Sphinx Case

A massive figure of astonishing proportions, The Great Sphinx of Giza is a figure synonymous with ancient Egyptian culture. Half man and half beast, the Sphinx rests at a staggering 66 feet tall and unbelievable 240 feet long weighing nearly 200 tons. This colossal sculpture that lies in front of the King As we know the great Sphinx today, it has the head of King Khafre and the body of a immense lion. On top the gigantic head sits the traditional headdress, also represented is the typical false beard as how all kings were represented of that time. However the beard has since broken off due to the elements of time. This colossal head of Khafre is approximately 30 feet long and 14 feet wide. Figures of this time were often portrayed as a composition of man and beast, so this wasn't uncommon. In fact, having the body of a lion was traditional in usage with ancient times to represent the strength of nobility and protection of cherished ones. "Why not the face of a lion and body of man?" one may ask. It's due to the fact that the idea of human form above an animal's body shows that man are greater than beast.

In the center of the lion's 50 foot paws, rests a stone engraved tablet with hieroglyphics called a stele. On this stele it reads of a story of a prince that fell asleep in the shadow of the Sphinx and dreamt that the Sphinx told him to dig the monument out of the sand, in return this man would become king of Egypt.The lion's body is used in many protective type monuments and sculptures of this time.

During my readings regarding the Great Sphinx of Egypt, I have discovered that there are many historians that believe the original design of the Sphinx was constructed a bit different then how we have come to know it today. If you look at the Sphinx from a side profile it becomes blatantly obvious ved on the walls of the tomb of the Pharaoh Cheops at Giza, just at the foot of the great pyramid. The true origin and purpose of the Sphinx remains a mystery, and is a mystery that perhaps will never be fully solved. Regardless of the true story behind it, the image of the Sphinx remains in the mind of history as the foundation of ancient Egyptian civilization and a major part of their religious beliefs. It's up to you to decide which theory you most believe, but no matter which one, one thing will always be true, the great Sphinx of Giza sends us a timeless message of love, loyalty, and triumph for the past six thousand years.