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How old is Sphinx?


kobolds

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Based on Sphinx water erosion hypothesis , Sphinx is at least  5000 years old. 

This raise questions.

1. The erosion can only proof the rock is at least 5000 years old . but it doesn't proof sphinx exist at that time

2. predate the reign of Khufu ?  if we assume that it predate Khufu, and Khufu fixed it which mean they should had fixed the erosion mark . clearly seen on all small sphinx  found through out Egypt have smooth body.  

if that the case,  is that mean erosion happen after Khufu ?

 

I getting confuse :blink::rofl:

 

 

 

 

 

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I don't know much about it, to be honest, but I do believe that the head was remodelled later. It is totally out of proportion to the body.

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10 hours ago, kobolds said:

Based on Sphinx water erosion hypothesis , Sphinx is at least  5000 years old. 

This raise questions.

1. The erosion can only proof the rock is at least 5000 years old . but it doesn't proof sphinx exist at that time

2. predate the reign of Khufu ?  if we assume that it predate Khufu, and Khufu fixed it which mean they should had fixed the erosion mark . clearly seen on all small sphinx  found through out Egypt have smooth body. 

It is unlikely that the Sphynx predated Khufu.  At a minimum, we know that the Sphynx could not have predated the construction of Khafre's walkway due to the shape and location of the Sphynx, more specifically, the enclosure. Unlike the straight angles and lines of the rest of the enclosure, to the right of the Sphynx we don't see the rectangular side of the enclosure we would expect, but rather a wall heading away at a fairly distinct angle. It is almost intuitive for an enclosure of anything to be rectangular, usually a square, particularly when its purpose is to nicely frame whatever is being enclosed, such as a large carved Sphynx. This is even doubly more so when two of the sides are at right angles to each other, and all that is left to finish the final side. However, the wall on the right side of the Sphynx does not do this, and instead veers away. There is no conceivable reason in terms of artistic representation for this to occur.

There is, however, an engineering reason why it could not have happened. To make the right wall straight would have required cutting the wall further in, and directly above the wall lies Khafre's walkway. To cut into the wall would be to fatally undermine it. Instead, the wall is only cut to the edge of the walkway, and follows it down as much as possible, in an least an attempt for the impression of symmetry.

Had the walkway not existed, there would have been nothing to stop the designer from making a square enclosure. The only reason the angled wall has to exist is if it was limited by the walkway. And the only way for that to happen is if the walkway came before the Sphynx.

 

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Facts :

1. erosion cause by water . whether it happen before or after sphinx created we don't know

2. small sphinx shown smooth body and balance between head and body

 

Hypothesis :

I come conclusion that  big sphinx is sculptured after the erosion .  small sphinx is not sculptured based on big sphinx but rather both sculptured at same time and based on a master copy. The reason why big sphinx look  unbalance between head and body and not having smooth body is because Big sphinx is unfinished sculpture

the current place Big Sphinx location is a work shop (like The Unfinished Obelisk in Aswan) , I believe that after finish it, they will cut it off from bed rock and move it somewhere. The Unfinished Obelisk in Aswan may original plan be use together with Big Sphinx .

but something happen and they rushing to finish it that why become like now.

 

 

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Move the sphinx? I think you are underestimating it's size. 

Erosion isn't just caused by water, but also wind and sand. 

 You also have to factor in the limestone quality. The sphinx is carved from different layers of limestone that erode differently. 

 

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11 minutes ago, kobolds said:

Facts :

1. erosion cause by water . whether it happen before or after sphinx created we don't know 

This is not a fact.  It is actually very unlikely the erosion was caused by water due to the lack of water drainage erosion at the base of the Sphynx.  If there was so much water that it carved into the body, there would be more than enough to carve into the base.

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2. small sphinx shown smooth body and balance between head and body

That's...debatable.  Sure, some small sphynx's have decent balance, but hardly all.
 

Quote

 

Hypothesis :

I come conclusion that  big sphinx is sculptured after the erosion .  small sphinx is not sculptured based on big sphinx but rather both sculptured at same time and based on a master copy. The reason why big sphinx look  unbalance between head and body and not having smooth body is because Big sphinx is unfinished sculpture

 

Generally, unfinished sculptures have more material left, not less.  Why would they have carved a lion body shape if they were still in the process of removing excess rock?
 

Quote

 

the current place Big Sphinx location is a work shop (like The Unfinished Obelisk in Aswan) , I believe that after finish it, they will cut it off from bed rock and move it somewhere. The Unfinished Obelisk in Aswan may original plan be use together with Big Sphinx .

but something happen and they rushing to finish it that why become like now.

 

That is extremely unlikely, based on how Egyptians did things.  Something with relatively brittle components like necks and paws would be carved separately, simply because stone is very weak against shear forces, and these would likely crack in a move.  Additionally, the stone in the quarry is not particularly good for sculpture.  The density is fine for filler material, but for stronger, long-lasting statues, you need higher density stone.

 

Also, moved to a more appropriate forum.

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Salt is the enemy of limestone. A lot of the erosion may have come from Salt efflorescence. Limestone is full of salt but there is often different amounts in different layers - which causes the rippling effect.  

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