The Sphinx

[Kyle Jones]

Here are a few different Sphinxes around Cairo...

The Great Sphinx - smaller than I expected (especially relative to the pyramids), but still impressive considering its age. Egypt seems to be trying to find the right balance between leaving things original vs. refurbishing and protecting. You can see some newer tiles on the foreleg.

2) An outdoor sphinx in Memphis. Apparently this was discovered lying on the side that is facing us in this view. The other side is in better shape but I didn't like the picture as much.

3) This sphinx is in the garden outside the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. It is amazing how many artifacts they have, such that many of them are left exposed to the environment.

 

[Ben Egbert]

Neat Kyle, thanks for sharing.

 

[JimFox]

Wow, these are so cool! It’s so cool to see all of these. I still marvel at how cool that had to have been to see this ancient history up close like this. I can only imagine what an awesome feeling that had to have been.

Were you able to actually touch any of these? Or any of the ancient artifacts? To touch items that are 2000 to 4000 years old would be amazing I imagine.

 

[AlanLichty]

Nice set of shots. Did you get to spend some time in the museum?

There is no way most countries in that area could protect all of the artifacts they encounter - there are simply too many of them.

 

[AlanLichty]

Were you able to actually touch any of these? Or any of the ancient artifacts? To touch items that are 2000 to 4000 years old would be amazing I imagine.

Just to add to your thought here - I have a scarab replica that was actually one made for Roman era tourists 2000 years ago. It is a replica of what was at that time a 3000 year old royal scarab.

 

[Kyle Jones]

Were you able to actually touch any of these? Or any of the ancient artifacts? To touch items that are 2000 to 4000 years old would be amazing I imagine.

Yes, the items in the garden can actually be touched. Blows me away...

 

[Kyle Jones]

Nice set of shots. Did you get to spend some time in the museum?

There is no way most countries in that area could protect all of the artifacts they encounter - there are simply too many of them.

Yes, we did spend a couple of hours in the museum. The King Tut items and the mummies (including Ramses II) are obvious draws, but they have just so much to see.

 

[BarryHamilton]

Would love to visit there. Thanks for taking us along! Neat shots!

 

[Douglas Sherman]

Here are a few different Sphinxes around Cairo...

The Great Sphinx - smaller than I expected (especially relative to the pyramids), but still impressive considering its age. Egypt seems to be trying to find the right balance between leaving things original vs. refurbishing and protecting. You can see some newer tiles on the foreleg.
View attachment 15482

2) An outdoor sphinx in Memphis. Apparently this was discovered lying on the side that is facing us in this view. The other side is in better shape but I didn't like the picture as much.
View attachment 15483

3) This sphinx is in the garden outside the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. It is amazing how many artifacts they have, such that many of them are left exposed to the environment.
View attachment 15484

Nice series, Kyle. That third sphinx is made of granite which had to be transported about 600 miles down the Nile from the Aswan Dam area.
That one will last a long time in the desert climate.

 

[Joe Colozzo]

another set of great images, thanks for sharing these.