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Often referred to as the eighth wonder of the ancient world, the Great Sphinx of Giza stands as one of the most iconic symbols of ancient Egypt. This monumental structure provides a fascinating window into history, and many believe it could one day reveal the true purpose of the nearby pyramids.
Despite the wealth of knowledge—or assumptions—we have about the Sphinx, numerous mysteries remain unsolved. As we explore further, it becomes evident that some may wish for the Sphinx's secrets to stay hidden forever.
10. Buried in Sand
For centuries, many of the Western world's most renowned archaeologists never saw the Sphinx in its entirety. Even Napoleon, upon his arrival in Egypt in 1798, only glimpsed the Sphinx's head, as the rest lay buried beneath the sand. It wasn't until the determined efforts of French engineer Emil Baraize that the Sphinx's full form was unveiled to the world after millennia of obscurity.
While others abandoned their efforts, Baraize dedicated over a decade to removing the vast desert sands surrounding the ancient monument. By 1936, the Sphinx stood fully exposed, allowing the world to marvel at its grandeur once more.
Among those who attempted similar endeavors but ultimately abandoned them were Giovanni Caviglia, a prominent explorer and Egyptologist of his era, Auguste Mariette, a distinguished French archaeologist, and Gaston Maspero, a respected 19th-century Egyptologist.
9. Sculpted From a Single Massive Rock
This ancient wonder was meticulously carved from a single block of limestone, stretching an impressive 73 meters (240 ft) in length and rising 20 meters (66 ft) in height. (Its original form has been partially restored using additional blocks.) The Great Sphinx remains the largest known sphinx from antiquity.
Describing it as a remarkable feat in construction and architectural history would be an understatement. While we won’t explore it in depth here, some theorists suggest—or even insist—that the creation of the Sphinx and the pyramids involved influences beyond human capability. Whether attributed to extraterrestrials or an advanced ancient civilization now lost to time, the achievement is undeniably awe-inspiring.
Even the adjacent Sphinx Temple was constructed using massive stone blocks weighing over 200 tons, quarried during the same period as the Sphinx’s creation.
8. No Inscriptions Revealing Its Builders
Despite the statue’s evident significance to its creators, no inscriptions exist on, inside, or around the Sphinx to identify who built it, their motivations, or—perhaps most crucially—when it was constructed.
Many mainstream historians and Egyptologists attribute the Sphinx’s construction to the pharaoh Khafre, primarily based on references found on the Dream Stele, a stone tablet located between the Sphinx’s paws, as well as the desire to align with established historical narratives. However, as we’ll explore later, some researchers argue that the Sphinx’s likeness is not Khafre’s, challenging this widely accepted theory.
While the Dream Stele doesn’t specify who constructed the Sphinx, it does reveal the individual responsible for its own placement.
7. It Communicated with Thutmose IV (According to Ancient Texts)
According to what many consider a legend or ancient Egyptian folklore, before ascending to the throne, Thutmose IV once rested beneath the Sphinx’s head, which was already ancient and buried up to its neck in sand. As he slept, he experienced a dream in which the Sphinx spoke to him, promising to make him pharaoh if he uncovered its body. At the time, Thutmose was royalty but not the heir to the throne.
After waking, Thutmose began excavating the sand around the Sphinx’s neck and continued until he revealed the majestic structure we know today. Blending history and myth, the Sphinx fulfilled its promise, and Thutmose became Thutmose IV.
The tale is inscribed on the tablet located between the Sphinx’s paws. Notably, Thutmose IV is the grandfather of Akhenaten (originally known as Amenhotep IV), a fascinating and divisive figure in ancient Egyptian history.
6. Could There Be a Second Sphinx?
It’s widely acknowledged that much of Egypt’s expansive deserts remain unexplored. Countless structures could still lie buried beneath the sands. Some experts even argue that the discovery of a second sphinx is a genuine possibility.
Authors and researchers Gerry Cannon and Malcolm Hutton strongly support this idea and are currently compiling a detailed book on their theories. Their argument centers on the fact that ancient Egyptian art often depicts sphinxes in pairs. They propose that another sphinx, possibly destroyed, might exist near one of the Giza pyramids, opposite the current Sphinx, symbolizing the transformation of the Sun into the Moon.
5. It Has Existed Since ‘The First Time’
While it doesn’t identify its creators, a line on the Dream Stele reads, “I have been here since the first time.” This era, known as Zep Tepi, is described in ancient Egyptian texts as a golden age when gods coexisted with humans. Mainstream historians often dismiss Zep Tepi as myth, but some researchers argue it may have been a real period.
Robert Bauval, a researcher who has dedicated decades to studying the Sphinx, its origins, and its significance, supports this idea. His Orion Correlation Theory suggests that the Sphinx and the pyramids align with the belt of the constellation Orion, with a perfect alignment occurring in 10450 BC.
This theory implies the Sphinx is at least 12,500 years old, far older than mainstream historians claim. In the next section, we’ll explore another respected researcher whose findings independently support the idea that the Sphinx dates back at least 12,500 years.
4. Water Erosion Indicates It’s Much Older Than Mainstream Theories Suggest
While mainstream scholars argue that the Sphinx was constructed around 2500 BC, mounting evidence and ongoing research suggest it could be significantly older.
Geologist Robert Schoch, who has extensively studied this claim, points to water erosion on the Sphinx’s sides as proof of its ancient age. Schoch’s research indicates that such erosion would require thousands of years of consistent rainfall, a phenomenon Egypt hasn’t experienced since between 7,000 and 12,000 years ago, likely closer to the latter.
If accurate, this would place the Sphinx’s age at 12,000 years or older. Some speculative studies even propose it could be hundreds of thousands of years old.
3. The Hall of Records
While some find the idea far-fetched, numerous researchers have dedicated significant time to exploring the theory of a hidden hall of records beneath the Sphinx.
Legend states that the Hall of Records contains esoteric knowledge and complete timelines of prehistory, back to the dawn of time. Many people also attribute the keepers of this knowledge as being the survivors of Atlantis, who, when migrating and resettling in Egypt, stored away the invaluable information of a world now ravaged.
The noted and respected mystic Edgar Cayce is said to have channeled the most detailed information about the Hall of Records, and he did this consistently and on several occasions. While many are understandably suspicious of Cayce—and such abilities in general—many others attest to the accuracy of his predictions as well as his ability to correctly diagnose and even cure people of their illnesses. Might he also have been correct about what is sitting under the Sphinx? The only way to tell would be to inspect the site. That leads us on to an extra entry on our list.
2. Tomb Of Osiris Nearby
The god Osiris is largely thought to be mere legend as opposed to a real flesh-and-blood being. However, a shaft in one of the buildings in the immediate vicinity of the Sphinx declares itself to be the tomb of the ancient deity.
The are a plethora of theories as to the discovery. Some declare that the tomb is symbolic only, while others attest it to be a genuine resting place for an actual god and that Osiris actually lived in antiquity.
Among those who strongly support this idea are enthusiasts of the ancient astronaut theory. They have consistently proposed that extraterrestrial beings influenced ancient Egyptian culture, even suggesting that deities like Osiris were actual aliens. Expanding on this theory, and considering the alleged discovery of a sphinx and pyramids on Mars (matching the same layout), some far-fetched claims argue that the Osiris Shaft functions as a stargate.
1. Could It Be Anubis Instead?
While the mainstream view attributes the Sphinx's face to Khafre, numerous alternative theories challenge this claim, suggesting the original face was non-human. Some even argue it might have represented a different entity entirely, given the lack of historical evidence supporting the lion theory and the Sphinx's unique posture.
Although mainstream historians assert that the Sphinx's face depicts Khafre, many argue that its original visage was not human. Some theories propose it was a lion, symbolizing the zodiac sign Leo. However, there is no evidence or ancient artwork indicating that lions held such significance in Egyptian society. Additionally, the Sphinx's seated posture does not align with a lion's natural stance. Given the immense effort invested in its construction, one would expect the represented animal's posture to be accurately depicted.
The Sphinx's flat back and overall posture resemble how a dog typically sits in such a position. Considering that Anubis, a canine deity, is also known as the 'Guardian of the Necropolis' (if the Giza Plateau is viewed as such), this aligns with the statue's stance. Could it be that the Sphinx originally depicted Anubis, only to have its face modified later to reflect the preferences of those who commissioned the change?
+ Evidence of an 'Artificial Chamber'?
Building on this idea, in 1997, Joe Jahoda and Dr. Joseph Schor conducted seismic studies that hinted at the presence of a hollow space beneath the Sphinx—precisely where Cayce had predicted. The space's precise 90-degree angles suggested it was man-made rather than a natural formation. The researchers concluded that the chamber was artificially constructed.
They sought approval from Egyptian authorities to excavate the site, but their request was rejected. Other teams have also attempted to gain permission to explore beneath the Sphinx and the tunnel systems that seem to link it to the pyramids, based on preliminary external studies. Like Jahoda and Schor, all such requests have been denied.
