An interesting work has been going on, under the direction of M.
Maspéro, at the great Sphinx of Gizeh, which has been buried, all
but the head, for centuries. M. Maspéro, while we write, had got
down as far as the paws, on the right of which are a number of Greek
inscriptions. The paws appear to be cut out of the solid stone, and
afterwards built round with masonry, the surface of which is painted
red with yellow additions. Bryant is of opinion that the Sphinx was
originally a vast rock of different strata, which, from a shapeless
mass, the Egyptians fashioned into an object of beauty and veneration.
Although the excavators have now reached a lower level than Carglia
and others, yet much remains to be done before the whole of this
wondrous specimen of ancient art is entirely uncovered; for, if we are
to believe Pliny’s statements, the head of the Sphinx was one hundred
and two feet in circumference, and sixty-two feet high from the belly;
whilst the body was one hundred and forty-three feet long, and was,
moreover, supposed to be the sepulchre of King Amasis, who died 525
B.C. But, according to Herodotus, the body of this monarch was buried
in the Temple of Sais; and on the defeat and death of his son by the
Persians, it was taken from its tomb, brutally mangled, and then
publicly burnt, to the horror of the Egyptian people. If the Sphinx is
really found to be a solid rock, Pliny’s story of its having been a
tomb falls to the ground. M. Maspéro has been working in layers of hard
sand which has lain undisturbed for probably eighteen hundred years.
This is found to be so close and hard, that it is more like solid stone
than sand, and requires a great amount of labour to cut through. The
work is, however, progressing with energy and determination, and it is
to be hoped that it will not be suffered to stop abruptly for want of
funds.