UNRIDDLING THE SPHINX.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1330, 1 September 1886, Page 3

UNRIDDLING THE SPHINX.

The riddle of the Sphinx fa at length on the point of being solved. The great manbeaded lion-bodied monument, which baa for ages been more than half buried by the accumulating sands of the desert, is now being rapidly brought to light, and ere, long, one of the most extraordinary relics of Egyptian civilisation will be once more visible itt its entirety. The work has been going on ever since January last, when at the suggestion of M. Maspero, the chief director of the department of Antiquities in Egypt—the French public, in the coarse of a few hoars, subscribed sufficient funds to enable the work of exeavation to be carried to completion. The interest of soph news for Egyptologists may be ponceivpd when it is remembered that tne last time the Sphinx was dug out of the sands was by King Tholhmes IV., fifteen centuries before Christ, or about 3,400 years ago. Scholars, In fact, are of opinion that the Sphinx la the oldest monument in the world. It appears in any case, to have been erected or chiselled out of the rock more than forty five centuries before the Chtis'ain era, and therefore about 6,400 years ago. The s‘z9 cf the strange image is very remarktble. The is more than 180 ft long • The’ears of the human shaped head are about six feet from top to bottom,'the other features being in proportion. The learned explorers who are engaged In the work of excavation hold it probable that, twhen the statue is fully brought to light, a number of other Important discoveries wijl be made.