The Sphinx Report. The largest statue in Egypt is the Sphinx. Legends of Egypt. History of the Sphinx. Sphinx in the modern world
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One of the oldest sculptures in the world, without a doubt, can be called the statue of the Sphinx. In addition, it is also one of the most mysterious sculptures, because the secret of the Sphinx has not yet been fully solved. The Sphinx is a creature with a female head, the legs and body of a lion, the wings of an eagle and the tail of a bull. One of the largest depictions of the Sphinx is on the west bank of the Nile, next to the Egyptian pyramids at Giza.
Almost everything related to the Egyptian Sphinx is controversial among scientists. The exact date of the origin of this sculpture is still unknown and it is completely incomprehensible why now the statue has no nose.
The statue, made of limestone rock, looks monumental and majestic. It is worth noting its impressive dimensions: length - 73 meters, height - 20 meters. The Sphinx looks at the Nile and the rising sun.
Almost everything connected with the Sphinx is controversial among scientists. The exact date of the origin of this sculpture is still unknown and it is completely incomprehensible why now the statue has no nose. The meaning of the word is also unknown: in translation from the Greek "sphinx" means "strangler", but what the ancient Egyptians put into this name remains a mystery.
It was customary to depict the Egyptian pharaohs in the form of a formidable lion that would not spare any enemy. That is why it is believed that the Sphinx protects the peace of the buried pharaohs. The author of the sculpture is unknown, but many researchers believe that it is Khefren. True, this judgment is very controversial. Proponents of the theory refer to the fact that the stones of the sculpture and the nearby pyramid of Khafre are the same in size. In addition, an image of this pharaoh was found near the statue.
Interestingly, the Sphinx has no nose. Of course, this detail once existed, but the reason for its disappearance is still unknown. Perhaps the nose was lost during the battle of Napoleon's troops with the Turks on the territory of the pyramids in 1798. But, according to the Danish traveler Norden, the Sphinx looked like this already in 1737. There is a version that back in the 14th century, some religious fanatic mutilated the sculpture in order to fulfill the behest of Muhammad to prohibit the depiction of a human face.
The Sphinx lacks not only a nose, but also a false ceremonial beard. Its history also causes controversy among scientists. Some believe that the beard was made much later than the sculpture itself. Others believe that the beard was made at the same time as the head and that the ancient Egyptians simply did not have the technical capabilities for the subsequent assembly of parts.
The destruction of the sculpture and its subsequent restoration helped scientists find Interesting Facts... For example, Japanese archaeologists came to the conclusion that the Sphinx was built before the pyramids. In addition, they found a tunnel under the left paw of the statue, going towards the pyramid of Khafre. Interestingly, Soviet researchers were the first to mention this tunnel.
For a long time, the mysterious sculpture was under a thick layer of sand. The first attempts to unearth the Sphinx were made in antiquity by Thutmose IV and Ramses II. True, they did not achieve much success. Only in 1817, the Sphinx's chest was freed, and more than 100 years later, the statue was completely excavated.
Address: Nazlet El-Semman, Al Haram, Giza
What is the most unusual cat breed you know? Surely most of the respondents said it was a sphinx. These cats have been at the top of the exoticism rating for a long time, and are not going to give up their positions. Hairless cats are popular all over the world, they have millions of fans, and millions of anti-fans - yes, not everyone loves and understands Sphynxes. Contradictions are caused by their appearance, it is very unusual. If you are among the exotic lovers, you are attracted by the Sphynx cat breed, then this article will be useful for you. You will learn the history of the breed, interesting facts, get acquainted with the description of the character of hairless cats, find information on the care and maintenance.
History of the breed
At the mention of the Sphinx breed, Egypt is immediately presented. But in fact, bald cats have no direct relation to this ancient country. There is only an assumption that cats without hair existed already in ancient times, scientists cite rock paintings as proof. As you know, in Egypt, cats were in the role of a deity, so it is not surprising that there are a lot of images of these animals there.
The most plausible pictures were found in Mexico, among the Aztecs - this people knew and loved bald cats for sure. In addition, I managed to see these ancient animals with my own eyes and capture them in the photo - they were Mexican hairless cats. Unfortunately, at the beginning of the 20th century, the breed disappeared, but before that it made a splash at American exhibitions. These cats were somewhat different from modern sphinxes in physique, and most importantly, in the cold season, their hair partially grew.
One of the progenitors of the modern Sphinx was born in Canada in 1966. An ordinary cat gave birth to a bald kitten - this happens, since the lack of hair, in fact, is a genetic mutation. Then, in Canada, it happened spontaneously. The owner kept the unusual cat for herself, and when he grew up, she brought him to his mother in order to get one more bald offspring. The experiment was a success, bald kittens were born.
Around the same time, somewhere the same story happened, and so by the beginning of the 70s there were already two branches of bald cats. Two is better than one, but still very, very little for breeding. Due to the lack of "personnel", the breeding of the breed went on with great difficulties, the kittens were dying, the cats were sick - they needed fresh blood. Several more times, by chance, as a result of spontaneous mutation, hairless kittens appeared, and this saved the situation. Soon, several animals were sent to Europe to breed a separate branch, where they began to cross with the Devon Rex breed, the closest in parameters.
The breed was recognized, moreover, today there are seven varieties of sphinxes in the world.
The skin of Sphynx cats is covered with folds and wrinkles. If you look closely, you can see a strong resemblance to human skin. It is also interesting that cats sweat all over their bodies. Sweat has a specific smell and leaves dark spots on the body of the animal.
The body of hairless cats is very hot. It's all about the absence of hair - the body directly gives off heat. Therefore, despite the warm body, the sphinxes must be protected from the cold. They like to bask on a radiator or under a table lamp - it is necessary to create such conditions for them in which the cat could always find itself a warm and cozy place. Keep in mind that the sun can burn your pet! Control your sunbathing, and gradually get used to tanning.
The fewer hairs and fluff on a kitten, the more bald an adult cat will be.
Sphinxes are very difficult to tolerate any disease, they quickly develop dehydration, they rapidly lose strength. At the first signs of a serious illness, the animal is recommended to be taken to the veterinarian.
Sphynxes are devoid of hair, but in some places it is partially preserved or grows back during hormonal surges. There are hairs or down on the face and head, paws, on the tip of the tail.
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Sphinx character
Sphinxes are versatile and rich in character. They are smart, intelligent animals that show a complete understanding of the words and requests of the owner, they easily remember simple commands, their name. Bald cats prefer to lead an active lifestyle, they like to follow their owner, overcome obstacles, jump from one object to another. They have something of a dog, they also love to play, bring objects, they become very attached to the owner, miss him, seek companionship.
The breed is considered decorative, so the instinct of a hunter in cats is almost absent. They get along well with other animals, are not afraid of large dogs. They are kind and affectionate, but sometimes they can turn into a real fury, showing the enemy their teeth and claws. Each individual has character traits; behavior is not always a character trait of the breed.
The owners of the sphinxes say that the animals seem to understand that they are completely dependent on humans and are grateful for their care. This breed of cats lacks not only wool, but also a mustache, the most important cat "device". If you find yourself on the street or in the wild, the sphinx will die almost immediately.
Varieties of the Sphynx breed
Today there are seven varieties of the Sphynx breed. Three of them are called pioneers - the main branches of the breed, which have arisen as a result of spontaneous mutation in a natural way. The rest are the product of selection, they were bred after.
As a result of spontaneous mutations appeared:
- Canadian Sphynx;
- Don Sphinx;
- Cohona (rubber, Hawaiian hairless)
Breeding programs resulted in:
- Peterbald, was obtained by crossing the Don Sphynx and the oriental cat.
- Minskin, the Canadian Sphynx, Munchkin, Devonian Rex and Burmese were used for breeding.
- Bambinle is a Canadian Sphynx and a Munchkin.
- Ukrainian Levkoy was obtained by crossing the Don Sphynx, Peterbald, Oriental cat, Scottish Fold, Persian, domestic.
Sphinx care
Sphinxes sweat all over the body, sweat appears on the skin and remains in the form of a dark coating. If the cat gets dirty very quickly, then it may be necessary to reconsider its nutrition. Cleanse the skin with a damp soft sponge. The cat can be bathed, but not more than twice a month. It is recommended to use a low acid shampoo. After bathing, the cat is thoroughly wiped and taken to a warm, dry place.
Sphinxes must be protected from cold and drafts. The optimal temperature for keeping is considered to be 20-25 degrees; at lower thermometer readings, the cat must be insulated by putting on a suit.
The dark secret accumulates inside the ears, it is periodically cleaned with a cotton swab.
The cat's claws are regularly cut, the very tip, since in the conditions of an apartment it is impossible to grind them off with high quality. Long claws can cut the delicate skin of an animal.
Adult sphinxes rarely get sick, kittens are vaccinated, preferably with live vaccines. Lactating cats often have too much milk and this leads to the development of mastitis.
Kittens stay with their mother for a long time, they need to grow up and get stronger. Kittens that are early selected may die.
The Sphinx of Giza is one of the oldest, largest and most mysterious monuments ever created by man. Disputes about its origin are still ongoing. We have collected 10 little-known facts about the majestic monument in the Sahara Desert.
1. The Great Sphinx of Giza is not a sphinx
Experts say that the Egyptian Sphinx cannot be called a traditional image of the Sphinx. In classical Greek mythology, the Sphinx was described as having the body of a lion, the head of a woman, and the wings of a bird. In Giza, the sculpture of the Androsphinx actually stands as it has no wings.
2. Initially, the sculpture had several other names
The ancient Egyptians did not originally call this giant creature the "Great Sphinx". In the text on the Stele of Dreams dating from about 1400 BC, the Sphinx is referred to as the "Statue of the great Khepri". When the future Pharaoh Thutmose IV slept next to her, he had a dream in which the god Khepri-Ra-Atum came to him and asked him to free the statue from the sand, and in return promised that Thutmose would become the ruler of all Egypt. Thutmose IV dug up a statue covered with sand over the centuries, which after that became known as Khorem-Akhet, which translates as "Mountains on the horizon". The medieval Egyptians called the Sphinx "balkhib" and "bilhow".
3. Nobody knows who built the Sphinx
Even today, people do not know the exact age of this statue, and modern archaeologists argue about who could have created it. The most popular theory is that the Sphinx arose during the reign of Khafre (the fourth dynasty of the Old Kingdom), i.e. the age of the statue dates back to around 2500 BC.
This pharaoh is credited with creating the pyramid of Khafre, as well as the necropolis of Giza and a number of ritual temples. The proximity of these structures to the Sphinx prompted a number of archaeologists to believe that it was Khefren who ordered the construction of a majestic monument with his own face.
Other scholars believe that the statue is much older than the pyramid. They argue that the face and head of the statue bear traces of clear water damage and theorize that the Great Sphinx already existed during the era when the region faced extensive flooding (6 millennium BC).
4. Whoever built the Sphinx, he ran away from it at breakneck speed after the end of the construction
American archaeologist Mark Lehner and Egyptian archaeologist Zahi Hawass discovered large stone blocks, toolboxes and even petrified dinners under the sand. This clearly indicates that the workers were in such a hurry to get away that they did not even bring their tools with them.
5. The laborers who built the statue were well fed
Most scientists think that the people who built the Sphinx were slaves. However, their diet suggests otherwise. As a result of excavations led by Mark Lehner, it was found that the workers regularly dined on beef, lamb and goat meat.
6. The Sphinx was once covered in paint
Although the Sphinx is now gray-sandy in color, it was once completely covered in bright paint. Remnants of red paint can still be found on the face of the statue, and there are traces of blue and yellow paint on the body of the Sphinx.
7. The sculpture was buried under the sand for a long time
The Great Sphinx of Giza has fallen prey to the quicksands of the Egyptian desert several times during its long existence. The first known restoration of a sphinx, almost completely buried under the sand, took place shortly before the 14th century BC, thanks to Thutmose IV, who soon after became the Egyptian pharaoh. Three millennia later, the statue was again buried under the sands. Until the 19th century, the statue's forepaws were deep beneath the surface of the desert. The entire Sphinx was excavated in the 1920s.
8.The Sphinx lost its headdress in the 1920s
During the last recovery, the Great Sphinx lost part of its famous headdress, and its head and neck were seriously damaged. The Egyptian government hired a team of engineers to restore the statue in 1931. But soft limestone was used during this restoration, and in 1988 a 320-kilogram portion of a shoulder fell off, nearly killing a German reporter. After that, the Egyptian government resumed restoration work.
9. After the construction of the Sphinx for a long time there was a cult that venerated it
Thanks to the mystical vision of Thutmose IV, who became pharaoh after unearthing a giant statue, a whole cult of Sphinx worship arose in the 14th century BC. The pharaohs who ruled during the New Kingdom even built new temples from which the Great Sphinx could be seen and worshiped.
10. The Egyptian Sphinx is much kinder than the Greek
The Sphinx's modern reputation as a cruel creature originated in Greek mythology, not Egyptian. In Greek myths, the Sphinx is mentioned in connection with a meeting with Oedipus, to whom he asked a seemingly insoluble riddle. In ancient Egyptian culture, the Sphinx was considered more benevolent.
11 it's not Napoleon's fault that the Sphinx doesn't have a nose
The mystery of the absence of a nose in the Great Sphinx has given rise to all kinds of myths and theories. One of the most widespread legends says that Napoleon Bonaparte ordered to beat off the nose of the statue in a fit of pride. However, early sketches of the Sphinx show that the statue lost its nose even before the birth of the French emperor.
12. The Sphinx was once bearded
Today, the remains of the Great Sphinx's beard, which were removed from the statue due to severe erosion, are kept in the British Museum and in the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, established in Cairo in 1858. However, the French archaeologist Vasile Dobrev argues that the bearded statue was not originally, and that the beard was added later. Dobrev argues his hypothesis that removing the beard, if it was a component of the statue from the very beginning, would damage the chin of the statue.
13. Great Sphinx - the oldest statue, but not the most ancient sphinx
The Great Sphinx of Giza is considered the oldest monumental sculpture in human history. If the statue is considered to date from the reign of Khafre, the smaller sphinxes depicting his half-brother Jedefre and sister Netefere II are older.
14. The Sphinx is the largest statue
The Sphinx, which is 72 meters long and 20 meters high, is considered the largest monolithic statue on the planet.
15. Several astronomical theories are associated with the Sphinx
The mystery of the Great Sphinx of Giza led to the emergence of a number of theories about the supernatural understanding of the ancient Egyptians of the cosmos. Some scientists, such as Lehner, believe that the Sphinx with the pyramids of Giza is a giant machine for capturing and processing solar energy. Another theory notes the coincidence of the Sphinx, pyramids and the Nile River with the stars of the constellations Leo and Orion.
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Egyptian sphinx
The earliest images of a man-lion were discovered during excavations at Göbekli Tepe and date back to the 10th millennium BC. NS.
Sphinx statues became an attribute of ancient Egyptian art during the period of the Old Kingdom, the earliest probably depict Queen Hetepheres II. One of the largest monolithic statues in the world is the Sphinx (Great Sphinx), which guards the pyramids of the pharaohs in Giza.
There were three common variants of the sphinxes:
- The classic version of the Egyptian Sphinx was androsphinx with the face of a person, as a rule, of a high-ranking person - for example, a pharaoh.
- Temples of the god Horus were decorated with sphinxes with the head of a falcon - hieracosphinxes
- Near the temples of Amun, sphinxes with the muzzle of a ram were installed - cryosphinxes.
The winged strangler was sent to Thebes by the goddess Hero for the crime of the Theban king Laius against Chrysippus. She lay in wait for travelers, asked them cunning riddles and killed everyone who could not guess them. Hera sent her to Thebes. Having learned the riddle from the Muses, Sphinga sat down on Mount Fikey and began to ask the Thebans about it.
There is a version that she was the bastard daughter of Lai, and he told her the secret of the saying of the Delphic god given to Cadmus. Lai had many sons from his concubines, and they all could not answer the question and died.
According to another interpretation, she was a sea robber who wandered the seas with an army and a fleet, capturing a mountain, engaged in robbery, until Oedipus with an army from Corinth defeated her. According to another interpretation, this Amazon, the first wife of Cadmus, entrenched herself on Mount Phykion and began to fight Cadmus.
The protagonist of the satire drama Aeschylus "Sphinx", the play by an unknown author "Sphinx", the comedy Epicharmus "Sphinx".
India
Sphinx in the art of classicism
Images of the sphinx abound in the art of classicism, from the interiors of Robert Adam to the Empire style furniture of the era of romantic "Egyptomania".
Sphinxes became an attribute of neoclassical decoration, and there was a return to a simplified early version, more similar to the painting of grotesques. Masons considered them a symbol of the mysteries and used them in their architecture, considering them as guardians of the gates of the temple. In Masonic architecture, the sphinx is a frequent decoration detail, for example, even in the version of the image of its head on the form of documents.
It was during this period that St. Petersburg was adorned with numerous images of the sphinx (see, for example, the Egyptian Bridge). In 1832, paired sphinxes, transported from Egypt, were installed on the embankment of the Neva in front of the Academy of Arts. The same motive was used in the design of the monument to the victims of political repression.
Since 1800 in St. Petersburg, under the leadership of A. F. Labzin, there was a Masonic lodge "The Dying Sphinx". In the United States, sphinxes are still installed at the entrance to the halls of Masonic assembly as the personification of mystery and a call for silence.
see also
- The man-lion is the oldest sculptural image of an animal.
- The asteroid (896) Sphinx is named after the Sphinx (English)Russian, opened in 1918.
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Excerpt from the Sphinx
With her incessant hail of questions and the manner of asking two people at once, she strongly reminded me of Stella. And I laughed heartily ...“No, Maya, we certainly don’t live here. It was you who were very brave to come here yourself. It takes a lot of courage to do this ... You are really great! But now you have to go back to where you came from, you have no more reason to stay here.
- And mom and dad "completely" died? .. And we will not see them again ... Really?
Maya's plump lips twitched, and the first large tear appeared on her cheek ... I knew that if this was not stopped right now, there would be a lot of tears ... But in our current "general screwed-up" state, this was in no way allowed ...
“But you’re alive, aren’t you ?! Therefore, whether you like it or not, you have to live. I think that mom and dad would be very happy if they knew that everything is fine with you. They loved you very much ... - as I could have fun, I said.
- How do you know? - the baby stared at me in surprise.
“Well, they did a very difficult thing to save you. Therefore, I think, only by loving someone very much and cherishing it, you can do this ...
- Where are we going now? Will we go with you? .. - Maya asked, looking inquiringly at me with her huge gray eyes.
- Here Arno would like to take you with him. What do you think of it? He is also not sweet ... And he will have to get used to a lot in order to survive. So you will help each other ... So, I think, it will be very correct.
Stella finally came to her senses, and immediately "rushed to the attack":
“How did it happen that this monster got you, Arno?” Do you remember anything? ..
- No ... I only remember the light. And then a very bright meadow, bathed in the sun ... But it was no longer the Earth - it was something wonderful and completely transparent ... This does not happen on Earth. But then everything disappeared, and I "woke up" already here and now.
“What if I try to“ look ”through you? - a completely wild thought suddenly occurred to me.
- How - through me? - Arno was surprised.
- Oh, but that's right! - Stella immediately exclaimed. “I don’t think so myself ?!”
- Well, sometimes, as you can see, something comes to my mind ... - I laughed. - It's not always just for you to invent!
I tried to "get involved" in his thoughts - nothing happened ... I tried with him to "remember" the moment when he "left" ...
- Oh, what a horror! - Stella squeaked. - Look, this is when they captured him !!!
My breathing stopped ... The picture we saw was really not a pleasant one! This was the moment when Arno had just died, and his essence began to rise up the blue channel. And right behind him ... to the same channel, three completely nightmarish creatures crept up! .. Two of them were probably lower astral terrestrial entities, but the third clearly seemed to be some other, very scary and alien, clearly not terrestrial ... And all these creatures very purposefully chased a man, apparently trying to get him for some reason ... And he, poor thing, not even suspecting that he was being hunted so "nicely" , unearthly peace, and greedily absorbing this peace, rested in his soul, forgetting for a moment the wild earthly pain that destroyed his heart, "thanks" to which he found himself today in this transparent, unfamiliar world ...
At the end of the canal, already at the very entrance to the "floor", two monsters with lightning speed darted after Arno into the same channel and suddenly merged into one, and then this "one" quickly flowed into the main, the most disgusting, which was probably the most powerful of them. And he attacked ... Rather, he suddenly became completely flat, "spread" almost to a transparent haze, and "enveloping" the unsuspecting Arno, completely swaddled his essence, depriving him of his former "I" and in general any "presence" ... And then, laughing terribly, he immediately dragged the already captured essence of poor Arno (the beauty of the approaching upper "floor" just ripening) straight into the lower astral ...
- I don't understand ... - Stella whispered. - How did they capture him, does he seem so strong? .. Well, let's see what happened even earlier?
We again tried to look through the memory of our new acquaintance ... and immediately understood why he was such an easy target for capture ...
In terms of clothing and surroundings, it looked as if it had happened about a hundred years ago. He stood in the middle of a huge room, where on the floor lay, completely naked, two female body... Rather, it was a woman and a girl who could be fifteen years old at the most. Both bodies were terribly beaten, and apparently brutally raped before death. Poor Arno "had no face" ... He stood like a dead man, not moving, and perhaps not even understanding where he was at that moment, as the shock was too severe. If we understood correctly, these were his wife and daughter, over whom someone very brutally abused ... Although, to say "brutally" would be wrong, because no animal will do what it is sometimes capable of human...
Suddenly Arno screamed like a wounded animal and fell to the ground, next to the terribly disfigured body of his wife (?) ... Emotions raged in him, as during a storm, wild whirlwinds - anger replaced despair, rage obscured melancholy, after growing into inhuman pain, from which there was no escape ... He rolled screaming on the floor, finding no way out for his grief ... until finally, to our horror, he completely fell silent, no longer moving ...
And of course - having discovered such a stormy emotional "flurry", and having died with it, he became at that moment an ideal "target" for capture by any, even the weakest "black" creatures, not to mention those who later so stubbornly pursued behind him, in order to use his powerful energy body as a simple energy "suit" ... to do after, with his help, his terrible, "black" deeds ...
“I don’t want to watch it anymore ...” Stella said in a whisper. - In general, I don’t want to see horror anymore ... Is it human? Well, tell me !!! Is that right ?! We are people !!!
Stella began to have a real hysterics, which was so unexpected that at the first second I was completely at a loss, not finding what to say. Stella was very indignant and even a little angry, which, in this situation, was probably perfectly acceptable and understandable. For others. But it was so, again, not like her, that I just now finally realized how painful and deeply all this endless earthly Evil wounded her kind, affectionate heart, and how much she was probably tired of constantly carrying all this human dirt and cruelty on my fragile, still very childish, shoulders ... I really wanted to hug this sweet, persistent and so sad now, little man! But I knew it would upset her even more. And therefore, trying to keep calm, so as not to touch her already too "disheveled" feelings even deeper, I tried, as best she could, to calm her down.
- But there is good, not only bad! .. Just look around - and your grandmother? .. And the Luminary? .. There Maria generally lived only for others! And how many of them! .. There are a lot of them! You are just very tired and very sad because we have lost good friends. So everything seems to be in "black colors" ... And tomorrow there will be a new day, and you will become yourself again, I promise you! And also, if you want, we will not go to this "floor" anymore? Want?..
- Is the reason in the "floor"? .. - Stella asked bitterly. - From this, after all, nothing will change, will we go here or not ... It's just earthly life... She's evil ... I don't want to be here anymore ...
I was very scared if Stella was thinking of leaving me and leaving me forever ?! But it was so unlike her! .. In any case, it was not at all the Stella, whom I knew so well ... And I really wanted to believe that her exuberant love of life and bright, joyful character “will be ground to dust »All today's bitterness and anger, and very soon she will again become the same sunny Stella that she was so recently ...
Therefore, having calmed myself a little, I decided not to make any "far-reaching" conclusions now, and to wait until tomorrow before taking any more serious steps.
Sphinxes don't walk on their own. It can even be assumed that these unique animals do not classify themselves as cats, because they do not react to their counterparts of other breeds. About the history of the origin of the Sphynx breed, as well as the peculiarities of the appearance and nature of their subspecies.
Origin
Sphinxes are a discovery of the twentieth century, although there are suggestions that the Aztecs had hairless cats, but they became extinct. Over the past 100 years, breeds of cats without hair have constantly appeared and disappeared. They tried to treat the kittens born naked for lichen.
And then one day in Canada, in the 60s, a naked kitten was born from a domestic cat, which was bought by a scientist from Toronto, wanting to study the gene for hairlessness. The information he obtained was successfully used in breeding hairless cats, but the Sphynx breed did not immediately receive recognition and permission to participate in exhibitions.
In the 70s, breeders again started breeding sphinxes. Cats, born naked, were crossed with cats of the Siamese breed, Devon Rex and ordinary mongrels. Finally, in 1985, Sphynxes were recognized as a separate breed.
Over time, hairless cats have become very popular. In 1997, they even served as cover models for the rock band Aerosmith's new album, and the Sphynx Cat also starred in Austin Powers.
Appearance
The appearance of sphinxes is truly amazing and unusual so much that some people do not mistake them for cats. These are not bald cats, as someone might call them. The hair on the body of the sphinxes is still present, but it is very short and looks like suede to the touch.
The Sphynx is a very warm and soft cat. More abundant hair, but still shorter, may be present on the legs, ears, tail, and scrotum.
Why sphinxes are born hairless remains a mystery. There is an assumption that the lack of hair is caused by single natural mutations, which were supported by breeders, crossing hairless cats with short-haired ones. Over time, the mutation was fixed.
Although sphinxes are devoid of a soft cat's fur, their body color is very diverse: there are both spotted and monochromatic sphinxes of different shades.
In addition to the absence of a fluffy coat, alien cats are also distinguished by large expressive ears and rather abundant folds of the skin. Most of the folds are in the head, and no feline has such folds of skin.
The name "Sphynx" is a composite for three breeds of hairless cats: Canadian, Don and Peterbald, or St. Petersburg Sphynx. The Canadian Sphynx is the oldest of them. Each breed has its own characteristics.
Canadian sphinx
This is the naked of all hairless: if the Don and St. Petersburg Sphynxes may have a short velvety fur, then the Canadian one does not. His skin feels like peach skin, despite the many wrinkles.
The Canadian Sphynx is of medium size and weight and has large ears. The hind legs are slightly longer than the front ones. The eyes are large and wide open.
He has a sweet disposition, is intelligent and has a deep, penetrating look. Strongly attached to his master, whom he himself determines. The house becomes a full-fledged member of the family.
The Canadian Sphynx has a stable psyche, he is not afraid of dogs and calmly gets along with other animals.
Don Sphynx
It was bred in Russia in Rostov-on-Don, which is why the breed got its name. Donchaks are the largest and most powerful among the sphinxes, they have strong bones and short legs. The ears stick straight up. The eyes are narrow, almond-shaped.
The mustache of the Don Sphynx is curly or completely absent. A thick, delicate coat can grow on the tip of the tail. In winter, slight pubescence of the whole body is possible.
Its features are reticence and resentment, but not rancor. The owner must be tactful and attentive with the Don Sphynx, for which the cat will repay with loyalty. Avoids too noisy and annoying children.
Peretbold
It appeared as the latest of the three Sphynx breeds based on the Don Sphynx. In Europe, the St. Petersburg Sphynx was recognized as a separate breed only in 2003.
Differs in elegance and light, flexible, narrow build, he has long tail, paws and fingers. Ears look to the sides. The color of the eyes is limited - green or blue. Any coat color can be found. The head resembles the head of a snake and is set on a long neck.
Likes to "talk", communication with people is the most important part of the life of a Peterbald. He really needs affection, gentle touches and words. In the family, he loves everyone equally, and is patient even with very active children.