Egypt (Sphinx, Pyramids)

Pyramids

The pyramids in Egypt date from 2700 B.C. to about 1000 B.C.   These pyramids served as a tomb for the late Pharaohs of Egypt.  Construction for these pyramids started when the Pharaoh was born and sometimes was not completed until after his death.  The pyramids are an incredible feat of architecture and the Great Pyramid, built as a tomb for the Pharaoh Khufu, it is considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.  This pyramid measures 481 ft. (147 m) high and has a base measuring 756 ft. (230 m) on each side.  There are other examples of pyramids around the world, for example ancient civilizations such as those found in Mexico and Peru used pyramids for some of the same reason the Egyptians did.

Sphinx

This Sphinx is defined in Greek Mythology as a monster with the head and breasts of a women, the body of a lion, and the wings of a bird.  The riddle of the Sphinx is a term added later to the legend after it was said the Sphinx would not let anyone enter the city of Thebes without answering a riddle.  Such as this one "What is it that has four feet in the morning, two at noon, and three at night?"  Those who could not answer this riddle were killed.   But following the mythology, one man named Oedipus solved this riddle by saying "Man, who crawls on four limbs as a baby, walks upright on two as an adult, and walks with the aid of a stick in old age," Thus the Sphinx killed herself.  Ridding the Thebans of this monster, they made Oedipus their king.

In Egypt, the sphinx is located near the pyramids.  When these Sphinxes were built – many times they were made into an image of a king.   The Great Sphinx of Giza is the most famous of them all and dates from before 2500 B.C.

Sites for further Information

    "Reeder's Egypt Page"
    http://www.egyptology.com/reeder/

   "Giza and the Sphinx"
    http://www.memst.edu/egypt/giza.htm

   "Columbia University - Area Studies"
    http://www.columbia.edu/cu/libraries/indiv/area/Africa/AncEgypt.html

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