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There is currently absolutely no archaeological evidence of Khephren 'repairing' the Sphinx. There are two ancient Egyptian references, both during the Middle Kingdom, at a considerably later time. One has it that Khephren found the Sphinx (which would support the Sphinx is older than Khepern), and that Khephern altered it's face. This same source (fragmentary papyrus) said that there was another Sphinx facing this one on the other side of the Nile, and both were built here to represent the dividing line between Northern and Southern Egypt. The other reference said that Khephren built the Sphinx.
Have you ever seen just one Sphinx in later Egypt that didn't have another? Not only did the ancient Egyptians mention a second Sphinx, but so did the Greeks, Romans, and Muslims. It was destroyed between 1000-1200 ad.
At the entrance to buildings and temples there are two Sphinxes, side by side, but on the avenue or approach to the temple they are facing each other. Sometimes they may have as much as 100 or so facing each other in the avenue. The Nile is Egypt's avenue between North and South. All of the writings about the two Sphinxes say that they were facing each other. The second one, by the way, was partly destroyed during a high Nile flood, and then completely destroyed by ensuing Moslems carting it off to rebuild their villages.
Al-I'Drisi (AD 1099-1166) who wrote about it in Kitab al-Mamalik wa al-Mansalik (a large geographic encyclopedia) and Al-Kitab al-Jujari, a geographical encyclopedia on Asia and Africa. He describes a second sphinx across the Nile from the first in very bad state of repair, made of mud (bricks?) and faced with stone, most of the stone having been hauled away by local inhabitants and now the Nile "lapping at it's feet." He doesn't say if it was the same size, but since the Nile moved further east after AD 1166, then it would have been destroyed.
Ibn Battuta (AD 1307-1377) in his Travels in Asia and Africa doesn't mention it, either because it doesn't exist, or has already been destroyed by then (it was written around AD 1325-1354).
Musabbihi mentions a smaller Sphinx across the Nile from the large one "south of Cairo" in a "ruined state of brick and stone" in the Annals of Rabi II around AD 1024.
Nasir-i Khosrau visited Egypt between Aug 1047 and April 1048 and heard rumors of a second one but apparently never looked for it or saw it.
This means that the lion-bodied Sphinx, with its due-east orientation, would have gazed directly on that morning at the one constellation in the sky that might reasonably be regarded as its own celestial counterpart.
Originally posted by Howard the Dolphin
Nairod - if you can find some quotes from that source I would be very interested in reading them. I haven't heard about this spin on the subject...very interesting.
One thing to consider is that the sphinx is in a laying position; it wouldn't seem plausible for its haunches to be sticking up above the arch of the back would it? I don't seem to think so, but the reasoning of the book you mentioned might change my mind.
If you could find that section and post some important quotes it would be an interesting, let alone unique post.
[edit on 30-9-2004 by Howard the Dolphin]
Originally posted by Howard the Dolphin
As you all know, the three main pyramids in the Giza necropolis are designed in such a way as to replicate the three stars of Orion's belt. They are proportionally set apart and lined up proportionally to the Nile as the stars in Orion's belt is to the Milky Way.
Another theory is that the sphinx at Giza was/is paired with the constellation of Leo (during the age of Leo), where there is speculation of if this indicates when it was built. The age of Leo is mapped out (via the program Skyglobe 3.6 that uses precession to map out where the stars were, are, and will be at any given date) to be from circa 10,970 to 8810 BCE. Upon this past date, the sphinx is said to be aligned in such a way as to stare directly in the direction the sun would rise upon the the spring equinox (i.e. the constellation of Leo "housed the sun" during the spring equinox).
This means that the lion-bodied Sphinx, with its due-east orientation, would have gazed directly on that morning at the one constellation in the sky that might reasonably be regarded as its own celestial counterpart.
...the jackal-headed God of the Dead and the son of Osiris
Originally posted by Lastday ProphetSecond, these lions would have had to be in the general area where the Sphinx now sits and it says that there was nothing close to the likeness of these 26 LIONS made in any Kingdom, which would include Egypt. The Sphinx is the last of the 26 LIONS that once stood around the Great Throne that once was stood before the Great Pyramid.
Except that the Sphynx doesn't sit in front of the Great Pyramid (Khufu) but rather in front of the next greatest pyramid (Khafare). I'm rather afraid that all your Biblical text isn't going to change the fact that the causeway leading from the Sphynx doesn't run to the Great Pyramid. :
Originally posted by Lastday Prophet
2Ch 9:17 Moreover the king(solomon) made a GREAT THRONE of ivory, and overlaid it with pure gold.
2Ch 9:18 And there were six steps to the throne, with a footstool of gold, which were fastened to the throne, and stays on each side of the sitting place, and two lions standing by the stays: [stays: Heb. hands]
2Ch 9:19 And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps. There was not the like made in any kingdom.
I have said for those that would hear, that in front of the temple that King Solomon built there were 26 LIONS, I can't think of one word that describes the Sphinx better than LION., especially when you think of Awe and Power.
Second, these lions would have had to be in the general area where the Sphinx now sits and it says that there was nothing close to the likeness of these 26 LIONS made in any Kingdom, which would include Egypt. The Sphinx is the last of the 26 LIONS that once stood around the Great Throne that once was stood before the Great Pyramid.
Originally posted by Byrd
Originally posted by Howard the Dolphin
Another theory is that the sphinx at Giza was/is paired with the constellation of Leo (during the age of Leo), where there is speculation of if this indicates when it was built. The age of Leo is mapped out (via the program Skyglobe 3.6 that uses precession to map out where the stars were, are, and will be at any given date) to be from circa 10,970 to 8810 BCE. Upon this past date, the sphinx is said to be aligned in such a way as to stare directly in the direction the sun would rise upon the the spring equinox (i.e. the constellation of Leo "housed the sun" during the spring equinox).
Frequently debunked, I'm afraid.
Where can I find an example of this "debunking"? I am curious to see the flaws.
Originally posted by Howard the Dolphin
This means that the lion-bodied Sphinx, with its due-east orientation, would have gazed directly on that morning at the one constellation in the sky that might reasonably be regarded as its own celestial counterpart.
However, I don't know of any evidence (pro or con) about a second sphynx. These figures were fairly popular in Egypt and there's a number of them in existance. None are as large as the one at Giza.