Did the Sphinx in Egypt Actually Close Its Eyes?
Social media users have circulated questionable footage of Egypt’s famous Sphinx statue with its eyes strangely closed in an odd turn of events.
The antique statue’s eyes appear to be closed in several images and videos that are featured in the original post, which has been shared more than 6,000 times on Facebook.
According to Ali Abu Dish, an Egyptian antiquities specialist and member of the Federation of Archaeologists, the “sleeping” images of the Sphinx have been rejected as fake and irrational.
However, Abu Dish said that the story offered a chance for internal tourism, with the possibility for travelers to really view the monument.
As the picture was taken at an angle opposing the sun, a source at the Ministry of Antiquities confirmed that it was a fake of the Sphinx.
His features weren’t visible due to a poor camera, which is how the image ended up looking like this, according to a post on Facebook by Tourism Egypt, an Egyptian account devoted to tourism.
In a related post, it was claimed that many factors, including a change in perspective, lighting, and editing, can be responsible for Sphinx’s fictitious image of “sleep” and “closed” eyes.
Also Read: The Great Sphinx Giza, Egypt: The Hallmarks of Ancient Egyptian Civilization
The Great Sphinx Giza, Egypt: The Hallmarks of Ancient Egyptian Civilization
The Great Sphinx
One of Egypt’s most famous and often visited landmarks is the Sphinx. The enormous limestone figure, which resembles the face of king Khafre, whose family owns one of the Great Pyramids of Giza, is said to have been built during the Old Kingdom.
Ancient Egypt has often been the subject of mystical and magical musings that promote improbable notions.
To learn more about the culture that has drawn millions of visitors to its monuments, many ancient Egypt aficionados turn to shady websites, amateur videos, and unreliable sources.
Egyptology, the study of ancient Egypt, is still primarily a branch of an academic study sponsored by university professors, scholars, and excavators who base their beliefs on years of effort and investigation.
