Restorating the Great Sphinx of Giza

4500 years under the desert sun, suffering infernal days, cool nights, sand storms, the feared khamsin, and the successive invasion of Greeks, Romans, plunders and tourists are extremely stressful, even for an impressive, forceful, 60 feet tall creature, half lion, half human. So the Egyptian Government has decided to begin a full restoration of one of the most important monuments from Ancient Egypt, the Great Sphinx of Giza, focusing on its chest and neck of the colossal statue. In addition, a group of experts will create a reproduction of the now lost nose, a decision that surely will take controversy.

About the Sphinx of Giza

A sphinx is in concept a creature with lion body and human head. There is no direct reference to its religious significance until the Middle Kingdom, when this figure is identified with the god Harmakhis. The Great Sphinx of Giza is the largest representation of this creature in the entire Egypt , and its authorship and chronology are still not fully clarified, although the theory that places its construction during the reign of Pharaoh Khafre (2558-2532 b.c.) is the most accepted right now. Nevertheless, there are hypothesis that attributes the Sphinx to Pharaoh Kheops, and even visionaries and dreamers that assert that the creature existed before the Egyptians.

In modern times, and despite the erosion and the multiple aggressions, its state of preservation is acceptable, and is one of the most visited places of Egypt . Needless to say, it was declared World Heritage by the UNESCO


Myth and reality

Ancient Egypt is the land of legends and mysteries, too many and too often exaggerated by cinema and literature, bringing to us tales of curses, pyramids full of tricky and deadly traps, bad-tempered mummies and even alien pharaohs. Needless to attend to such ridiculous stories, the serious and well documented Egyptology can offer us enough mysteries to satisfy our legends-thirsty minds. And, of course, many of them directly or indirectly related to the impressive Sphinx, arguably –with the exception of its three pyramidal neighbours- the most famous monument from its civilization.

Well known by Egyptologist is the Dream Stele , erected by Tuthmosis IV (18 th dynasty) after a dream in which the Sphinx offered him the throne of Ancient Egypt in return for the promise of retire the sand that covered the statue. The future Pharaoh kept his promise and, perhaps thanks to the Sphinx's intervention or perhaps as it happens, the young Prince became Pharaoh despite being not the previous Pharaoh's firstborn son.

Another famous legend (real for many) is that story that refers to some supposed tunnels dug out of the Sphinx, connecting it with the three Pyramids or even with an ancient Library buried in the desert sands (surely Lovecraft will love this theory…) Few years after the World War two, Prince Faruk, perhaps envying Tuthmosis luck, decided to spent one night besides the Sphinx, and when he returned, he told a story about how he find a strange and large room guarded by an automaton (?). In recent times, a group or holes or cavities have been found in the Sphinx, and some Egyptologist says that they will form a complicated tunnel labyrinth. But if these cavities are made by ancient Egyptians, intrepid plunders, or are just fanciful forms caused by the powerful desert erosion; it is still no clarified

Dragon Myths and Legends

Much folklore about dragons was believed throughout time. In Egyptian mythology, the god of the underworld, Osiris, is sometimes represented by a dragon. In Greek mythology, dragons are always guarding something or eating someone. In European mythology, a dragon is a serpent-like legendary creature. In both Eastern and Western mythology, the dragon is believed to be responsible for eclipses.

In Bulgarian legend, dragons are three headed, winged beings with snake's bodies. There is also a white dragon, which according to legend can transform into a bird called O-Goncho. The dragon also plays a vital role in Arthurian legend.

In Romanian folklore, even the snake, which in certain conditions, has the ability to turn into a dragon, has a strong malefic meaning. The ancient Greeks and Romans, who revered dragons for their wisdom but feared them for their tremendous powers, shared this belief. Similarly, in the Babylonian creation myth, Tiamat the embodiment of chaos is portrayed as a terrible dragon. This myth is almost as hard to kill as the dragon itself was. For this reason, the dragon symbol is the sign of authority, often being worn on the robes of the Imperial family and nobility.

Dragons have long been considered evil, maiden-stealing, village destroying, fire-breathing beasts. This lead to many brave knights attempting to hunt down and slay dragons, as recounted in many medieval writings. When knights began inventing stories about them defeating such dragons, the dragon and knighthood peak was reached.

Almost every country in the world as some sort of dragon story. Legends and myths are filled with stories of dragons. In European mythology, a dragon is a serpent-like legendary creature. In many legends dragons personify evil, and are vicious beasts who live to wreak havoc and must be pacified by human sacrifice. One of the most feared monsters of the Greeks and Romans was the Hydra, a dragon with multiple heads and poisonous breath.

In fairy tales and in medieval poetry in the Western world dragons are dangerous, untrustworthy creatures. Medieval people liked to scare each other with dragons. All peopel are drawn by the dragon's aura of mystery, its ancient magic, its nobility; its awesome might and power.