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Shesep Ankh 

4/12/2015

2 Comments

 
       It has been theorized that the pyramids of Giza are alined with the stars in Orion’s Belt, but along with this theory is that the Sphinx is alined with the constellation Leo. It is amazing how much we know about the pyramids, but not many people know about the Sphinx. I am sure that the figure of it is worldly known but not many know why or how it was built. In the following blog I was requested I cover the why, how, and recovery of shepep ankh ('living image'), the Sphinx.
       Now the Sphinx is what we would call a zoomorphic figure, despite of its human head. Unlike the pyramids, in which stones had to be carried and placed, the Sphinx was carved from the limestone bedrock. If you would look at the image below, you can see the same striations that are on the chest of the Sphinx are the same as on the surrounding walls. Even though this is obvious once you know where to look, we have no idea how long it took to carve it. With several thousands of years of how we used to do things lost, I am afraid that our new way of doing things along with our new technology we are ignorantly blinded by all that is new to understand more of the old.
Picture
       Something else that we thought we knew was recently shot down. What we thought we knew is that the Sphinx was built by Khafre, which is not true. The reason for this is because in the 19th century on the Giza plateau an 'Inventory Stele' that was found reads that the Pharaoh Khufu, who ruled before Khafre, ordered that a temple be built next to the Sphinx. All this can tell us is the Sphinx is probably the work of Pre-dynastic times. So far we pretty much have an idea of how it was carved, but still having no idea how long or who is was that built it.
       Good news though, we have several theories of why it was built. As I said in the beginning of this blog I talked about the alignment of stars. I believe that since Khufu and his successors are buried in the Giza pyramids this is the reason it was “known” it was on of them who carved the Sphinx. Not only that but the sophistication of the alignment. Many do not think that the ancient Egyptians were bothered with astrology and the pyramids are only coincidentally in line with Orion's Belt, but perhaps at they would look to the stars they saw a familiar shape. The constellation Leo's shape has an uncanny resemblance to that of the Sphinx (see comparison below). This ties in with the following theory of why. Some believe that it was built was a sort of “astronomical observation device that marked the position of the rising sun on the day of the spring equinox in the time of Leo the Lion, which lasted from 10,970 to 8810 BCE. This interpretation is given support by the leonine shape of the Sphinx.” Another assumption made by orthodox archaeologists is it is mearly a memorial or “some sort of talisman or guardian deity.” 
       At the beginning of this blog I said I was requested to cover not only the how it was carved or why it was built but also the recovery of it. You must be thinking, why would a huge statue like the Sphinx need to be recovered? Well, let us say about a thousand years or so had passed before the first attempt to recover it, the winds and sand had buried the Sphinx up to its neck. We know this because Tuthmosis IV made a tablet recounting a dream the Sphinx had given him to free it from the sand is still between the paws. The paws is all Tuthmosis was able to free. There were more excavations after that, but in the reign of Rameses II, the sands once again buried it. As time passed there was some restoration done by Marcus Aurelius which is still visible today, but, as luck would have it, it was buried again. It was not til 1925 when the entirety of it was cleared. But due to several factors such as pollution and increased humidity in the 1980's it underway a restoration; which was a disaster that had to do with using wrong materials to attempt the restoration. With entirely new materials and methods, the restoration is still under way.
       After writing this blog, I am at war within myself. What I mean by this is I want us to find out the answers to all the questions we have, but at the same time, I do not. The hunt, the intrigue is something that keeps us going. If we do find out the answers instead of asking how, we will most likely be asking what next?
      Please feel free to comment on what you thought of the blog, or other physical anthropological subjects you would like me to cover. 

2 Comments
Hool Magh Astra link
5/27/2017 12:26:55 am

Hello and congratulations on your new career as an anthropologist and your wonderful article, blog, and interest in the Sphinx. The Sphinx has been of great interest to a number of people for generations for various reasons and has become the symbol for the ancient and mysterious in many ways. I am curious as to what exactly would satisfy your mind regarding the Sphinx, and what you currently may desire were true regarding it even if you do not as a scientist and academic believe such to be real or likely? I am also curious if your studies in anthropology have ever given you a more mystical appreciation for life or contain any psycho-spiritual element for you, even if subtle. For me, the Sphinx has somewhat gone beyond what it may have originally represented, and has in its long history acquired an avalanche of powerful meanings and associations for a wide range of cultures in a variety of forms. To me, looking at the broad scope of associations from a variety of dimensions and angles, it very much seems to have a great deal surrounding it which has to do with time and the condition of humanity, personhood and identity or protection of secrets or the unseen while also challenging its revelation. These sorts of notions appear in its use or the use of similar symbols across several cultures, myths, latter mystic interpretations, and how it is even used and thought about in recent literature and media and popular thought today without perhaps being explicitly stated as much. Now the two factions regarding this would be those who say "well that is just how it turned out" and the most likely minor opinion that "how it turned out was divinely ordained or intended". Neither of these is necessarily illogical and each can be argued, coming down to a personal flavor preference. I was curious if your journey into anthropology and attraction to the Sphinx had a spiritual sense to it at all or was somehow purely academic curiousity which denies anything really very spiritual about the way things end up or are used or appear to people. Thank you!

Reply
Melany
7/7/2017 07:38:22 am

First, let me thank you for your reply. As for whether it is spiritual or academic, I have to say it is a little of both. And actually, it was a visit to the Metropolotian Museum of Art in New York when I was younger in which I saw the Temple of Dendur (which, to this day, I can not help but break out into tears when I see it), that lead me down this road that I am on.
Once again, thank you for your comment.

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    A recently made anthropologist who has been set loose to study the humans of the then, today, what's to come, and beyond. 

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