Great Sphinx Origins Hypothesis | But is it all Just Hot Air?
This past week the Great Sphinx of Egypt got headlines around the world, as researchers from New York University conducted a hypothetical study, testing the idea that nature could have created a lion-like piece of bedrock via wind erosion, which then inspired the Egyptians to shape it into their Sphinx monument.
2023-11-04 18:00:00 - Ancient Architects
Leif Ristroph, an associate professor at NYU said: “Our findings offer a possible 'origin story' for how Sphinx-like formations can come about from erosion.”
Yardangs are wind eroded rock formations in arid regions, and the researchers mention the fact they can resemble seated lions, and so the idea is that maybe the Sphinx already looked somewhat lion-like when the Egyptians stumbled on the outcrop of rock.
Then they merely finished the job that nature had started.
So that seems like a fair claim, but does it hold water? Is this new theory both literally and metaphorically just a lot of hot air? Is this video I take a closer look and give you my opinion.
All images are taken from the below sources and Google Images for educational purposes only.