It is a symbol that has represented the essence of Egypt for thousands of years. Carved from the bedrock of the Giza plateau, the sphinx is truly a mysterious marvel from the days of ancient Egypt. The body of a lion with the head of a king or god has come to symbolize strength and wisdom.
Because of the changing desert terrain, the body of the sphinx has been buried several times over the past several thousand years. Most recently in 1905, the sand has been cleared away to expose the magnitude and beauty of the sphinx. The paws themselves are 50 feet long while the entire length is 150 feet. The head is 30 feet long and 14 feet wide.
Although the head of the sphinx is badly battered in some places, traces of the original paint can still be seen near one ear. The nose was the unfortunate victim of target practice by the Turks in the Turkish period. It is often assumed that the nose was shot off by Napoleon’s men, but 18th century drawings reveal that the nose was missing long before Napoleon’s arrival.
Keywords – The great sphinx of Giza, beauty of sphinx.
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