Egypt is still a favorite vacation destination for everyone, especially those who are going with family or loved ones. That is understandable since the Egypt pyramid sphinx attracts millions of tourists every year. To many people visiting the pyramids can give them a unique and almost spiritual experience.
Many myths and rumors surround the Pyramids and Sphinx. That is why most people have difficulties separating facts from stories. But some of these facts can be as amusing as coming out from a storybook.
What is the Egypt pyramid sphinx?
Many people take both pyramids and the Sphinx as symbols of Egypt. The image of the Great Pyramids of Giza with the glorious Sphinx is often how people think of Egypt. Hence, they call Egypt the land of pyramids. But there are many things about Egypt and the Pyramids that travelers need to know before a tour.
7 Unique Facts About the Pyramid and Sphinx
Travelers who are about to go to Egypt to see the Pyramids and Sphinx will find these facts interesting. They also can use these facts as an ice breaker with fellow travelers they meet there.
· Most Pyramids are not in Egypt
Even though most people think of Egypt as the land of Pyramids, the country with the most Pyramid is Sudan. During the ancient Egyptian era, modern-day Sudan was part of the Nubia land. Ancient Pharaohs built many landmarks on the border of modern-day Egypt and Sudan.
However, the pyramids in Sudan are mainly smaller since they only cater to a single King. Most of these pyramids also only act as a tomb or mausoleums so they don’t carry jewelry or other important items like the Pyramids in Egypt.
· Pyramid is a funeral complex
A pyramid is a majestic figure of a much larger funeral complex. Many people forget that the purpose of a Pyramid is to prepare the Pharaoh for his afterlife journey.
Ancient Egyptians believe they start living in the afterlife after their time on the earth expires. However, it won’t be easy since they need to pass a test from Osiris, the God of Death. Therefore, they build the pyramids to help the Pharaoh on the test and throughout the journey in the afterlife. The structure of a pyramid also reflects this belief.
They calculate the chambers’ location and what they can put inside. Not to mention, they prepare jewelry and other private items to accompany the Pharaoh.
· The Pyramid used to reflect the light
Pyramids used to have a white limestone cover on the whole building. The cover will reflect light during the day. The reason for the cover isn’t only for aesthetic reasons. It also helped ancient Egyptians to figure out the time of the day.
Ancient Egyptians are masters in astronomy. They don’t build any statue or building without a prior calculation. As for the pyramids, they located them to point true north. It will align perfectly with the sunset and sunrise.
Unfortunately, sandstorms and earthquakes eroded most of these limestones. Visitors can only see the polished limestones at the top of the Kafreh Pyramids in Giza.
· Nobody knows the name of the Sphinx
Many historians use Greek or Latin words for most things we know to do. The word “Sphinx:” is Greek for quiet and mysterious. However, the great Sphinx is about 2,000 years older. Many historians looked in various literature but couldn’t find the Sphinx’s real name.
Another mystery is the face of the Sphinx. Most historians believe that the mythical creature holds the face of the pharaoh, but they can’t tell which pharaoh. One theory says it’s the face of the Pharaoh Kafreh, as he commissioned the pyramid. Another theory says that it’s the face of his father, Pharaoh Kuffeh. Keep in mind that there are sphinxes with female heads such as the figure of Queen Hatshepsut.
· The Sphinx is older than the Pyramid
Most people believe that the Sphinx is built to guard the Pyramid. As the creature is a spiritual guardian for ancient Egyptians. But the great sphinx in the pyramid complex of Giza is older than the pyramids there.
Historians note that the Sphinx is roughly 70 to 100 years older than the pyramids in the complex. This raises another question, what does it guard if they built it before the pyramid?
· The Pyramid of Giza built 1200 years before Tutankhamun
Tutankhamun and Ramesses II are two of the most popular Pharaohs. Therefore, many people think or associate their names with massive structures in Egypt. Ramesses II did build the Abu Simbel temple complex, but the Pyramid in Giza is a millennia older than Tutankhamun’s reign.
Historians estimate the ancient Egyptians built the Great Pyramids of Giza in 2500 BC or during the Fourth dynasty. Whereas Tutankhamun’s life started around 1300 BC or in the 18th Dynasty.
· The workers built the pyramids, not the slaves
Most people think that ancient Egyptians used slave workers to build pyramids. Many dramatizations highlight this misconception. Historians show a worker and trade ledger.
The ledger signifies the source of limestone used to build pyramids. It also records the worker unions and gangs they pay to build the structure. During this era, they paid the workers with grain, oil, meat, and onions.
Why is The Sphinx Important?
The Sphinx is an important figure in ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Asian culture. In the civilizations, they see the Sphinx as a wise spiritual guardian.
However, each culture has a different definition of the sphinx. For example, ancient Greeks pictured the creature with a female head and a serpent tail. Despite the mysteries surrounding the creature, many agree that it’s a majestic and mysterious structure that awes everyone.
Travelers who want to explore the Egypt Pyramid Sphinx can head up to Exodus Travel at https://blog.exodustravel.net/ to know the best way to tour the landmarks. Travelers can choose from the available tour packages to explore the Pyramids. They also can contact the organizer to tailor a personal tour to fit their preferences.
Read more: 5 Facts on the Pyramids of Giza You Should Know