Hum Posted November 3, 2010 Share Posted November 3, 2010 A routine excavation has uncovered ancient walls surrounding the Great Sphinx of Giza, Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) announced Tuesday. The walls were likely built to protect the Sphinx from blowing sand, said SCA Secretary-General Zahi Hawass, who is overseeing the excavation. During routine digging, SCA researchers found two segments of mud wall on the Giza Plateau, where the pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx stand. Both walls stand just under 3 feet (1 meter). One runs north-south and is 282 feet (86 meters) long, while the other runs east-west and is 151 feet (46 m) long. The walls are part of a larger enclosure previously found north of the Sphinx, according to Hawass. As told in ancient Egyptian texts, King Thutmose IV once went on a hunting trip near the Sphinx. After the trip, he dreamt that the Sphinx wanted him to clear the sand surrounding its body. According to Thutmose, the Sphinx promised that if he restored the statue, he'd become king of Egypt. So Thutmose had the sand cleared and built a wall to preserve the Sphinx. Until now, researchers thought the wall was only built on the northern side of the Sphinx. The new finding disproves that theory. The researchers also found a third wall to the east of the temple of King Khafre, the builder of the second-largest pyramid in Giza and the likely builder of the Sphinx. Excavations continue on the Thutmose IV enclosure wall, according to the SCA. The archeologists are keeping an eye out for other secrets still hidden in the sand. source Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Growled Member Posted November 5, 2010 Member Share Posted November 5, 2010 I would have loved to have seen the Sphinx and the Pyramids right after they were built. I bet they were magnificent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hum Posted November 5, 2010 Author Share Posted November 5, 2010 ^ + 1 :yes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Obi-Wan Kenobi Posted November 5, 2010 Share Posted November 5, 2010 ^ + 1 :yes: ^+2...this stuff interests me to the core....love it! :cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McCordRm Posted November 6, 2010 Share Posted November 6, 2010 I'm pretty sure the slaves saw enough of it for all of us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rappy Veteran Posted November 6, 2010 Veteran Share Posted November 6, 2010 I would have loved to have seen the Sphinx and the Pyramids right after they were built. I bet they were magnificent. I agree! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThisSiteHasLostItsCharm Posted November 10, 2010 Share Posted November 10, 2010 Egypt is an awesome place, time to crack open the mummy dvd again.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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