11 February: The Sphinx

Born on this date in 1821 was Auguste Edouard Mariette, French Egyptologist who excavated the Sphinx. Here are 10 fascinating facts about the Sphinx.

1. When we hear the words "the Sphinx" we think of the huge one in Egypt, but that isn't the only one, or even the oldest. A Sphinx is actually a Greek mythological beast. The Greek version is usually female, with a Lion's body, a woman's head, and wings. The oldest known sphinx was found in Turkey, dating to 9,500 BC.
2. No-one knows for sure, but the Egyptian Sphinx was probably built during the reign of the Pharaoh Khafre, around 2558–2532 BC and is the oldest known monumental sculpture in Egypt. Archaeologists believe the face of the Sphinx is that of Khafre.
3. We don't even know what the people who built the Sphinx called it, or what it was for, because no inscriptions have been found which make any reference to the building of it. Later on, Egyptians of the New Kingdom called it Hor-em-akhet, meaning Horus of the Horizon. In modern Arabic, it is called "The Terrifying One". The name "Sphinx" dates back to about 2000 years after it was built, referring to its resemblance to the Greek version.
4. It is made from limestone and was carved into the bedrock of the plateau on which it stands. The limestone there is layered, with some layers being harder than others - which is why some parts of the Sphinx have worn away more than others. The legs, lower body and head are carved from harder stone than the rest of it.
5. The study of the pattern of erosion has given rise to the theory that the Sphinx was built at a time when the climate in the area was totally different as some erosion looks like it could only have been caused by huge amounts of rain. If this is correct, the Sphinx is older than is commonly accepted because the place was desert in Khafre's time.
6. The Sphinx is 238 feet (73m) long from paw to tail, 66.3 ft (20.21m) high from the base to top of the head, and 62.6 feet (19m) wide at its rear haunches.
7. As to its purpose, a few theories have been put forward. Pliny the Elder thought it was the tomb of King Harmais. A more modern theory is that, as the Pyramids resemble, and therefore represent, the three stars of Orion's belt, and the Nile represents the Milky Way, the Sphinx corresponds to the constellation of Leo. The most widely accepted idea is that the Sphinx was built as a guardian of the temples.
8. Theories abound, too, about how the Sphinx's nose came to be missing. One is that it was shot off by a cannon fired by Napoleon's soldiers, but since there are sketches of the Sphinx with a missing nose dating back to before Napoleon was even born this seems unlikely. According to a 15th century historian, the nose was hacked off by Muhammad Sa'im al-Dahr, who was angry because the peasants were making offerings to it. He was later hanged for vandalism.
9. The Sphinx also had a ceremonial pharaonic beard at one time, thought to have been a later addition because it didn't damage the chin when it fell off.
10. It's also thought the Sphinx was once painted in bright colours as traces of pigment have been found on it. It would have had a Red face and a Yellow body. Traces of Blue pigment have also been found.

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