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The Sphinx
As with many of the great Ancient Egyptian landmarks and historic sights, the Sphinx is surrounded in myth and legend. Its purpose has never really been established although various ideas exist. Generally the role of Sphinxes was as temple guardians. It is therefore believed that that Chefren had it carved in order to guard his tomb (being his Pyramid) from intruders coming in boats up the Nile. The face of the Sphinx is thought to be his very own.
Carved out of one piece of stone the Sphinx is 50 metres long and 22 metres high it is considerably smaller than one is lead to believe from pictures and footage that is seen. With the passing of time the Sphinx has begun to rot from the inside whilst a number of efforts have been made to halt the deterioration they have not been successful.
The nose and parts of the face have been blown off the Sphinx, this is thought to be the work of certain Turkish troops using it for firing practice with cannons although another school of thought has suggested that it could have been the troops of Napoleon during his time in Egypt.
