The Great Sphinx at Giza is one of Egypt’s most mysterious and famous landmarks. But the story of its origin is shrouded in many mysteries and riddles. Who actually built this majestic statue? And what is underneath it? In this article we will try to uncover some of these mysteries and consider documentary sources that confirm the existence of underground structures under the Sphinx.
Historical sources indicate that there are indeed secret rooms under the Sphinx. One such source is the stelae created by Ramses the Great around 1200 BC. Two of these steles were placed in front of the Sphinx, but in the 19th century they were removed and taken to the Louvre. The third stele still stands at the foot of the Sphinx. On these stelae you can see an image of the Sphinx and the doorway that supports it. This shows that there is more than just a sculpture underneath the Sphinx.
Another confirmation of the existence of underground structures beneath the Sphinx is the book “Explorations Conducted in the Pyramids of Giza in 1837” by archaeologist Howard Weiss. In his book Weiss describes his radical methods of research – he used explosives to make holes in various ancient monuments. This is how he made a hole in the back behind the head of the Sphinx. However, when he tried to break through this mysterious barrier, his efforts failed. The drill got stuck inside and was only retrieved in 1978 by archaeologist Zahi Hawass.
It is also worth noting that the underground structures beneath the Sphinx are connected by an underground tunnel to the Great Pyramid on the Giza Plateau. This was discovered by French engineers who discovered a door in front of the Sphinx but were unable to break through it. Eventually, the Sphinx was again covered with sand, hiding the underground part of it.
However, it is interesting to note that Hawass, as Egypt’s Minister of Antiquities, prevented any excavation of the lower part of the Sphinx. Why was he not interested in the passage that was penetrated by Weiss? This remains a mystery.
In conclusion, we can say that the mysteries of the Sphinx and its underground structures continue to attract the attention of researchers from all over the world. They are a testament to Egypt’s ancient and mysterious history. I hope that in the future we will be able to solve all these mysteries and learn more about the origin of the Sphinx and its connection with the pyramids of Giza.