Egypt has long been
source of countless conspiracies, ranging from ancient lost civilizations to extraterrestrial markers. The reason for this focus is likely because Egypt is most romanticized ancient civilization, and also because it is home to mystical Great Pyramid of Giza, only surviving Wonder of Ancient World. This article will describe some of conspiracies surrounding Sphinx and Pyramid.The Riddle of Sphinx
Most of conspiracy theories revolving around Sphinx usually involve its age. The Sphinx is generally accepted to have been built along with Pyramids of Giza around 2500 BC. It is even accepted that face of Sphinx bears likeness of Khafre (Chephren), Pharaoh during that time.
However, there was no written record from that era regarding Sphinx or its construction. In addition, human head of Sphinx is small in relation to rest of body, indicating that head bearing Pharaoh Khafre's likeness could have been carved out of a larger lion's head. These points led some researchers to believe that Sphinx could have been built much earlier by a more ancient civilization, thus starting a whole host of conspiracy theories.
Geologist Dr. Robert Schoch and author John Anthony West made a case that erosion marks on Sphinx appears not to be made by wind or sand, but by water, such as falling rain. They used evidence of other structures in Giza area to prove their point. If this were true, construction of Sphinx could then be dated back to at least 5000 BC, when area still received substantial rainfall, in contrast to desert conditions later on.
In his official website, Director of Giza Monuments Dr. Zahi Hawass provides various points suggesting that evidence used in proving Dr. Schoch's theory is flawed.
Adding to conspiracies surrounding age of Sphinx, writers Graham Hancock and Robert Buvaul provide evidence in their book Message of Sphinx that creation of Sphinx and Pyramids can be pushed back as far as 10,500 BC using astronomical data.
