Post by anansi on Sept 20, 2011 10:55:04 GMT -5
Lingering problems with the dating of the Sphinx I came up on what is called the inventory Stela made during the 26th dynasty,it tells a different story than the one we usually accept as to when and who built the Sphinx accordingly Thutmose III inscribed on his stela that the Sphinx was ,,,Khaf,,,and he did restoration so what we have had to go by is the missing sentence and letters on the Thutmose stela to reach the conclusion that he built the Sphinx but the Inventory Stela although younger than the Thutmose stela give us a clearer picture .
Image from Mariette, Auguste. Album de Musee de Boulaq. Le Caire, 1872. Planche 27 Monumentes Historiques.
The Inventory stela is a document from 26th egyptian dynasty and it contains information that the Sphinx and at least one of the pyramids at Giza already existed in the time of Khufu (Cheops).
The stela describes inspection and restoration of the temple of Isis made by Khufu. The (statues of the) gods represented on the stela were found by Khufu in this temple.
Translation of a part of the text by J.H. Breasted in Ancient Records of Egypt, Vol I, p.85: “Live the Horus: Mezer (MD[r]), King of Upper and Lower Egypt: Khufu, who is given life. He found the house of Isis, Mistress of the Pyramid, beside the house of the Sphinx of [Harmakhis] on the north-west of the house of Osiris, Lord of Rosta (Rc-sTcw). He built his pyramid beside the temple of this goddess, and he built a pyramid for the king’s daughter Henutsen (Hnwt-sn) beside this temple.”
In interest also is the description of the buildings on Giza on the stela which follows: ”The district of the Sphinx of Harmakhis is on the south of the house of Isis, the mistress of the Pyramid; on the north of Osiris, Lord of Rosta. The writings of the goddess of Harmakhis, were brought, in order to investigate. – may he grow; may he live forever and ever, looking toward the east.”
egyptology.blog.com/2011/06/16/inventory-stela-from-26-dynasty-another-khufu-cheops-mystery/
It would seem like he restored the Sphinx rather than made it just like Thutmose did.
Thutmose begins his narrative with an extensive list of epithets, and continues by documenting his carefree days as a youth, then probably in his mid to late teens judging from the events he describes.
When his majesty was a stripling like Horus, the youth in Khemmis, his beauty was like the protector of his father, he seemed like the god himself. The army rejoiced because of love for him, the king's-children and all the nobles. Then his strength overflowed him, and he repeated the circuit of his might like the son of Nut. Behold, he did a thing that gave him pleasure upon the highlands of the Memphite nome, upon its southern and northern road, shooting at a target with copper bolts, hunting lions and wild goats, coursing in his chariot, his horses being swifter thant he wind; together with two of his followers, while not a soul knew it. Now, when his hour came on for giving rest to his followers, (it was always) at the [shoulder] of Harmakhis, beside Sokar in Rosta ... over aginst the lords of Khereha, the sacred road of the gods to the necropolis west of On (Heliopolis). Now,. The very great statue of Khepri, rests in this place, the great in prowess, the splendid in strength; upon which the shadow of Re tarries. The quarters of Memphis and all the citiies which are by him come to him, (raising) their hands for him in praise to his face, bearing great oblations for his ka..
One day, on maneuvers near the sand covered Sphinx, he paused to rest and encounted, as if in a vision, the god Harmakhis :
One of those days it came to pass that the king's son, Thutmose, came, coursing at the time of midday, and he rested in the shadow of this great god. A vision of sleep seized him at the hour (when) the sun was in the zenith, and he found the majesty of this revered god speaking with his own mouth, as a father speaks with his son, saying: "Behold thou me! See thou me! My son Thutmose. I am thy father, Harmakhis-Khepri-Re-Atum, who will give to thee my kingdom on earth at the head of the living. Thou shalt wear the white crown and the red crown upon the throne of Keb, the hereditary prince. The land shall be thine in its length and breadth, that which the eye of the All-Lord shines upon. The food of the Two Lands shall be thine, the great tribute of all countries, the duration of a long period of years. My face is thine, my desire is toward thee. Thou shalt be to me a protector (for) my manner is as if I were ailing in all my limbs {--}. The sand of this desert upon which I am, has reached me; turn to me, to have that done which I have desired, knowing that thou art my son, my protector; come hither, behold I am with thee, I am thy leader." When he had finished this speech, this king's-son [awoke] hearing this ---- --; he understood the words of this god, and he kept silent in his heart. He said: "Come, let us hasten to our house in the city; they shall protect the oblations for this god
www.kent.net/DisplacedDynasties/Menkheperure.html
Now add to the fact that Robert Schoch's analysis
by Dr. Robert M. Schoch © 1999-2000
ABSTRACT
Many recent Egyptologists have attributed the carving of the Great Sphinx of Giza to the Old Kingdom Pharaoh Khafre (Chephren), ca. 2500 B.C. However, on the basis of a number of lines of geological, seismological, Egyptological, and related evidence, I have come to the conclusion that the structure commonly known as the Great Sphinx was built in stages (originally it may not have even been a Sphinx). Initial carving of the core body of the Sphinx is estimated to have taken place during the period of approximately 7,000 to 5,000 B.C. The Sphinx has subsequently been reworked and refurbished many times over the succeeding millennia -- including, probably, during the reign of Khafre. In particular, the rump or rear of the Sphinx was carved out or recarved much later than the core body, and the head of the Sphinx has been recarved.
My geological work suggests that Khafre merely restored the Sphinx. The body of the Sphinx, carved from the local bedrock and thus sitting in the bottom of an artificial hollow (ditch or enclosure), and the walls of the Sphinx enclosure exhibit well-developed precipitation-induced (rainfall runoff) weathering, erosion, and degradation (characterized by a rolling and undulating vertical profile) not typically seen on Old Kingdom Giza Plateau structures (which exhibit primarily wind-induced weathering marked by a more angular profile with soft layers removed by wind abrasion) also excavated from the Mokattam limestone. This deep precipitation-induced weathering of the Sphinx is interpreted as predating the current arid regime of the area, and thus indicates that the body of the Sphinx predates Old Kingdom times by perhaps several millennia. Though we continue to refine our knowledge of the details of the paleoclimatic history of the Giza Plateau over the last 10,000 years, we already know enough to associate certain dominant modes of weathering with certain parts of that climatic history. Portions of the Sphinx predate Old Kingdom times.
www.robertschoch.com/geodatasphinx.html