated by the Egyptian Antiquities Service in 1925–1926; The work was supervised by the French architect E. Barez, who partially restored the statue and erected a fence to protect it from new drifts. The Sphinx generously rewarded him for this: between his front paws were the remains of a temple, which until then none of the researchers of the pyramid field in Giza had even suspected.

However, time and the desert did not cause as much damage to the Sphinx as human stupidity. The wounds on the face of the Sphinx, reminiscent of marks from blows with a chisel, were actually inflicted with a chisel: in the 14th century, a certain devout Muslim sheikh mutilated it in this way in order to fulfill the covenant of the Prophet Muhammad, prohibiting the depiction of a human face. Wounds that look like marks from cannonballs are also just that. It was the Egyptian soldiers - the Mamelukes - who used the head of the Sphinx as a target for their cannons.

The Sphinx statue in Egypt near the pyramids at Giza is the most mysterious and ancient in the world, so it constantly attracts the attention of scientists from all over the globe. Various hypotheses constantly flare up around this ancient architectural structure and conflicting conclusions arise. The structure itself is carved from several blocks of limestone and partially covered with stonework from the same material. If you compare the dimensions of the Sphinx (length 72 m, height 20 m, width between the paws 11 m), you will be struck by the scale of its construction.

The main riddles of the Sphinx

Age of the Sphinx

The most important mystery of the Egyptian Sphinx remains its creation date or the era when it was built. The main hypothesis until now was that the Sphinx was built together with the Pyramid of Cheops and was its contemporary. But modern research has shown that the Sphinx was built much earlier than all the pyramids of Egypt. A study of the erosion of the limestone from which the Sphinx is built shows that it has survived a large number of natural water disasters. In this regard, many British scientists come to the conclusion that the Sphinx existed during the Flood, which is at least 10,000 years BC. Recent studies of Japanese scientists with echolocation once again confirm the opinions of British colleagues, and indicate that the limestone of the Sphinx was processed approximately 12 thousand years BC.

Authors of the creation of the Sphinx

Based on their latest research by scientists on the statue of the Egyptian Sphinx, it is logical to conclude that this structure was not built by the ancient Egyptians. The question arises: “Who built the Sphinx?” At the moment, scientists do not have definite evidence of who was the author of the construction of the Sphinx. The opinions of scientists are divided; some researchers suggest that the builders of this structure were the Atlanteans, others are inclined to believe that the Sphinx was built by peoples unknown to science, and others suggest that the Sphinx was built by an extraterrestrial civilization. One thing is certain - scientists have yet to find the answer to this riddle.

Purpose of the Sphinx

For a long time, based on the version that the Sphinx is a contemporary of the pyramids at Giza, it gave rise to numerous guesses about its purpose. The main version was that the Sphinx is the main one guarding the tombs of the pharaohs and their peace in the afterlife. Another version says that the statue personifies the four seasons: the statue’s paws are summer, the face is winter, invisible wings are autumn, and the lion’s body is spring.

All assumptions of Egyptologists regarding this riddle of the Sphinx can be refuted at any time if the scientific world recognizes the fact that the statue of the Sphinx is much older than the Egyptian pyramids and was built by a civilization that existed much earlier than the ancient Egyptian one.

Image of the Sphinx

Until now, many Egyptologists were inclined to believe that the face of the Sphinx was a copy of Pharaoh Hebren (2574-2465 BC), but this version had many opponents who refuted this fact, tending to believe that the face of the Sphinx belongs to to a representative of the Negroid race and does not look like the surviving images of Hebren. In addition, this version can be refuted by modern research by Japanese scientists who have come to the conclusion that the Sphinx is much older than the Egyptian pyramids. At the same time, Japanese scientists themselves, during their research, discovered a room under the left paw of the Sphinx, which is the entrance to the tunnel leading towards the pyramid of Pharaoh Hebren. Unfortunately, many questions could be answered by studying the found room and tunnel, but the Egyptian authorities refused to allow researchers to further study the statue. At the moment, the found room is one of the most pressing mysteries of the Sphinx.

Egypt is a country that is still shrouded in a lot of mysteries that attract tourists from all over the planet. Perhaps one of the most important secrets of this state is the great Sphinx, the statue of which is located in the Giza Valley. This is one of the most grandiose sculptures ever created by human hands. Its dimensions are truly impressive - the length is 72 meters, the height is approximately 20 meters, the face of the Sphinx itself is 5 meters long, and the nose that fell off, according to calculations, was the size of an average human height. Not a single photo can convey the full grandeur of this stunning ancient monument.

Today, the great Sphinx in Giza no longer inspires sacred horror in a person - after excavations it was discovered that the statue was just “sitting” in a hole. However, for many centuries, her head, sticking out of the desert sand, inspired superstitious fear among desert Bedouins and local residents.

general information

The Egyptian Sphinx is located on the west coast of the Nile River, and its head faces the sunrise. For many thousands of years, the gaze of this silent witness to the history of the land of the Pharaohs has been directed to that point on the horizon where, on the days of the autumn and spring equinoxes, the sun begins its leisurely course.

The Sphinx itself is made of monolithic limestone, which is a fragment of the base of the Giza plateau. The statue represents a huge mysterious creature with the body of a lion and the head of a man. Many have probably seen this grandiose building in photographs in books and textbooks on the history of the Ancient World.

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.

Story

Probably the most important mystery that the Egyptian Sphinx conceals is who, when and why erected such a grandiose monument. In the ancient papyri found by historians, one can find a lot of information about the construction and creators of the Great Pyramids and numerous temple complexes, but there is no mention of the Sphinx, its creator and the cost of its construction (and the ancient Egyptians were always very careful about the costs of this or that business). not in any source. The historian Pliny the Elder mentioned it for the first time in his writings, but this was already at the beginning of our era. He notes that the Sphinx, located in Egypt, has been reconstructed and cleaned of sand several times. It is precisely the fact that not a single source has yet been found that explains the origin of this monument, which has given rise to countless versions, opinions and guesses as to who built it and why.

The Great Sphinx fits perfectly into the complex of structures located on the Giza plateau. The creation of this complex dates back to the reign of the IV dynasty of kings. Actually, it itself includes the Great Pyramids and the statue of the Sphinx.

It is still impossible to say exactly how old this monument is. According to the official version, the Great Sphinx in Giza was erected during the reign of Pharaoh Khafre - approximately 2500 BC. In support of this hypothesis, historians point to the similarity of the limestone blocks used in the construction of the pyramid of Khafre and the Sphinx, as well as the image of the ruler himself, which was discovered not far from the building.

There is another, alternative version of the origin of the Sphinx, according to which its construction dates back to even more ancient times. A team of Egyptologists from Germany, who analyzed the erosion of the limestone, concluded that the monument was built around 7000 BC. There are also astronomical theories about the creation of the Sphinx, according to which its construction is associated with the constellation Orion and corresponds to 10,500 BC.

Restorations and the current state of the monument

The Great Sphinx, although it has survived to this day, is now badly damaged - neither time nor people have spared it. The face was especially damaged - in numerous photographs you can see that it is almost completely erased, and its features cannot be distinguished. The uraeus - a symbol of royal power, which is a cobra that wraps around its head - is irretrievably lost. The plat - the ceremonial headdress that descends from the head to the shoulders of the statue - is also partially destroyed. The beard, which is now not fully represented, has also suffered. But where and under what circumstances the Sphinx’s nose disappeared, scientists are still arguing.

Damage to the face of the Great Sphinx, located in Egypt, is very reminiscent of chisel marks. According to Egyptologists, in the 14th century it was mutilated by a pious sheikh who carried out the covenants of the Prophet Muhammad, which prohibited depicting a human face in works of art. And the Mamelukes used the head of the structure as a cannon target.

Today, in photos, videos and live, you can see how much the Great Sphinx has suffered from time and the cruelty of people. A small piece weighing 350 kg even broke off from it - this gives another reason to be amazed at the truly gigantic size of this structure.

Although only 700 years ago the face of the mysterious statue was described by a certain Arab traveler. His travel notes said that this face was truly beautiful, and his lips bore the majestic seal of the pharaohs.

Over the years of its existence, the Great Sphinx has more than once plunged up to its shoulders into the sands of the Sahara Desert. The first attempts to excavate the monument were made in ancient times by the pharaohs Thutmose IV and Ramses II. Under Thutmose, the Great Sphinx was not only completely dug out of the sand, but also a huge granite arrow was installed in its paws. An inscription was carved on it, saying that the ruler was giving his body under the protection of the Sphinx so that it would rest under the sands of the Giza Valley and at some point be resurrected in the guise of a new pharaoh.

During the time of Ramses II, the Great Sphinx of Giza was not only dug out of the sand, but also underwent a thorough restoration. In particular, the massive back part of the statue was replaced with blocks, although previously the entire monument was monolithic. At the beginning of the 19th century, archaeologists completely cleared the chest of the statue of sand, but it was completely freed from sand only in 1925. It was then that the true dimensions of this grandiose structure became known.

The Great Sphinx as a tourism object

The Great Sphinx, like the Great Pyramids, is located on the Giza plateau, 20 km from the capital of Egypt. This is a single complex of historical monuments of Ancient Egypt, which has survived to this day since the reign of the pharaohs from the IV dynasty. It consists of three large pyramids - Cheops, Khafre and Mikerin, and small pyramids of queens are also included here. Here tourists can visit various temple buildings. The Sphinx statue is located in the eastern part of this ancient complex.

Each civilization had its own sacred symbols that brought something special to the 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 of eternal life. The majestic guardian of the desert inspires fear in people to this day: its origin and existence are shrouded in mystery, mystical legends and historical milestones.

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, but those who did not have an answer faced great grief.

Riddle of the Sphinx: “Tell me, who walks in the morning on four legs, in the afternoon on two, and in the evening on three? None of all the creatures living on earth changes as much as he does. 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 parts of the planet.

Egyptian guards

A symbol of the greatness of the people is 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 incommensurable strength, and the upper part speaks of a sharp mind and incredible memory.

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

Historians claim that the true purpose of the Egyptian sphinxes was to guard the treasures and body of the deceased pharaoh. Sometimes they were installed at the entrance to temples to scare away thieves. Only scanty descriptions of the life of this mythical creature have reached 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 Greek legends have survived to this day. Some researchers suggest that the Greeks borrowed the image of the mysterious creature from the Egyptians, but the right to create the name belongs to the inhabitants of Hellas. There are those who think completely differently: Egypt borrowed it and modified it to suit itself.

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

Opinions about the origin of the Greek Sphinx vary:

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

The character, according to legend, was sent to King Laius as punishment for kidnapping the son of King Pelops and taking him 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 itself onto the rocks, this ends its life path in the ancient Greek writings.

Hero of myths in modern texts

The vigilant guard appeared more than once on the pages of works and was everywhere associated with power and mysticism. You can cross the road guarded by the sphinx only by answering the riddle correctly. JK Rowling used this image in the book “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” - these are vigilant servants to whom magicians trusted their magical treasures.

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

Sphinx statue in Giza

The monument with the face of Khafre over the tomb of the pharaoh is located on the left bank of the Nile, 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 popular tourist spots, so getting to the complex is easy. It’s easy to take a taxi to the plateau; the trip from the center will take no more than half an hour. Cost no more than $30. If you need to save money and have a lot of time, the bus is suitable. Some hotels provide a free shuttle to the Great Sphinx Plateau.

History of the origin of the Egyptian Sphinx

In scientific texts there is no exact description of why and who erected this statue, only guesses. There is evidence that the structure is 4517 years old. Its creation dates back to 2500 BC. e. The architect is presumably called Pharaoh Khafre. The material from which the sphinx is composed coincides with the creator's pyramid. The blocks are made of baked clay.

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

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

Purpose

The ancient name of the sphinx statue is “the rising sun”; the inhabitants of ancient Egypt thought that it was a structure in honor of the greatness of the Nile. Many civilizations saw in sculpture a divine principle and a reference to the image of the Sun God - Ra.

According to some researchers, the sphinx is an assistant to the pharaohs in the afterlife and a guardian of tombs from destruction. A composite image associated with several seasons at once: the wings indicate autumn, the paws indicate summer, the body indicates spring, and the head corresponds to winter.

Secrets of the Egyptian Sphinx Statue

For several millennia, Egyptologists have not been able to come to an agreement; they have been arguing about the origin of such a large monument and its true purpose. The Sphinx is fraught with many mysteries, 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 Sphinx statue. His statement was confirmed by Japanese researchers who, using X-rays, discovered a rectangular chamber 5 m long under the lion’s left paw. Edgar Cayce's hypothesis states: the Atlanteans decided to perpetuate the traces of their presence on earth in a special “hall of chronicles.”

Archaeologists have put forward their theory. In 1980, when drilling 15 m deep, the presence of Aswan granite and traces of a memorial room was proven. There are no deposits of this mineral in this part of the country. It was brought there specially and the “hall of chronicles” was inlaid with it.

Where did the sphinx go?

The ancient Greek philosopher and historian Herodotus took notes while traveling around Egypt. Upon returning home, he compiled an accurate map of 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 described in detail the food they were served.

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

Why is he looking east

Interesting fact: on the chest of the large Egyptian sphinx there is an inscription “I look at your vanity.” He is truly majestic and mysterious, wise and wary. A barely noticeable grin froze on his lips. It seems to many that a monument cannot in any way change a person’s fate, 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 a series of pictures on the camera, despite the fact that all this time he was alone and the camera was film.

The mystical guard has shown his capabilities more than once, so the residents of Egypt are sure that the statue protects their peace and watches the Sunrise.

Where is the Sphinx's nose and beard?

There are several assumptions why the Sphinx lacks a nose and beard:

1. During Bonaparte's great Egyptian campaign, they were repulsed by artillery shells. This theory is refuted by images of the Egyptian Sphinx made before this event - parts are no longer on them.
2. The second theory claims that in the 14th century, Islamic extremists, obsessed with the idea of ​​ridding the inhabitants of the idol, tried to disfigure it. The vandals were caught and publicly executed right next to the statue.
3. The third theory is based on erosive changes in the sculpture due to exposure to 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 clean it of sand. Ramses II is the first to excavate a national symbol. Restoration was then 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 various historical documents there are records that help to better understand the life of the people of Ancient Egypt and provide food for thought about the origin of the Great Sphinx:

1. Excavations of the plateau around the statue revealed that the builders of this gigantic monument left the place of work quickly after completion of construction. There are remains of mercenaries' belongings, tools and household items everywhere.
2. During the construction of the sphinx statue, high salaries were paid - this is evidenced by the excavations of M. Lehner. He managed to calculate an approximate worker's menu.
3. The statue was multi-colored. Wind, water and sand tried to destroy the sphinx and 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.
4. The first mention of the Sphinx belongs to the 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.
5. This is an androsphinx - it has no wings and is male.

Despite the past millennia, the Sphinx is still majestic and monumental, full of mysteries and shrouded in myths. He directs 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 guesses.

Hello, dear ladies and gentlemen. Today is Sunday, July 15, 2018, and the TV game “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” is on Channel One. The players and presenter Dmitry Dibrov are in the studio.

In the article we will look at one of the interesting questions of the game, and a little later there will be a general article with all the questions and answers in today's TV game.

What material is the Great Sphinx of Egypt made of?

The Great Sphinx on the west bank of the Nile at Giza is the oldest surviving monumental sculpture on Earth. Carved from a monolithic limestone rock in the shape of a colossal sphinx - a lion lying on the sand, whose face, as has long been believed, was given a portrait resemblance to Pharaoh Khafre (c. 2575-2465 BC), whose funeral pyramid is located nearby.

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: Khafre's face looks out from the figure of a god who protects the pharaoh's journey to the afterlife, making it safe.

The Great Sphinx is the largest surviving sculpture of antiquity. The length of the body is 3 compartment cars (73.5 meters), and the height is a 6-story building (20 meters). The bus is smaller than one front paw. And the weight of 50 jet airliners is equal to the weight of a giant.

In ancient times, the Sphinx had a false beard, an attribute of the pharaohs, but now only fragments remain of it.

In 2014, after the restoration of the statue, tourists opened access to it, and now you can come up and take a close look at the legendary giant, whose history contains many more questions than answers.

• granite
• limestone
• marble
• clay

The correct answer to the game question is: limestone.