The Great Sphinx next to the Egyptian pyramids of Giza, a symbol of ancient mysticism and architectural grandeur, has guarded the Giza plateau for millennia.
The giant limestone statue with the body of a lion and the head of a pharaoh, is said to symbolize the pharaoh's power and his role as protector of Egypt.
This statue is often associated with the sun god Ra, and symbolizes the unity of human intelligence (head) and physical strength (lion body).
Historians and archaeologists have continued to uncover the secrets of the Sphinx, but one fundamental puzzle remains: how did the ancient Egyptians set out to build this monolithic statue, and how might the natural terrain have influenced its formation?
An investigation by a team of scientists at New York University (NYU) has shed light on this ancient puzzle. By evoking the environmental conditions that prevailed 4,500 years ago, the researchers sought to understand how natural elements and raw stone transformed into one of the world's most iconic monuments.
Associate Professor Leif Ristroph, from NYU's Courant Institute for Mathematical Sciences, led the investigation with a groundbreaking approach. The team's research, scheduled to be published in the prestigious journal Physical Review Fluids, looks at the Sphinx's shape-forming process through the lens of erosion.
“Our experiments show that the surprisingly Sphinx-like shapes can actually come from materials eroded by fast-flowing streams,” Ristroph shares.
The cornerstone of the study was the reproduction of yardangs – strange desert rock formations shaped by relentless winds. These natural phenomena provide clues to the potential origins of the Great Sphinx, suggesting that it was an ancient yardang that was later refined by human hands into the majestic shape we know today.
As the man-made elements worked on the clay mounds, a lab-created Sphinx emerged. The strong materials within the clay refused to deform, forming what would become the lion's "head," while the softer areas around it gradually eroded away to reveal a distinct "neck," extended "paws," and the curve of its "arched back."
The dramatic result of the experiment was a reflection of the Sphinx, not created by human hands but by the erosion mechanism of liquid.
This research not only pierces the veil of history but also provides a lot of knowledge for geologists.
The Great Sphinx, ever silent, may still hold its secrets, but the relentless pursuit of understanding by scholars like Ristroph and his colleagues has brought us closer than ever to unlocking the mysteries hidden within its cold gaze.
