The great Sphinx of Giza turns out to be one of the most stunning monuments that visitors can find on Egypt’s Giza Plateau. This statute becomes the biggest among others worldwide. Any visitor who is visiting this wonderful spot will notice that the statue structure is diverse and exceptional.
There is no doubt that it is like a mythical creature. The shape of the statue is a lion’s body with a human head. Many experts stated that this statue was representing the god of the sun which has the body of a lion and the head of a human. Uniquely, the nose has gone.
Description of the Great Sphinx of Giza
The great Sphinx of Giza lies on the Nile’s west bank. Watching the statue from a distance always delivers a memorable feeling. It is not surprising that many travel agents from various countries offer Giza tour packages.
But of course, choosing native travel agents with a good reputation is even better. This is because tourists will get a full description of the Sphinx’s history, along with the best holiday experience by visiting this place at the right time and place.
The height of the statue reaches approximately 74 meters long with a width is up to 6 meters. It is amazing to find out that the monument represented the incredible skill of ancient Egyptian architects. Experts mentioned that the Great Sphinx was built around the 4th dynasty by Khafre.
But, many experts also claimed that it was Redjedef, the older brother of Khafre who built this statue for commemorating Khufu, their father. There was a reason behind the opinion in which the Great Sphinx’s face was similar to Khufu, who was also building the Great Pyramid of Giza.
How It Was Abandoned Through Years
It was believed that the Great Sphinx was in great deterioration for decades. It was estimated that the statue was preserved under Thutmose IV’s reign 1400 up to 1390 BCE. However, the preservation wasn’t really significant because the body of the statue was undergoing erosion with the damaged part of the face.
There were theories about the missing nose. Some people claimed that the nose was shot off with a cannon by Napoleon’s troops. But others claimed that the nose was eliminated by a Muslim figure named Muhammad Saʾim al-Dahr who claimed that the Sphinx represented idolatry.
How the Statue Got Its Name
However, the ancient Egyptians weren’t the ones who named the statue as ‘the sphinx’. The word was actually originated in Greek. The Greeks applied the name to the specific statue at Giza. However, Greeks also have their mythical figure like the sphinx, in which it was known as a figure with the woman’s head and the beast’s body in the Oedipus story.
However, during the Egypt New Kingdom era in 1570-1069 BCE, the Egyptians knew the Sphinx as Horemakhet. It meant Horus of the Horizon. It was a cult that grew up around the statue in which it linked to a god named Horus.
Ancient Egypt considered a cult as a sect of a religious community. The cult worshiped the god of the sky, Horus. Then, during the reign of Amenhotep II in 1425-1400 BCE, this cult was patronized as he delivered honor to the Sphinx in the form of a temple.
The temple was built to honor Khufu and Khafre who were Horus’s representatives on earth. The name Khufu and Khafre were merely the decision of Amenhotep II as he knew well about the link between the 4th Dynasty leaders and the statue. The inscriptions of Amenhotep II were then suggesting a certain date and kings’ names that linked closely with its creation.
How The Statue Got Its ‘Victory’
The popularity of the statue wasn’t built in one night. It took decades for this sculpture to gain its total restoration in order to look even more gorgeous. It started with the dream of prince Thutmose, the son of Amenhotep II.
He mentioned his dream to his father that the statue told him about how it was suffering because it was pressed deeply by the sand. Thutmose claimed that the Sphinx offered a deal in which Thutmose could become the next Egypt pharaoh if the statue was restored by clearing the sand away.
Finally, Thutmose took the deal as he was restoring the Sphinx with the Dream Stele supporting the statue in the pink granite carving. Then, the prince was inaugurated as the Pharaoh of Egypt or Thutmose IV (1400-1390 BCE).
The Sphinx cult was highly developed after the Thutmose IV reign. It was the beginning of the popularity of Sphinx until it becomes one of the most popular historical sites right now. Some historical experts claimed that there was a secret passage that was located beneath in which it leads to a tomb keeping the treasures of Atlantis.
Several Names of the Sphinx of Giza
Basically, the sphinx has several names. Coptic Christians from the 4th century CE named the statue as Bel-hit or the guardian. Some people still use the name until now. Even nowadays Egyptians don’t refer to the name Sphinx to the statue as long as they don’t talk with foreigners. In Egyptian Arabic, the sphinx is known as Abu al-Hawl which means The Father of Terror.
Sphinx images are now found in several shapes and sizes. Visitors can check them out at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and the temples throughout Egypt. However, holidays in Egypt mean nothing without visiting Giza’s Great Sphinx.
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Visiting the Great Sphinx of Giza is what millions of people have been dreaming of. If you are one of them, you should visit exodustravel.net right away. As a reputable travel agent with a home base in Egypt, it offers more than any other travel agent can do.
Of course, visitors don’t only have a chance to visit Giza’s Sphinx, but they can also enjoy other amazing sites in this magnificent country. There are in-depth Egypt tours, Egypt Nile Cruise, Safari Tours, and many more. Make your reservation now and enjoy the most unforgettable holiday in this country with its rich culture.
Read more: 7 Unique Facts About the Egypt Pyramid Sphinx