Sphinx Research Paper

According to art historians, the Great Pyramids at Giza were built sometime between 2601 and 2515 bc. These dates are provided in traditional art history textbooks as being

What makes the sculpture different from others of this time period are two things; the subject matter, in that it depicts no god, nor Pharaoh only a mortal human writing in a mostly illiterate society. Secondly it demonstrates age shown in sagging muscles and rotund belly. Due to this relaxed style we can gather that the subject is not a Pharaoh as it was dishonourable to insinuate that they aged as they were supposed to be gods on earth.

The history started in 2650 B.C.E at the death of King Djoser. His architect, Imhotep, built a design of pyramid called the Step Pyramid. This was supposed to represent a large stairway to which he would climb up to the sun-god in the sky. This sparked the interest in pyramids, which soon gave ideas to other architects.

The Lamassu of Sargon and the Great Sphinx of Gizeh were greatly revered in their cultures as each were viewed as both a religious figure and as a representation of ideals within their cultures. Similarities between the two sculptures vary. Both were mythical creatures that were hybrids of human faces mixed with various animal bodies. Both sculptures were believed to be powerful protectors of royalty both physically and spiritually. The lamassu were placed near entrances of palaces or king’s quarters, and the sphinx at the base of the Great Pyramid (a pharaoh’s palace in the afterlife) as well as various temples within Egypt.

One of the greatest and most ancient of the worlds mysteries, still undeciphered by archaeologists today, resides at the Giza plateau. It is ‘The Great Sphinx’. This colossal statue holds centuries of untold secrets. Standing “sixty feet high and two hundred and forty feet long, the Sphinx is the biggest single stone statue in existence” (“Secret: The Sphinx”). This Egyptian masterpiece represents a fictitious creature that has the head of a man, but the body of a lion. Unfortunately, the Sphinx’s appearance has suffered greatly over the years. “The head of the Sphinx has been badly affected by…years of erosion” and pieces of the monument are missing, like the nose (Haughton, 45). However, historians

Historians do not know for sure who built the Sphinx, however evidence hints that it was originated by king Khufu and later completed by king Khafre during his reign in 2575-2465 B.C. The Sphinx resembles the face of king Khufu since it has a clean rounded shape chin, with no visible evidence displaying a break, for where a beard would have been. The Sphinx also has apparent damage from water erosion which dates back during the time of Khufu. Other apparent damage of the Sphinx, is that the nose is completely gone. One story, although false, is that it was shot off with a cannonball by one of Napoleon’s solders.

culture. They dressed themselves after the Egyptian Rulers, built large tombs, and were buried with

The sphinx is located in the eastern wing of the museum. This is a fairly small artifact comparing with the original sphinx located at Giza, Egypt. It is famous for its projection both Kushite and Egyptian elements. The lion shown in the body of the sphinx is done in typical Egyptian style like the grand sphinx itself, while the face of the artifact clearly Sudanese resemblance of Taharqo, the black king. There are hieroglyphics and symbols on the statue clarifies the fact that it is a real and legitimate portrait of the great King Taharqo. The statue is kept in the central of the room in a glass box (Caleca, 1979). The statue is only accessible for viewing. Visitors are not allowed to touch the box at any cost, but they are allowed to take pictures. Besides the box, there is black and white steel panel where description about the statue is written. It’s said there that, Taharqo was in fact, the fourth pharaoh to rule both the kingdoms of ancient Egypt and Kush together, during the Third Transitional Period of the middle age (Török, 2002). Also, there was a mention that, this statue was built around 680 B.C. The statue was first discovered by archaeologists at a demolished stone temple in Nubia (now known as Sudan), which is situated in the south-eastern part of the Amun Temple at Kawa (now Gematon). The excavations were conducted and monitored by the University of Oxford in 1930 (MacGregor, 2012). Experts believe

The Royal Acquaintances Memi and Sabu was sculpted between the years of 2575–2465 B.C. in the region of Giza, Egypt (Metropolitan Museum of Art a, 2016). The Statue of Gudea was sculpted around the year 2090 B.C. in Girsu (now known as Lagash in Northern Iraq (United States department of Defence, n.d.).

The Sphinx of Giza is a symbol that has represented the essence of Egypt for thousands of years. The body of a lion with the head of a king comes from the Egyptian culture symbolizing strength and wisdom. The sphinx is a carved out of the living rock. Egyptologists believe that the sphinx was built in 2500 BC in the fourth dynasty. From the north side the profile of the Sphinx reveals the proportion of the body to the head. It would appear as though the head is small in proportion to the body. 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 entirety of

The size and quality of houses differed counter to their relative prosperity, and that prosperity usually depended on the amount of land held. Poor peasants lived in windowless wood houses which thatched with straw. Such a house comprised a large room that served as the kitchen and living quarters for all. Living space was dark, smoky, and smelly, with animals

Hi , We know from written works that there were many such grand colossal sculptural works in the ancient world. The Great Sphinx is the last surviving work from the early ancient period. It has sustained damage over the years, and many later Pharaohs tried to sure up the work. We can see on the lower levels of the work different restoration styles. Best, Prof. Kaylin

This research is on the Ancient Egyptian Culture. Ancient Egypt was located in Northeastern Africa along the Nile River. Egypt was divided into Upper and Lower Egypt from 5000 to 2950 BC; the unification of Egypt was around 3000 BC. Ancient Egypt was around until about 50 BC. The Egyptians are known for many accomplishments; they include: their complex irrigation system, hieroglyphics, and the practice of medicine, the calendar, their art, and the construction of the pyramids. The pyramids were built as monuments to honor the dead. There are many mysteries concerning the construction of the pyramids. This research will be directed towards the Great Pyramids at Giza. The pyramids are a very interesting subject matter because they are gigantic structures that were constructed by only the minds of early architects and the hands of many workers. This research will cover the ideas of how these Great Pyramids were constructed.

why it is called the Great Pyramid of GIZA. It is near the west bank

Egyptians are famous for their giant works of sculptures. Some examples of this include the Great Sphinx of Giza and the statues of Ramses II at the Abu Simbel temples. (Duckster, 2014) The Great Sphinx was made out of limestone and is located by the Nile River and has a face of a man and the body of a lion which pertains to their mythology of human head on an animal’s body and vice versa. The ancient Egyptians also built pyramids. The pyramids are triangle because it was in correlation to the sun rays and a way for their souls to ascend to heaven. They buried the pharaohs in the tombs of the pyramids. Pyramids contained false chambers to trick thieves and were often looted for valuables from the deceased. The pyramid of Giza is