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Responses to Pyramids
(posted February 20, 1997)
Question:
Is it true that the original head of the Sphinx is that of
a "lion?" If so, have you found any evidence of the original head &
when and why was it replaced with the present day head?
M.G., New Jersey
Response:
No, it is not true that the original head of the Sphinx is that of a lion.
We know that the Sphinx was carved out of the natural limestone formation of
the Giza plateau, as one solid block. There is no evidence that its head was
ever replaced, so the human one it currently possesses is in fact the
original one as well.
However, this is not unusual, as all extant depictions of the ancient
Egyptian sphinx show him possessing the body of a lion and at least the head
of the human king (sometimes it also had human hands instead of front paws),
as a representation of the awesome power of the King of Egypt.
Thomas Kittredge
Yale University
Square Supervisor, Koch-Ludwig Giza Plateau Mapping Project
Question:
How did they make the point at the top?
Brian, age 6, Maryland
Response:
Thomas Kittredge: The point on a pyramid was made with the placement of a small (about 1 meter
high) pyramid-shaped capstone, known as a pyramidion, on the uppermost course
of blocks. Even though none of these have been preserved in their original
positions, we know that they existed because they have been found in close
proximity to the pyramids they belonged to.
(previous questions & responses)
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