The Sphinx in Egypt

Introduction

The Great Sphinx of Gaza is one of the most famous monuments in Egypt. It is located near the pyramid of Khafre. The Sphinx is located along with three great pyramids. These pyramids were built by Khufu, Khafra, and Menkaura (Coche, pp.12).

The Sphinx is a symbol of power, strength, and courage. The Sphinx of Gaza is the essence of Egypt. It has represented Egypt for many years. Unfortunately, the Sphinx has suffered badly because of exposure to the environment. In order to restore the structure of the Sphinx, numerous attempts have been made. The Sphinx is truly a marvel from the days of ancient Egypt. It has been carved from the substratum of the Gaza plateau. The Sphinx is the largest scripture in Egypt. It is over seventy meters long and around twenty meters tall (McKay, pp. 21).

Discussion

The Sphinx has amazed all who have laid eyes on it. For many years, scientists, historians, and experts are trying to find answers of who built the Sphinx and how old it is. In order to find answers, scientists and builders have conducted several studies. The purpose of these studies was to explore the world of ancient Egypt which is a world of pharaohs and pyramids, human sacrifices, sun worship, animal gods and mummies.

Why the Sphinx Was Built

The Sphinx was built to demonstrate the power and strength of pharaohs. A famous archaeologist Gunter Dreyer has revealed through his excavations that the first pharaohs of Egypt had commanded the massacre of dozens of people and lions. Gunter Dreyer had searched about 200 kilometers South of Giza and the pyramids. During his excavations, Dreyer found a lot of lions' bones. Dreyer's excavations revealed that several lions as well as young adults were scarified at the same time. The king used to identify himself with the lion in order to show his power. According to ancient Egyptians, gods are part animals and part human. They have human bodies and animal heads. However, Sphinx is just the opposite. The ancient kings of Egypt had the belief that by constructing a sculpture which has a human head and an animal body, they can gain all the strength and power of the lion. Therefore, Sphinx is an image of power under control (Noble & Wilford, pp.15).

How the Sphinx Was Built

The Sphinx was carved out from the living rock of the plateau. The Sphinx reclines in the middle of a quarry. The same quarry was also used to build the pyramids and some of other temples. The tools used to carve the Sphinx were very simple. Some of these tools were copper chisels and pounders of harder stones such as granite and diorite. In order to smooth the surface of the Sphinx, sand and stand stones were used (Janice & Salima, pp. 6).

When the Sphinx Was Built and Who Built It

Mark Lehner is one of the leading Egyptologists. He has conducted a study on the ancient Egyptian Kingdom for more than 30 years. According to Mark Lehner, the ...