The Nose Knows

It seems that I have given some incorrect information about the Sphinx's nose being in the possession of the British Museum in London. Our guide told us that, but it is, in fact, the Sphinx's beard in the British museum - parts of it anyway. My apologies.

In order to make up for it, I thought I'd tell you some more about the very interesting Sphinx. It's nose, from the marks left on its face, was intentionally chiseled off (not used for target practice by Napoleon), possibly by a Muslim zealot who thought it an idol. Due to an inscription inside the great pyramid some argue that the Sphinx pre-dates Stonehenge, and that the pyramids were actually built around it. Some think its face was that of the Pharoah Khafre, but compared with other statues of Khafre, it seems different. So who is it? There are tunnels around the sphinx, indicating it was there BEFORE the pyramids. There are also chambers inside of the Sphinx, but they don't seem to have been burial chambers for the kings.

It was buried up to its neck in the sands of the desert, which could account for why the face has suffered more erosion than the body.

Why it was built and whomever it was built by - it's seen the sands of time (literally and figuratively) come and go. It's fascinating. And I can't believe I've stood at the base of it, just like Ceasar and Napolean. Cool :)

It was carved where it sits, out of the stone quarry that surrounds it.


Thus endeth the lesson. :)