First Sphinx. Sphinx in Egypt: secrets, riddles and scientific facts. In works of art

Sphinx

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egyptian sphinx

The oldest images of the man-lion were discovered during the excavations of Göbekli Tepe and date back to the 10th millennium BC. e.

Statues of sphinxes became an attribute of ancient Egyptian art as early as the period of the Old Kingdom, the earliest depict, probably, Queen Hetepheres II. One of the largest monolithic statues in the world is the sphinx statue (Great Sphinx), which guards the pyramids of the pharaohs in Giza.

There were three common variants of sphinxes:

The classic version of the Egyptian Sphinx was androsphinx with the face of a person, usually a high-ranking person - for example, a pharaoh.
The temples of the god Horus were decorated with falcon-headed sphinxes - hieracosphinxes
Sphinxes with a ram's face were installed near the temples of Amun - cryosphinxes.

The winged strangler was sent to Thebes by the goddess Hera for the crime of the Theban king Laius against Chrysippus. She lay in wait for travelers, asked them ingenious 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 Phikes and began to ask her to the Thebans.

There is a version that she was the side daughter of Laius, and he told her the secret of the saying of the Delphic godgiven to Cadmus. From the concubines, Lai had many sons, and all of them could not answer the question and died.

According to another interpretation, she was a sea robber who wandered the seas with an army and fleet, capturing a mountain, engaged in robbery until Oedipus defeated her with an army from Corinth. According to another interpretation, this is an amazon, the first wife of Cadmus, fortified on Mount Fikion and began to fight with Cadmus.

The protagonist of the satyr drama of Aeschylus "The Sphinx", the play of the unknown author "The Sphinx", the comedy of Epicharm "The 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 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 like a painting of grotesques. Freemasons 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 decorative detail, for example, even in the version of the image of his 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, brought from Egypt, were installed on the Neva embankment in front of the Academy of Arts. The same motif was used in the design of the monument to the victims of political repressions.

Since 1800, in St. Petersburg, under the leadership of A.F. Labzin, the Dying Sphinx Masonic Lodge has operated. In the United States, sphinxes are still installed at the entrance to the halls of Masonic meetings as the personification of mystery and a call to silence.

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An excerpt characterizing the Sphinx

With her incessant barrage of questions and her manner of asking two people at once, she strongly reminded me of Stella. And I laughed heartily...
– No, Maya, of course we don't live here. It was you who were very brave to come here yourself. It takes a lot of courage to do something like this... You are really good! But now you have to go back to where you came from, you have no more reason to stay here.
– Did mom and dad die “completely”?.. And we won’t see them anymore… Really?
Maya's plump lips twitched, and the first large tear appeared on her cheek... I knew that if this wasn't stopped right away, there would be a lot of tears... And in our current "generalized" state, it was absolutely impossible to allow this...
"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. After all, they loved you very much ... - as cheerfully as I could, I said.
- How did you know that? The little girl looked at me in surprise.
“Well, they did a very hard thing to save you. Therefore, I think, only by loving someone very much and cherishing this, you can do this ...
– Where are we going now? Are we going with you? .. - Maya asked, looking at me with her huge gray eyes inquiringly and imploringly.
“Arno would like to take you with him. What do you think of it? It is not sweet for him either ... And he will have to get used to many more in order to survive. So help each other ... So, I think it will be very correct.
Stella finally came to her senses, and immediately "rushed to the attack":
“And how did this monster get you, Arno?” Do you remember anything...
– No... I only remember the light. And then a very bright meadow flooded with 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" here and now.
– What if I try to “look” through you? Suddenly a wild thought came into my head.
- How - through me? Arno was surprised.
- Oh, that's right! Stella immediately exclaimed. How did I not think of it myself?
“Well, sometimes, as you can see, something comes to my mind…” I laughed. “It’s not always up to you to invent!
I tried to “turn on” in his thoughts - nothing happened ... I tried to “remember” with him the moment when he “left” ...
- Oh, what a horror! Stella squeaked. “Look, this is when they captured him!!!
My breath 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 absolutely nightmarish creatures crept up!.. Two of them were probably lower astral earthly entities, but the third one clearly seemed somehow different, very scary and alien, obviously not earthly... And all these creatures were very purposefully chasing the man, apparently trying to get him for some reason ... And he, poor thing, not even suspecting that he was being hunted so “cutely”, soared in a silver-blue, bright silence, enjoying an unusually deep , unearthly peace, and, greedily absorbing this peace, rested his soul, forgetting for a moment the wild, heart-destroying earthly pain, “thanks to” which he ended up in this transparent, unfamiliar world today ...
At the end of the channel, already at the very entrance to the "floor", two monsters darted with lightning speed after Arno into the same channel and unexpectedly merged into one, and then this "one" quickly flowed into the main, most vile, which was probably the most powerful of them. And he attacked ... Or 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 (who had just matured the beauty of the approaching upper "floor") 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 then we realized why he was such an easy target to capture ...
In 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, they were 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, since the shock was too cruel. If we understood correctly, these were his wife and daughter, who were abused by someone in a very brutal way ... Although, it would be wrong to say “atrociously”, 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 mutilated body of his wife (?)... In him, as during a storm, emotions raged like wild whirlwinds - anger replaced hopelessness, rage covered melancholy, then growing into inhuman pain, from which there was no escape ... He rolled on the floor screaming, finding no way out for his grief ... until finally, to our horror, he completely calmed down, no longer moving ...
And of course - having opened such a stormy emotional "flurry", and died with it, at that moment he became an ideal "target" for capture by any, even the weakest "black" creatures, not to mention those who later so stubbornly pursued behind him, 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 this anymore ...” Stella said in a whisper. “I don’t want to see horror anymore… Is that human?” Well tell me!!! Is this right?! We are people!!!
Stella began to have a real hysteria, which was so unexpected that in 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 completely acceptable and understandable. For others. But it was so, again, unlike her, that I only now finally realized how painfully and deeply all this endless earthly Evil had hurt her kind, affectionate heart, and how tired she was, probably, constantly carrying all this human dirt and cruelty on my fragile, still quite childish shoulders.... I really wanted to hug this sweet, persistent and so sad little man now! But I knew it would upset her even more. And therefore, trying to stay calm, so as not to touch even deeper her already too “disheveled” feelings, I tried, as best I could, to calm her down.
- But there is good, not only bad! .. Just look around - and your grandmother? .. And the Light? And how many of them! .. There are very, very many 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 no longer go to this "floor"? Want?..
- Is the reason in the "floor"? .. - Stella asked bitterly. – Nothing will change from this, whether 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 generally leaving forever ?! But it was so unlike her!.. In any case, it was not at all the Stella that I knew so well... And I really wanted to believe that her exuberant love of life and bright joyful character would "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 draw any "far-reaching" conclusions now, and wait until tomorrow before taking any more serious steps.

Character in the legend of Oedipus.

egyptian sphinx

The oldest images of the man-lion were discovered during the excavations of Göbekli Tepe and date back to the 10th millennium BC. e.

There were three common variants of sphinxes:

The classic version of the Egyptian Sphinx was androsphinx with the face of a person, usually a high-ranking person - for example, a pharaoh.
The temples of the god Horus were decorated with falcon-headed sphinxes - hieracosphinxes
Sphinxes with a ram's face were installed near the temples of Amun - cryosphinxes.

After Oedipus solved the riddle of the Sphinx, the monster rushed from the top of the mountain into the abyss. According to one version, the riddle was poetic, and the Sphinx ate those who did not solve it. Her image was on the helmet of Athena. In Olympia, "Theban children abducted by the sphinxes" are depicted.

The protagonist of the satyr drama of Aeschylus "The Sphinx", the play of the unknown author "The Sphinx", the comedy of Epicharm "The Sphinx".

India

During the Hellenistic period, the “man-lion” motif spread far to the east of Asia. In India, a number of terms are used to refer to such sculptural images, for example, "purusamriga". Amulets with the body of a lion and the face of a man are found in southern Asia everywhere up to the Philippines and Ceylon. With each new century, Asian images become more distinctive and less and less reminiscent of Greek prototypes.

new time

"French Sphinx"

The sphinx motif returned to European art during the Mannerist era, when it was systematically used by the artists of the Fontainebleau school who worked at the court of Francis I. The sphinx of the New Age, as a rule, has a raised head, naked female breasts and pearl earrings. This is a kind of fantastic touch, which the architects of the XVII-XVIII centuries. refreshed by strict regular parks of royal and aristocratic residences.

Such sphinxes were inspired by the grotesque frescoes of Domus Aurea, a Nero palace found in the 15th century. The motif was easily included in the iconographic corpus of classical arabesque motifs, and spread throughout Europe through engravings in the 16th and 17th centuries. Sphinxes adorn the frescoes of the Vatican Loggia by Raphael (1515-20). In French art, sphinxes first appear in the art of the School of Fontainebleau in the 1520s and 30s, and can be traced back to the Baroque and late Regency eras (1715-1723). Thanks to the French influence, the sphinx becomes a ubiquitous landscape decoration throughout Europe (Belvedere (Vienna), Sanssouci (Potsdam), Branicki Palace (Bialystok), La Granja (Spain) and a late rococo variant in the Portuguese Queluz Palace).

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 furniture of the era of romantic "Egyptomania".

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An excerpt characterizing the Sphinx

“Dear Natalie,” said Princess Marya, “know that I am glad that my brother found happiness ...” She stopped, feeling that she was telling a lie. Natasha noticed this stop and guessed the reason for it.
“I think, princess, that it’s inconvenient to talk about this now,” Natasha said with outward dignity and coldness, and with tears that she felt in her throat.
"What did I say, what did I do!" she thought as she left the room.
They waited a long time for Natasha for dinner that day. She sat in her room and sobbed like a child, blowing her nose and sobbing. Sonya stood over her and kissed her hair.
- Natasha, what are you talking about? she said. "What do you care about them?" Everything will pass, Natasha.
- No, if you knew how insulting it is ... just like I ...
- Don't talk, Natasha, it's not your fault, so what's your business? Kiss me,” Sonya said.
Natasha raised her head, and kissing her friend on the lips, pressed her wet face to her.
“I can't say, I don't know. No one is to blame, - said Natasha, - I am to blame. But it all hurts terribly. Oh, that he is not going! ...
She went out to dinner with red eyes. Marya Dmitrievna, who knew how the prince received the Rostovs, pretended that she did not notice Natasha's upset face and firmly and loudly joked at the table with the count and other guests.

That evening the Rostovs went to the opera, for which Marya Dmitrievna got a ticket.
Natasha did not want to go, but it was impossible to refuse Marya Dmitrievna's kindness, which was intended exclusively for her. When she, dressed, went out into the hall, waiting for her father and looking in a large mirror, she saw that she was good, very good, she became even more sad; but sad sweet and loving.
“My God, if he were here; then I would not be like before, with some kind of stupid timidity in front of something, but in a new way, I would simply hug him, snuggle up to him, make him look at me with those searching, curious eyes with which he so often looked at me and then would make him laugh, as he laughed then, and his eyes - how I see those eyes! thought Natasha. - And what do I care about his father and sister: I love him alone, him, him, with this face and eyes, with his smile, masculine and childish at the same time ... No, it’s better not to think about him, not think, forget, completely forget for this time. I can’t bear this waiting, I’m about to sob,” and she moved away from the mirror, making an effort not to cry. “And how can Sonya love Nikolinka so evenly, so calmly, and wait so long and patiently!” she thought, looking at Sonya, also dressed, who came in, with a fan in her hands.
“No, she is completely different. I cant"!
Natasha felt at that moment so softened and tender that it was not enough for her to love and know that she was loved: she needed now, now she needed to hug her beloved and speak and hear from him words of love with which her heart was full. While she was riding in the carriage, sitting next to her father, and gazing thoughtfully at the lights of the lanterns flickering in the frozen window, she felt even more in love and sadder and forgot with whom and where she was going. Having fallen into a line of carriages, the Rostovs' carriage, slowly screeching through the snow, drove up to the theater. Natasha and Sonya hurriedly jumped out, picking up dresses; the count came out, supported by lackeys, and between the ladies and men entering and selling posters, all three went into the corridor of the benoir. The sounds of music could be heard from behind the closed doors.
- Nathalie, vos cheveux, [Natalie, your hair,] - whispered Sonya. The chaplain politely and hurriedly slipped in front of the ladies and opened the door of the box. The music became louder heard at the door, the illuminated rows of boxes with the bare shoulders and arms of the ladies, and the parterre noisy and shiny with uniforms, flashed. The lady, entering the neighboring bin, looked around Natasha with a feminine, envious look. The curtain had not yet risen and the overture was being played. Natasha, straightening her dress, walked along with Sonya and sat down, looking around the illuminated rows of opposite boxes. She had not experienced for a long time the feeling that hundreds of eyes were looking at her bare arms and neck, suddenly and pleasantly and unpleasantly seized her, causing a whole swarm of memories, desires and worries corresponding to this sensation.
Two remarkably pretty girls, Natasha and Sonya, with Count Ilya Andreich, who had not been seen in Moscow for a long time, attracted everyone's attention. In addition, everyone knew vaguely about Natasha's conspiracy with Prince Andrei, knew that since then the Rostovs had lived in the village, and looked with curiosity at the bride of one of the best grooms in Russia.
Natasha grew prettier in the village, as everyone told her, and this evening, thanks to her agitated state, she was especially good. She struck with the fullness of life and beauty, combined with indifference to everything around. Her black eyes looked at the crowd, looking for no one, and a thin, bare arm above the elbow, leaning on a velvet ramp, obviously unconsciously, in time with the overture, clenched and unclenched, crumpling the poster.
“Look, here is Alenina,” Sonya said, “it seems with her mother!”
- Fathers! Mikhail Kirilych has grown even fatter,” said the old count.
– Look! Anna Mikhailovna is our current!
- The Karagins, Julie and Boris are with them. Now you can see the bride and groom. - Drubetskoy made an offer!
- How, now I found out, - said Shinshin, who was a member of the Rostovs' box.
Natasha looked in the direction in which her father was looking, and saw Julie, who, with pearls on her thick red neck (Natasha knew, sprinkled with powder), was sitting with a happy look, next to her mother.
Behind them with a smile, tilted ear to Julie's mouth, one could see the smoothly combed, beautiful head of Boris. He looked frowningly at the Rostovs and smilingly said something to his bride.
“They are talking about us, about me and him!” thought Natasha. “And he truly calms the jealousy of his bride for me: they worry in vain! If only they knew how I don't care about any of them."
At the back sat Anna Mikhailovna, dressed in a green robe, with a devoted to the will of God and a happy, festive face. In their box there was that atmosphere - the bride and groom, whom Natasha knew and loved so much. She turned away and suddenly everything that was humiliating in her morning visit came to her mind.
“What right does he have to not want to accept me into his kinship? Oh, better not think about it, not think about it until he arrives!” she said to herself and began to look at the familiar and unfamiliar faces in the stalls. In front of the stalls, in the very middle, leaning back against the ramp, stood Dolokhov with a huge shock of curly hair combed up, in a Persian costume. He stood in the very sight of the theatre, knowing that he drew the attention of the whole hall to himself, as freely as if he were standing in his room. The most brilliant youth of Moscow crowded around him, and he apparently excelled among them.
Count Ilya Andreich, laughing, nudged the blushing Sonya, pointing out to her former admirer.
- Did you know? - he asked. “And where did he come from,” the count turned to Shinshin, “because he disappeared somewhere?”
- Disappeared, - answered Shinshin. “I was in the Caucasus, and there I fled, and, they say, he was a minister in Persia for some sovereign prince, he killed the Shakhov’s brother there: well, all the Moscow ladies go crazy! Dolochoff le Persan, [Persian Dolokhov,] and that's it. We now have no word without Dolokhov: they swear by him, they call him like a sterlet, - said Shinshin. - Dolokhov, yes Kuragin Anatole - all of our ladies were driven crazy.
A tall, beautiful lady with a huge plait and very bare, white, full shoulders and neck, on which there was a double string of large pearls, entered the neighboring benoir, and sat down for a long time, rustling her thick silk dress.
Natasha involuntarily peered into this neck, shoulders, pearls, hairstyle and admired the beauty of the shoulders and pearls. While Natasha was already peering at her for the second time, the lady looked around and, meeting her eyes with Count Ilya Andreich, nodded her head and smiled at him. It was Countess Bezukhova, Pierre's wife. Ilya Andreich, who knew everyone in the world, leaned over and spoke to her.
“Long time ago, Countess?” he spoke. - I'll come, I'll come, I'll kiss your hand. But I came here on business and brought my girls with me. They say Semyonova plays incomparably,” said Ilya Andreevich. - Count Pyotr Kirillovich never forgot us. He is here?
“Yes, he wanted to come in,” Helen said and looked at Natasha carefully.
Count Ilya Andreich again sat down in his place.
- Is it good? he whispered to Natasha.

Great Sphinx (Egypt) - description, history, location. Exact address, phone number, website. Reviews of tourists, photos and videos.

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One of the most ancient 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 woman's head, the paws and body of a lion, the wings of an eagle and the tail of a bull. One of the largest images of the Sphinx is located 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 origin of this sculpture is still unknown, and it is completely incomprehensible why the statue has no nose now.

The statue, made of limestone, 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 related to the Sphinx causes controversy among scientists. The exact date of origin of this sculpture is still unknown, and it is completely incomprehensible why the statue has no nose now. The meaning of the word is also unknown: in Greek, “sphinx” means “strangler”, but what the ancient Egyptians put into this name remains a mystery.

It was customary to portray the Egyptian pharaohs as a formidable lion that would not spare a single enemy. That is why it is believed that the Sphinx guards the rest of the buried pharaohs. The author of the sculpture is unknown, but many researchers believe that it is Khafre. Admittedly, this argument is highly controversial. Proponents of the theory refer to the fact that the stones of the sculpture and the pyramid of Khafre located nearby are the same in size. In addition, an image of this pharaoh was found not far from the statue.

Interestingly, the Sphinx does not have a nose. Of course, once this detail existed, but the reason for its disappearance is still unknown. Perhaps the nose was lost during the battle between Napoleon's troops and 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 covenant of Muhammad to ban the image of a human face.

The Sphinx is missing not only a nose, but also a false ceremonial beard. Her story 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 installation of parts.

The destruction of the sculpture and its subsequent restoration helped scientists find Interesting Facts. So, 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, leading towards the pyramid of Khafre. It is interesting that for the first time Soviet researchers mentioned this tunnel.

For a long time, the mysterious sculpture was under a thick layer of sand. The first attempts to dig up the Sphinx were made in antiquity by Thutmose IV and Ramses II. True, they did not achieve much success. Only in 1817, the Sphinx was freed from its chest, and after more than 100 years, the statue was completely unearthed.

Address: Nazlet El-Semman, Al Haram, Giza

Sphinxes do not walk by themselves. 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 features of the appearance and nature of their subspecies.

Origin

Sphinxes are the discovery of the 20th century, although there are suggestions that even the Aztecs had hairless cats, but they died out. Over the past 100 years, hairless cat breeds have been constantly appearing and disappearing. They tried to treat naked kittens born 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 hairless gene. The information obtained by him was successfully used in breeding naked cats, but the Sphynx breed did not immediately receive recognition and permission to participate in exhibitions.

In the 70s, breeders again started breeding sphinxes. They crossed cats born naked with cats of the Siamese breed, Devon Rex and ordinary mongrels. Finally, in 1985, sphinxes were recognized as a separate breed.

Over time, hairless cats have become very popular. In 1997, they even served as models for the cover of the new album of the rock band Aerosmith, and the Sphynx cat starred in the movie 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 hairless cats, as some might call them. The hair on the body of sphinxes is still present, but it is very short and feels like suede to the touch.

Sphynx is a very warm and soft cat. More abundant hair, but still short, may be present on the legs, ears, tail and scrotum.

Why sphinxes are born hairless remains a mystery. There is an assumption that the absence of wool is caused by single natural mutations, which breeders supported by crossing hairless cats with short-haired ones. Over time, the mutation was fixed.

Although sphinxes are deprived of a soft cat coat, their body color is very diverse: there are both spotted and plain sphinxes of different shades.

In addition to the lack of fluffy fur coats, alien cats are also distinguished by large expressive ears and rather plentiful skin folding. The main number of folds falls on the head, and no other cat has such folded skin.

The name "Sphinx" is a combination 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 sphynx

This is the most hairless of all hairless: if the Don and St. Petersburg sphinxes may have a short velvety coat, then the Canadian one does not. His skin feels like peach skin to the touch, despite the many wrinkles.

The Canadian Sphynx is of medium size and weight, with large ears. The hind legs are slightly longer than the front. The eyes are large and wide open.

He has a sweet personality, is smart and has a deep penetrating gaze. Strongly attached to his master, whom he defines himself. In 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.

Donskoy sphinx

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 sphinxes, they have strong bones and short legs. The ears stick straight up. The eyes are narrow, almond-shaped.

The whiskers of the Don Sphynx are curly or completely absent. Thick, delicate hair may grow on the tip of the tail. In winter, slight pubescence of the whole body is possible.

His features are taciturnity and resentment, but not vindictiveness. The owner must be tactful and attentive with the Don Sphynx, for which the cat will pay back with loyalty. Avoids too noisy and annoying children.

Peretbold

Appeared the latest of the three breeds of sphinxes based on the Don Sphynx. In Europe, the St. Petersburg Sphynx was recognized as a separate breed only in 2003.

It is distinguished by elegance and a light, flexible, narrow physique, it has a long tail, paws and fingers. Ears look to the side. Eye color is limited - green or blue. Any coat color is found. The head resembles the head of a snake and is set on a long neck.

He 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.

The most big statue in Egypt, the Sphinx. Legends of Egypt. History of the Sphinx.

Each civilization has its own symbols, which are considered integral parts of the people, their culture and history. Sphinx ancient egypt- an immortal proof of the power, strength and greatness of the country, a silent reminder of the divine origin of its rulers, who have sunk into centuries, but left an image on earth eternal life. The national symbol of Egypt is considered one of the greatest architectural monuments of the past, which still inspires involuntary fear with its impressiveness, a halo of secrets, mystical legends and centuries of history.

Monument in numbers

The Egyptian Sphinx is known to everyone and every inhabitant on earth. The monument is carved from a monolithic rock, has the body of a lion and the head of a man (according to some sources - a pharaoh). The length of the statue is 73 m, height - 20 m. The symbol of the power of royal power is located on the Giza plateau on the western coast of the Nile River and is surrounded by a wide and rather deep moat. The thoughtful gaze of the Sphinx is directed to the east, towards that point in the heavens where the Sun rises. The monument has been covered with sand many times and has been restored more than once. The statue was completely cleared of sand only in 1925, striking the imagination of the inhabitants of the planet with its scale and size.

History of the sculpture: facts against legends

In Egypt, the Sphinx is considered the most mysterious and mystical monument. His story over the years has been of great interest and Special attention historians, writers, directors and researchers. Everyone who has had a chance to touch the eternity that the statue represents offers their own version of its origin. The locals call the stone sight "the father of horror" because the Sphinx is the keeper of many mysterious legends and a favorite place for tourists who love mysteries and fantasy. According to researchers, the history of the Sphinx has more than 13 centuries. Presumably, it was built in order to record the astronomical phenomenon - the reunion of the three planets.

origin myth

Until now, there is no reliable information about what this statue symbolizes, why it was built and when. The lack of history is replaced by legends that are passed from mouth to mouth and told to tourists. The fact that the Sphinx is the oldest and largest monument in Egypt gives rise to mysterious and ridiculous stories about it. There is an assumption that the statue guards the tombstones of the greatest pharaohs - the pyramids of Cheops, Mykerin and Khafre. Another legend says that the stone statue symbolizes the personality of the pharaoh Khafre, the third - that it is a statue of the god Horus (god of heaven, half-man, half-falcon), watching the ascent of his father - the Sun God Ra.

legends

In ancient Greek mythology, the Sphinx is mentioned as an ugly monster. According to the Greeks, the legends of Ancient Egypt about this monster sound like this: a creature with a lion's body and a human head gave birth to Echidna and Typhon (a half-snake woman and a giant with a hundred dragon heads). It had the face and chest of a woman, the body of a lion and the wings of a bird. The monster lived not far from Thebes, lay in wait for people and asked them a strange question: “Which living being moves on four legs in the morning, two in the afternoon, and three in the evening?” None of the wanderers trembling with fear could give the Sphinx an intelligible answer. After which the monster sentenced them to death. However, the day came when the wise Oedipus was able to solve his riddle. “This is a man in childhood, maturity and old age,” he replied. After that, the crushed monster rushed from the top of the mountain and crashed against the rocks.

According to the second version of the legend, in Egypt the Sphinx was once God. One day, the heavenly ruler fell into an insidious trap of the sands, called the "cell of oblivion", and fell asleep in it with eternal sleep.

Real facts

Despite the mysterious undertones of the legends, real story no less mystical and mysterious. According to the initial opinion of scientists, the Sphinx was built at the same time as the pyramids. However, in the ancient papyri, from which information about the building of the pyramids was obtained, there is not a single mention of a stone statue. The names of architects and builders who created grandiose tombs for the pharaohs are known, but the name of the person who gave the world the Egyptian Sphinx is still unknown.

True, a few centuries after the creation of the pyramids, the first facts about the statue appear. The Egyptians call her "shepes ankh" - "a living image." Scientists could not give the world any more information and scientific explanation of these words. But at the same time, the cult image of the mysterious Sphinx - a winged monster maiden - is mentioned in Greek mythology, numerous fairy tales and legends. The hero of these tales, depending on the author, periodically changes his appearance, appearing in some versions as a half-man, half-lion, and in others as a winged lioness.

The history of ancient Egypt about the Sphinx

Another puzzle for scientists was the chronicle of Herodotus, who in 445 BC. described in great detail the process of building the pyramids. He told the world interesting stories about how the structures were erected, for how long and how many slaves were involved in their construction. The narration of the "father of history" touched even such nuances as the food of the slaves. But, oddly enough, Herodotus never mentioned the stone Sphinx in his work. In none of the subsequent records, the fact of the erection of the monument was also found.

The work of the Roman writer Pliny the Elder "Natural History" helped scientists shed light on the mystery of the Sphinx. In his notes, he talks about the next cleansing of the monument from sand. Based on this, it becomes clear why Herodotus did not leave the description of the Sphinx to the world - the monument at that time was buried under a layer of sand drifts. So how many times has he been trapped in the sand?

The first "restoration"

Judging by the inscription left on the stone stele between the monster's paws, Pharaoh Thutmose I spent a year freeing the monument. Ancient writings tell that, being a prince, Thutmose fell asleep sound sleep at the foot of the Sphinx and had a dream in which the god Harmakis appeared to him. He predicted the prince's ascension to the throne of Egypt and ordered the statue to be released from the sand trap. After some time, Thutmose successfully became pharaoh and remembered the promise given to the deity. He ordered not only to dig up the giant, but also to restore it. Thus, the first revival of the legend of Egypt took place in the 15th century. BC. It was then that the world learned about the grandiose construction and the unique cult monument of Egypt.

It is known for certain that after the revival of the Sphinx by Pharaoh Thutmose, it was once again dug up during the reign of the Ptolemaic dynasty, under the Roman emperors who captured Ancient Egypt, and the Arab rulers. In our time, it was again freed from the sands in 1925. Until now, the statue has to be cleaned after sandstorms as it is an important tourist attraction.

Why is the monument missing a nose?

Despite the antiquity of the sculpture, it has practically survived in its original form, embodying the Sphinx. Egypt (the photo of the monument is presented above) managed to preserve its architectural masterpiece, but failed to protect it from the barbarism of people. The statue does not currently have a nose. Scientists suggest that one of the pharaohs, for reasons unknown to science, ordered to beat off the nose of the statue. According to other sources, the monument was damaged by Napoleon's army, firing a cannon at his face. The British, on the other hand, chopped off the beard of the monster and sent it to their museum.

However, in the later records of the historian Al-Maqrizi from 1378, it is said that the stone statue no longer had a nose. According to him, one of the Arabs, wanting to atone for religious sins (the Koran forbade the depiction of human faces), chipped off the giant's nose. In response to such a crime and abuse of the Sphinx, the sands began to take revenge on people, advancing on the lands of Giza.

As a result, scientists came to the conclusion that in Egypt the Sphinx lost its nose as a result of strong winds and floods. Although this assumption has not yet found real confirmation.

The Stunning Secrets of the Sphinx

In 1988, as a result of exposure to caustic factory smoke, a decent part of a stone block (350 kg) broke off from the monument. UNESCO, concerned appearance and the state of the tourist and cultural site, resumed repairs, thus paving the way for new research. As a result of a thorough study of the stone blocks of the pyramid of Cheops and the Sphinx by Japanese archaeologists, a hypothesis was put forward that the monument was built much earlier than the great tomb of the pharaoh. The conclusion was a stunning discovery for historians, who assumed that the pyramid, the Sphinx, and other funerary structures were contemporaries. The second, no less surprising discovery was a long narrow tunnel discovered under the left paw of a predator, connected to the pyramid of Cheops.

After Japanese archaeologists, hydrologists took up the most ancient monument. They found traces of erosion on his body from a large water stream that moved from north to south. After a series of studies, hydrologists came to the conclusion that the stone lion was a silent witness to the flood of the Nile - a biblical catastrophe that occurred about 8-12 thousand years ago. American researcher John Anthony West explained the traces of water erosion on the body of a lion and their absence on the head as evidence that the Sphinx existed during the Ice Age and dates back to any period before 15 thousand BC. e. According to French archaeologists, the history of Ancient Egypt can boast of the oldest monument that existed even at the time of the death of Atlantis.

Thus, the stone statue tells us about the existence of the greatest civilization, which managed to erect such a majestic structure, which became the immortal image of the Past.

The admiration of the ancient Egyptians before the Sphinx

The pharaohs of Egypt regularly made pilgrimages to the foot of the giant, which symbolized the great past of their country. They made sacrifices on the altar, which was between his paws, burned incense, receiving from the giant a silent blessing on the kingdom and throne. The Sphinx was for them not only the incarnation of the sun god, but also a sacred image that gave them hereditary and legitimate power from their ancestors. He personified powerful Egypt, the history of the country was reflected in its majestic form, embodying each image of the new pharaoh and turning modernity into a component of eternity. Ancient writings glorified the Sphinx as a great creator god. His image reunited the past, present and future.

Astronomical explanation of the stone statue

According to the official version, the Sphinx would have been built in 2500 BC. e. by order of Pharaoh Khafre during the reign of the Fourth Ruling Dynasty of Pharaohs. A huge lion is located among other majestic structures on the stone plateau of Giza - the three pyramids. Astronomical studies have shown that the location of the statue was chosen not by blind intuition, but in accordance with the point of intersection of the path of heavenly bodies. It served as the equatorial point, indicating the exact location on the horizon of the place of sunrise on the day of the vernal equinox. According to astronomers, the Sphinx was built 10.5 thousand years ago.

It is noteworthy that the pyramids of Giza are located on the earth in exactly the same order as the three stars of Orion's Belt in the sky that year. According to legend, the Sphinx and the pyramids fixed the position of the stars, the astronomical time, which the ancient Egyptians called the first. Since the heavenly personification of the god Osiris, who ruled at that time, was Orion, man-made structures were built to depict the stars of his belt in order to perpetuate and fix the time of his power.

The Great Sphinx as a tourist attraction

Currently, a giant lion with a human head attracts millions of tourists who are eager to see the legendary stone sculpture shrouded in the darkness of centuries of history and many mystical legends. The interest of all mankind in it is due to the fact that the secret of the creation of the statue remained undisclosed, buried under the sands. It is hard to imagine how many secrets the Sphinx keeps in itself. Egypt (photos of the monument and pyramids can be seen on any tourist portal) can be proud of its great history, outstanding people, grandiose monuments, the truth about which their creators took with them to the kingdom of Anubis, the god of death. Great and impressive is the huge stone Sphinx, whose history has remained unsolved and full of secrets. Still, the calm gaze of the statue is directed into the distance, and its appearance is still imperturbable. How many centuries has he been a silent witness of human suffering, the vanity of rulers, the sorrows and misfortunes that befell the Egyptian land? How many secrets does the Great Sphinx keep in itself? Unfortunately, all these questions have not been answered for many years.

What is wrong with the Sphinx?

The Arab sages, struck by the majesty of the Sphinx, said that the giant is timeless. But over the past millennia, the monument has suffered a lot, and, first of all, the person is to blame for this.

At first, the Mamluks practiced accuracy of shooting at the Sphinx, their initiative was supported by Napoleonic soldiers. One of the rulers of Egypt ordered to beat off the nose of the sculpture, and the British stole a stone beard from the giant and took it to the British Museum.

In 1988, a huge stone block broke away from the Sphinx and fell with a roar. She was weighed and horrified - 350 kg. This fact caused the most serious concern of UNESCO. It was decided to convene a council of representatives of various specialties in order to find out the reasons that destroy the ancient structure.

As a result of a comprehensive examination, scientists discovered hidden and extremely dangerous cracks in the head of the Sphinx, in addition, they found that external cracks sealed with low-quality cement are also dangerous - this creates a threat of rapid erosion. The paws of the Sphinx were in no less deplorable condition.

According to experts, the Sphinx, first of all, is harmed by human life: the exhaust gases of automobile engines and the acrid smoke of Cairo factories penetrate into the pores of the statue, which gradually destroys it. Scientists say that the Sphinx is seriously ill.

Hundreds of millions of dollars are needed to restore the ancient monument. There is no such money. In the meantime, the Egyptian authorities are restoring the sculpture on their own.

mother of fear

The Egyptian archaeologist Rudwan Ash-Shamaa believes that the Sphinx has a female couple and it is hidden under a layer of sand. The Great Sphinx is often referred to as the "Father of Fear". According to the archaeologist, if there is a "Father of fear", then there must be a "Mother of fear".

In his reasoning, Al-Shamaa relies on the way of thinking of the ancient Egyptians, who firmly followed the principle of symmetry. In his opinion, the lonely figure of the Sphinx looks very strange.

The surface of the place where, according to the scientist, the second sculpture should be located, rises several meters above the Sphinx. “It is logical to assume that the statue is simply hidden from our eyes under a layer of sand,” Al-Shamaa is convinced.

In support of his theory, the archaeologist gives several arguments. Ash-Shamaa recalls that between the front paws of the Sphinx there is a granite stele, on which two statues are depicted; there is also a limestone tablet that says that one of the statues was struck by lightning and destroyed it.

Chamber of Secrets.

In one of the ancient Egyptian treatises, on behalf of the goddess Isis, it is reported that the god Thoth placed in a secret place "holy books" that contain the "secrets of Osiris", and then cast a spell on this place so that knowledge remained "undiscovered until The sky will not give birth to creatures that will be worthy of this gift.

Some researchers are still confident in the existence of a "secret room". They remember how Edgar Cayce predicted that one day in Egypt, under the right paw of the Sphinx, a room called the "Hall of Evidence" or "Hall of Chronicles" would be found. The information stored in the "secret room" will tell mankind about a highly developed civilization that existed millions of years ago.

In 1989, a group of Japanese scientists using the radar method discovered a narrow tunnel under the left paw of the Sphinx, leading towards the pyramid of Khafre, and an impressive cavity was found northwest of the Queen's Chamber. However, the Egyptian authorities did not allow the Japanese to conduct a more detailed study of the underground premises.

Research by American geophysicist Thomas Dobecki showed that under the paws of the Sphinx is a large rectangular chamber. But in 1993, his work was suddenly suspended by local authorities. Since that time, the Egyptian government officially forbids geological or seismological research around the Sphinx.

Older than civilization

First, in 1991, a professor of geology from Boston analyzed the erosion of the sphinx's surface and came to the conclusion that the age of the sphinx must be at least 9,500 thousand years, that is, the sphinx is at least 5,000 years older than scientists thought! Second, Robert Bauval, using modern technologies computer modeling, found that about 12,500 years ago (11th century BC), in the early morning, the ascent of the constellation Leo was clearly visible right above the place where the sphinx was built. He logically assumed that the sphinx, which is very reminiscent of a lion, was built on this site as a symbol of this event. Well, the third nail in the coffin of the views of official science was hammered by the police artist Frank Domingo, who painted sketches. He stated that the sphinx had nothing to do with the face of Pharaoh Khafre. So now it was safe to say that the Sphinx was built long before any civilization known to science.

Huge voids under the sphinx

Of course, all these discoveries and statements could have been hidden under a thick layer of dust from scientific rooms, but then, as luck would have it, Japanese researchers arrived in Egypt. It was 1989, when a group of Waseda scientists led by Professor Sakuji Yoshimura, using modern electromagnetic radar devices, discovered tunnels and rooms right under the sphinx. Immediately after their discovery, the Egyptian authorities intervened in the research, and the Yoshimura group was deported from Egypt for life. The same discovery was repeated in the same year by Thomas Daubecki, an American geophysicist. True, he managed to explore only a small area under the right paw of the sphinx, after which he was also promptly expelled from Egypt.

Three very strange events

In 1993, a robot was sent into a small tunnel (20x20 cm) that went from the burial chamber of the Cheops pyramid, which found a wooden door with brass handles inside this very tunnel, which it successfully rested on. Next, for 10 years, scientists have been developing a new robot to open the door. And in 2003 they launched it into the same tunnel. It must be admitted that he safely opened the door, and behind it the already narrow tunnel began to narrow even more. The robot could not go further, but in the distance he saw another door. A new robot, with the aim of opening the second "shutter", was launched in 2013. After that, tourist access to the pyramids was finally closed, and all research results were classified. Since then there has been no official news.

secret city

But there are many unofficial ones, one of which is actively lobbied and promoted by the American Casey Foundation (the one, by the way, who allegedly predicted the discovery of some secret room under the sphinx). According to their version, in 2013 they drove through the second door of the tunnel, after which a stone slab with hieroglyphs rose from the ground between the front paws of the sphinx, which told about a room under the sphinx and a certain Hall of Testimony. As a result of excavations, the Egyptians got into this very first room, which turned out to be a kind of hallway. From it, the researchers went down a tier below and found themselves in a round hall from which three tunnels went to the Great Pyramid. But then there are very strange data. Allegedly, in one of the tunnels the road was blocked by an energy field unknown to science, which three certain great people were able to remove. After that, a 12-storey building was discovered, going underground. The dimensions of this structure are truly grandiose and more like a city than a building - 10 kilometers wide and 13 kilometers long. In addition, the Casey Foundation claims that the Egyptians concealed a certain rod of Thoth, an archaeological artifact of world significance, which supposedly has the power of technologies unknown to mankind.

More questions than answers

Of course, at first glance, the theory of Cayce's followers seems to be complete nonsense. And everything would have been so if the Egyptian government had not partially confirmed the discovery of a certain underground city. It is clear that there was no information from the official authorities about some energy force fields. Also, the Egyptian authorities did not recognize the fact that they did get into the city, therefore, what was found there is also not known. But the fact of recognition of the discovery of the underground city remains. So the Sphinx gives people a new riddle, and we just have to make every effort to still solve it.