The Great Sphinx of Giza PART 2

Other Theories

Over the years, researchers have put forth many other theories for the Great Sphinx’s origins, though most are refuted by mainstream Egyptologists.

Some theories suggest the face of the sphinx actually resembles Khufu and, therefore, Khufu built the structure. Alternatively, Pharaoh Djedefre—Khafre’s older half-brother and Khufu’s other son—built the Great Sphinx in commemoration of his father.

Other theories hold that the statue depicts Amenemhat II (around 1929 to 1895 B.C.) based on the style of the stripes on the sphinx’s head cloth.

Some scientists also contend that the Great Sphinx is far older than is widely believed, based on the potential age of the causeway or various patterns of erosion of the statue.

Riddle of the Sphinx

What Egyptians called the Great Sphinx during its prime remains a riddle, because the word sphinx originates from Greek mythology some 2,000 years after the statue was built.

It’s also unclear in what regard Egyptians held the Great Sphinx during the Old Kingdom (c. 2613-2181 B.C.), as there are few texts that discuss the statue. However, Khafre associated himself with the god Horus and the Great Sphinx may have been known as Harmakhet (“Horus on the Horizon”), as it was during the New Kingdom (1570-1069 B.C.).

Whatever the case, the statue began to fade into the desert background at the end of the Old Kingdom, at which point it was ignored for centuries.

Inscriptions on a pink granite slab between the Great Sphinx’s paws tell the story of how the statue was saved from the sands of time. Prince Thutmose, son of Amenhotep II, fell asleep near the Sphinx, the story goes. In Thutmose’s dream, the statue, calling itself Harmakhet, complained about its state of disarray and made a deal with the young prince: It would help him become pharaoh if he cleared away the sand from the statue and restored it.

Whether or not the dream actually occurred is unknown, but when the prince did, in fact, become Pharaoh Thutmose IV, he introduced a Sphinx-worshipping cult to his people. Statues, paintings, and reliefs of the figure popped up across the country and the sphinx became a symbol of royalty and the power of the sun.

Great Sphinx Restoration

The Great Sphinx was eventually forgotten again. Its body suffered from erosion and its face became damaged by time as well.

Though some stories claim Napoleon‘s troops shot off the statue’s nose with a cannon when they arrived in Egypt in 1798, 18th-century drawings suggest the nose went missing long before then. More likely, the nose was purposely destroyed by a Sufi Muslim in the 15th century to protest idolatry. Part of the Sphinx’s royal cobra emblem from its headdress and sacred beard have also broken off, the latter of which is now displayed in the British Museum.

The Sphinx was actually buried in sand up to its shoulders until the early 1800s, when a Genoese adventurer named Capt. Giovanni Battista Caviglia attempted (and ultimately failed) to dig out the statue with a team of 160 men.

Mariette managed to clear some of the sand from around the sculpture and Baraize made another large excavation push in the 19th and 20th centuries. But it wasn’t until the late 1930s that Egyptian archaeologist Selim Hassan was able to finally free the creature from its sandy tomb.

Today, the Sphinx is continuing to deteriorate thanks to wind, humidity, and pollution. Restoration efforts have been ongoing since the mid-1900s, some of which failed and ultimately caused more damage to the Sphinx.

In 2007, authorities learned that the local water table under the statue was rising due to sewage being dumped in a nearby canal. The moisture ultimately spread through the porous limestone of the structure, causing the rock to crumble and break away in large flakes in some cases. Authorities installed pumps close to the Great Sphinx, diverting the groundwater and saving the relic from further destruction.

The Great Sphinx of Giza PART 1

The Great Sphinx of Giza is a giant 4,500-year-old limestone statue situated near the Great Pyramid in Giza, Egypt. Measuring 240 feet (73 meters) long and 66 feet (20 meters) high, the Great Sphinx is one of the world’s largest monuments. It is also one of the most recognizable relics of the ancient Egyptians, though the origins and history of the colossal structure are still debated.

What Is a Sphinx?

A sphinx (or sphynx) is a creature with the body of a lion and the head of a human, with some variations. It is a prominent mythological figure in Egyptian, Asian, and Greek mythology.

In ancient Egypt, the sphinx was a spiritual guardian and most often depicted as a male with a pharaoh headdress—as is the Great Sphinx—and figures of the creatures were often included in tomb and temple complexes. For instance, the so-called Sphinx Alley in Upper Egypt is a two-mile avenue that connects the temples of Luxor and Karnak and is lined with sphinx statues.

Sphinxes with the likeness of the female pharaoh Hatshepsut also exist, such as the granite sphinx statue at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the large alabaster sphinx at the Ramessid temple in Memphis, Egypt.

From Egypt, the sphinx imported to both Asia and Greece around 15th to 16th century B.C. Compared with the Egyptian model, the Asian sphinx had eagle wings, was frequently female, and often sat on its haunches with one paw raised in depictions.

In Greek traditions, the sphinx also had wings, as well as the tail of a serpent—in legends, it devours all travelers unable to answer its riddle.

How Old Is the Sphinx?

The most common and widely accepted theory about the Great Sphinx suggests the statue was erected for the Pharaoh Khafre (about 2603-2578 B.C.).

Hieroglyphic texts suggest Khafre’s father, Pharaoh Khufu, built the Great Pyramid, the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in Giza. When he became Pharaoh, Khafre constructed his own pyramid next to his father’s; though Khafre’s pyramid is 10 feet shorter than the Great Pyramid, it is surrounded by a more elaborate complex that includes the Great Sphinx and other statues.

Residues of red pigments on the face of the Sphinx suggest the statue may have been painted.

Given the organization of the pyramids and the Sphinx, some scholars believe there may have been a celestial purpose to the Great Sphinx and temple complex, that is, to resurrect the soul of the pharaoh (Khafre) by channeling the power of the sun and other gods.

Khafre

Several lines of evidence exist that tie the Great Sphinx to Pharaoh Khafre and his temple complex.

For one thing, the head and face of the Sphinx are strikingly similar to a life-size statue of Khafre that French archaeologist Auguste Mariette found in the Valley Temple—the ruins of a building situated adjacent to the Great Sphinx—in the mid-1800s.

Additionally, Mariette discovered remnants of a causeway (processional road) that connect the Valley Temple to a mortuary temple next to Khafre’s pyramid. In the early 1900s, French archaeologist Emile Baraize dug up another building (the Sphinx Temple) directly in front of the Sphinx that’s similar in design to the Valley Temple.

In the 1980s, researchers uncovered evidence that the limestone blocks used in the walls of the Sphinx Temple came from the ditch surrounding the great statue, suggesting workmen hauled away quarry blocks for the Sphinx Temple as they were being chipped off the Great Sphinx during its construction.

Researchers estimate that it would have taken 100 people 3 years to carve the Great Sphinx out of a single mass of limestone. But there’s some evidence that these workers may have suddenly quit before fully finishing the sphinx and temple complex, such as partially quarried bedrock and remnants of a workman’s lunch and tool kit.

Alexandria

Alexandria is the second-largest city in Egypt and a major economic center. With a population of 5,200,000, Alexandria is the largest city on the Mediterranean, the sixth-largest city in the Arab world and the ninth-largest in Africa.

Alexandria was founded in c. 331 BC by Alexander the Great, king of Macedon and leader of the Greek League of Corinth, during his conquest of the Achaemenid Empire. An Egyptian village named Rhacotis existed at the location and grew into the Egyptian quarter of Alexandria. Alexandria grew rapidly to become an important center of Hellenistic civilization and remained the capital of Ptolemaic Egypt and Roman and Byzantine Egypt for almost 1,000 years, until the Muslim conquest of Egypt in AD 641, when a new capital was founded at Fustat (later absorbed into Cairo). Hellenistic Alexandria was best known for the Lighthouse of Alexandria (Pharos), one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World; its Great Library (the largest in the ancient world); and the Necropolis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages. Alexandria was the intellectual and cultural center of the ancient Mediterranean world for much of the Hellenistic age and late antiquity. It was at one time the largest city in the ancient world before being eventually overtaken by Rome.

The city was a major center of early Christianity and was the center of the Patriarchate of Alexandria, which was one of the major centers of Christianity in the Eastern Roman Empire. In the modern world, the Coptic Orthodox Church and the Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria both lay claim to this ancient heritage.

Following the Arab conquest of Egypt in 641 AD, the city was plundered and lost its significance before re-emerging in the modern era. From the late 18th century, Alexandria became a major center of the international shipping industry and one of the most important trading centers in the world, both because it profited from the easy overland connection between the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea, and the lucrative trade in Egyptian cotton.

Top Things to do in Alexandria:

1.Serapeum

2.Bibliotheca Alexandrina

3.El-Mursi Abul Abbas Mosque

4.Corniche

5.Alexandria National Museum

6.Montazah Palace Gardens

7.Royal Jewelry Museum

8.Stanley Bridge

9.Souq District

10.Catacombs of Kom ash-Suqqaf

CAIRO  PART 2

Day 2: Spiritual sojourn

8:30 a.m. When visiting the architectural stronghold of Christianity in Egypt, hiring a quality guide is essential for getting the most out of the experience. Outfits such as Walk like an Egyptian, among others, provide well-informed, English-speaking guides for historical sights across Cairo. Start by gazing at the Roman ruins, as your guide walks you through the empire’s time in the city. Head to the Hanging Church, named for its vivid location above a gate leading into the Roman Empire’s Babylon Fortress. After climbing 29 steps visitors enter a grand room to marvel at ornate walls, carved pillars, and benches under a high-vaulted roof. Proceed to Saint Sergius and Bacchus Church, which sports a brick-exposed interior, believed to be built at the spot where the holy family rested after their Egyptian excursion. Its most curious feature is a 10-foot-deep crypt, revered for its reputation as a resting place for Mary, Joseph, and infant Jesus.

While the main attractions of Coptic Cairo are its churches, there is also a small, sepia-toned market underneath the main street, featuring a jewelry shop and well-priced books about Egyptian architecture and history.

3 p.m. Built during the Mamluk period, the massive Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Hassan was an ambitious attempt for the 14th century. The mosque was thoughtfully designed to include the four schools of Sunni thought—Shafi’i, Maliki, Hanafi, and Hanbali—in enclaves inside its 118-foot-high walls. Commissioned under the patronage of Sultan an-Nasir Hasan at a steep cost, this structure remains incomplete. It never fulfilled its purpose of holding his body, which was not found after his assassination. However, the Sultan gave Egypt one of its grandest mosques, still among the largest in the world. Its architecture features the decorative chinoiserie style, right next to an ornate entrance indicating Egypt’s trade ties with China more than 600 years ago. The curious egg-shaped dome is made of wood. Past the entrance, lamps hang from the mammoth ceiling, with the mosque’s tallest point being a 223-foot-tall minaret.

The 14th-century Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Hassan is one of Egypt’s grandest mosques.

5 p.m. Wind down with a stop at Al-Azhar Park, Cairo’s greenest urban attraction. The gated park was originally a landfill, and was transformed into a park in 2005 under an initiative by Agha Khan IV, the 49th Imam of Nizari Ismailism. Sprawling over 74 acres of central city land, it is a veritable oasis among the urban hustle of Cairo.

Bordered by a 12th-century wall from the Ayyubid Dynasty, the gardens in the park follow traditional Islamic architecture, with prominent waterways and walkways gently dividing the green space into cozier enclaves. A variety of food courts and restaurants overlook wide views of the city, including the historic Mosque of Muhammad Ali on the western horizon. You’ll find the park filled with yoga classes, couples sitting by fish ponds, and children playing by the fountains. Visit an hour before sunset to bask in the golden light and watch the city transform.

Day 3: Tutankhamun’s gold

11 a.m. The world’s largest collection of Pharaonic antiquities, the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities is a must visit—preferably with an Egyptologist in tow. Guides are usually found by the ticket counter, and can be hired on an hourly basis. Inside, the grand ground floor features a collection of New Kingdom (1550–1069 B.C.) objects, including a variety of traditional coffins arranged by style, withering scrolls of papyrus, and coins from across kingdoms and cultures, mainly Islamic, Greek, and Roman. The first floor houses two rooms of mummies, arranged with notes on ingredients used in the processing of each body. The most intriguing attraction at the museum is Tutankhamun’s tomb, displayed alongside his bust, a series of complex gold coffins, gold trinkets, objects, and jewelry.

The museum’s treasures will eventually be relocated to the new Grand Egyptian Museum, scheduled to open in 2020 on the Giza Plateau.

2 p.m. Cairo’s largest and most vibrant tourist souk, Khan El-Khalili, offers a promising collection of shops. Known for its semiprecious and precious jewelry, the marketplace has trinkets of every color and price. Originally built as a mausoleum for the Fatimid caliphs, the structure underwent many changes over time, and was eventually remodeled in the 16th century by Sultan al-Ghuri. Inspired by the Ottoman style, it closely resembles a Turkish bazaar.

Drop by the hundred-year-old café Fishawi for its Egyptian-style coffee and sepia-steeped ambience. The shop is has served local and international celebrities alike, including Egyptian Nobel Laureate author Naguib Mahfouz and Will Smith. An ideal order would include mint tea or the hibiscus-based karkade, Egypt’s national drink, with a shisha on the side. You will probably need the shisha after all the bargaining at the souk. Fun fact: Most of the shops at the bazaar decide their own timing.

6 p.m. Dubbed the “world’s largest open-air museum of Islamic monuments,” Muizz Street comes into its own after sunset. Located a short walk north of Khan El-Khalili, this bustling walk is flanked by some of Egypt’s oldest and grandest structures. A stroll can unveil architecture from dynasties that have ruled the city in different eras—from the Fatimid dynasty in A.D. 970 to the more recent Pasha rule, of which famed emperor Muhammad Ali was the most prominent. Home to the Qalawun Complex, it also houses a spectacular mausoleum and impressive Mamluk architecture, including a minaret within a dome.

At night, the entire street lights up. Enjoy traditional Egyptian street food like shish taouk, hamammahshi (Egyptian braised pigeon), and mahshi (stuffed grape leaves), against the rich backdrop

CAIRO PART1

LINING THE BANKS of the Nile River, Cairo is a fusion of ancient. Churches are built atop Roman ruins and skyscrapers rise behind medieval monuments. Egypt's capital is best known for preserving the last of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, but the city contains infinite treasures beyond the Pyramids of Giza.

Discover early Christian history in Coptic Cairo, browse the world’s largest collection of pharaonic antiquities, and sip on Egyptian-style coffee in the bustling Khan El-Khalili souk. While ancient temples and intricate tombs await farther south in Luxor and Aswan, here’s why you should pause in Cairo before your journey onward.

Spend your time in Cairo Memorably

Day 1: Nile views

9:30 a.m. Start your trip with a stroll in Zamalek, the glamorous northern part of the Gezira island on the Nile. Dotted with elegant townhouses, Zamalek houses embassies from all over the world. Away from the chaos, its tree-lined streets march to the beat of a gentler drum. Begin your day at Left Bank, a chic, riverside café that offers a smattering of indulgent menu options, including the traditional Cairene breakfast. The hearty spread consists of slabs of feta cheese sprinkled with tomatoes, accompanied by local staples like falafel and fulmedames, a flavorful fava bean dish. Two eggs cooked in any style round up this morning meal against the backdrop of the Nile.

3 p.m. Calling the Cairo Tower a tourist trap is harsh but accurate. Go anyway because it’s the best way to get a bird’s-eye view of the city. Enjoy the refreshing breeze on its towering terrace and take in the view of the Nile. The quiet afternoon hour is a relief from the flow of tourists, who often come in the evening to see Cairo Tower bejeweled with colorful lights. The café located just under the terrace is a promising spot for a light meal, coffee, and a changing panorama of Cairo as the sun sets.

7 p.m. The most prominent structure in the National Culture Centre, the Cairo Opera House, is a well-appointed performance venue. Visitors can don their formal finery and enjoy performances by Cairo’s finest music groups in a main auditorium that seats 1,200. The elegant room is split across four levels, tailor-made for opera and ballet performances by touring global groups. Don’t miss the thoughtfully curated Museum of Modern Egyptian Art which displays the works of local artists across mediums: painting, sculpture, and other mixed media. The museum is closed on Mondays and Fridays.

Lake Naivasha

Lake Naivasha is a freshwater lake in Kenya, outside the town of Naivasha in Nakuru County, which lies north west of Nairobi. It is part of the Great Rift Valley. The name derives from the local Maasai name Nai'posha, meaning "rough water" because of the sudden storms which can arise.

Resting at an elevation of 1890 meters is the serene freshwater Lake Naivasha, a superb oasis to include on your safari holiday in Kenya with AfricanMecca (read more on reasons to visit). Just beyond its shores are papyrus swamps, acacia woodlands, forests and unique geologic features that are remnants of the area’s volcanic past. The nutrient-rich soil is fertilized by an abundance of water, including the Gilgil and Malewa Rivers, to create an ecosystem that is known around the world for a diverse avian presence, as well as terrestrial game animals. Lake Naivasha is a RAMSAR site, a designation that reflects the ecological importance of the wetlands around the lake. More than 450 distinct birdlife species have been identified, and the resident avifauna are joined by migratory species from October to March. The lake, high cliffs and forests are home to spectacled weavers, red-billed fire finches, grey-backed fiscals, grey-capped warbler and many other interesting and colorful aerial creatures. The most prominent, though, are the cormorants and pelicans while the African fish eagles are the most majestic of the raptors. As you tour through the acacia forests, you may sight hawks, cuckoos, woodpeckers, shrikes and other birds, and a solo giraffe may peer through the thorn-leaves branches out of curiosity. The papyrus swamps are where you find jacanas, herons and kingfishers.

Lake Naivasha is one of the primary drinking holes for buffalos, zebras, elands, impalas, waterbucks and other grazers, as well as a favorite place for hippos to cool themselves during the day. Take a night game drive on one of the surrounding private conservancies like Loldia and Oserian, and you will see these incredible animals slowly emerge from their wallowing sites in the lake to grass along the shores. On your game drive, you may also see the other plains and forest fauna including the elusive leopard. AfricanMecca Safaris arranges every aspect of your adventure-seeking travel in Kenya, including your varied Lake Naivasha tour activities. We recommend a morning or afternoon boating excursion around the lake or to Crescent Island so that a professional guide and ornithologist can help you locate and identify avifauna by colors, location and behaviour. Nature walks are another popular way to enjoy Lake Naivasha, and these outings get you close to some of the lakes smaller denizens. We also recommend horseback riding, community visits, flower farm trip visits, tours of Elsamere and day excursions to Lake Elementaita, Hell’s Gate and Lake Nakuru National Parks. Naivasha located in central Kenya is only 15 minutes flight or a two-hour drive from Nairobi.

Garden Route

 There’s a 300-kilometer stretch of coastal road on the south west tip of South Africa regarded as the most beautiful region in the country. Known as The Garden Route, the road trip gets its name from the Garden Route National Park that it covers, and the diverse vegetation and wildlife, and abundance of lagoons, lakes, mountains, forests, and beaches along its winding roads. Home to almost a dozen nature and marine reserves, a road trip on the Garden Route offers plenty of opportunities for activities along the way, from hiking to eco and whale watching tours, to exploring caves and deserted sandy beaches. 

The route meanders between the Indian Ocean and the Tsitsikamma and Outeniqua mountain ranges, creating contrasting, yet equally stunning views on either side. The lush greenery of the indigenous forests meets the jagged cliffs and the sprawling coastal vistas, producing the type of panoramic views only found in magazines .

Summer (November – March) has the warmest weather and is the most popular time to visit. To beat the Christmas holiday crowds, we recommend visiting in late summer/early fall, between February and April. Spring (September to October) on the other hand offers fantastic opportunities for whale watching.

Here is a travel itinerary for you

Day 1: Port Elizabeth to Knysna

Day 2: Knysna to Oudtshoorn

Day 3: Oudtshoorn to Struisbaai

Day 4: Agulhas to Hermanus

Day 5: Hermanus to Cape Town