Legends and superstitions abound about the Sphinx, and the mystery surrounding
its long-forgotten purpose is almost as intriguing as its appearance. The Sphinx was carved from the natural bedrock
at the bottom of the causeway to Khafre’s pyramid and is one of the world’s largest statues. It most likely dates from Khafre’s reign, and probably portrays his features, framed by the striped nemes headcloth worn only by royals; it’s thought its entire
visage was once painted.Unfortunately, the monument is suffering from stone
deterioration, caused in part by the salts in the stone, and recent restoration attempts have sped up, rather than halted, the decay. The Sphinx is renowned for lacking its 1m-wide nose. The story that Napoleon’s soldiers
fired a cannonball at it is probably not true, as sketches published in 1755 show the Sphinx already without a nose.
Comments
Post a Comment