The Great Sphinx The Sphinx is an important part of the Egyptian past. There are many Sphinx statues in Egypt, such as the Sphinx of Saqqara on our opening page, but the one that is most recognized is the Great Sphinx in the Giza desert outside of Cairo. Some people think it is a tomb, but it is actually a statue. Scientists believe it is the likeness of King Khafre as the god Horus. Egyptians believed that when the Pharohs died, they became gods. It, like all the pyramids around it, is huge. The Sphinx's head, believe it or not, is taller than a six-story building. The Great Sphinx is almost as long as a football field. It may have been brightly painted when it was first built because paint remnants have been found. The ancient Egyptians thought that the Sphinx had special powers. Some think that ancient astronomers must have decided where to put the Sphinx because if you stand next to the Sphinx and look towards the pyramids of Khufu and Khafre on the longest day of the year, you will see the sun setting between them. There have been rumors about special rooms holding special artifacts inside the Sphinx. Although there have been some rooms discovered, nothing of value has been found. The nose is believed to have been broken off by the Turks in the 16th century when they used the Sphinx for target practice. Some think it may have been as a result of aging or weathering. |