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The Sphinx Mystery: The Forgotten Origins of the Sanctuary of Anubis
A book that verifies the existence of secret underground chambers beneath the Sphinx and demonstrates its origins as the Egyptian god of the dead, Anubis
• Includes an anthology of eyewitness accounts from early travelers who explored the secret chambers before they were sealed in 1926
• Reveals that the Sphinx was originally carved as a monumental crouching Anubis, the Egyptian jackal god of the necropolis
Shrouded in mystery for centuries, the Sphinx of Giza has frustrated many who have attempted to discover its original purpose. Accounts exist of the Sphinx as an oracle, as a king’s burial chamber, and as a temple for initiation into the Hermetic Mysteries. Egyptologists have argued for decades about whether there are secret chambers underneath the Sphinx, why the head-to-body ratio is out of proportion, and whose face adorns it.
In The Sphinx Mystery , Robert Temple addresses the many mysteries of the Sphinx. He presents eyewitness accounts, published over a period of 281 years, of people who saw the secret chambers and even went inside them before they were sealed in 1926--accounts that had been forgotten until the author rediscovered them. He also describes his own exploration of a tunnel at the rear of the Sphinx, perhaps used for obtaining sacred divinatory dreams.
Robert Temple reveals that the Sphinx was originally a monumental Anubis, the Egyptian jackal god, and that its face is that of a Middle Kingdom Pharaoh, Amenemhet II, which was a later re-carving. In addition, he provides photographic evidence of ancient sluice gate traces to demonstrate that, during the Old Kingdom, the Sphinx as Anubis sat surrounded by a moat filled with water--called Jackal Lake in the ancient Pyramid Texts--where religious ceremonies were held. He also provides evidence that the exact size and position of the Sphinx were geometrically determined in relation to the pyramids of Cheops and Chephren and that it was part of a pharaonic resurrection cult.
• Includes an anthology of eyewitness accounts from early travelers who explored the secret chambers before they were sealed in 1926
• Reveals that the Sphinx was originally carved as a monumental crouching Anubis, the Egyptian jackal god of the necropolis
Shrouded in mystery for centuries, the Sphinx of Giza has frustrated many who have attempted to discover its original purpose. Accounts exist of the Sphinx as an oracle, as a king’s burial chamber, and as a temple for initiation into the Hermetic Mysteries. Egyptologists have argued for decades about whether there are secret chambers underneath the Sphinx, why the head-to-body ratio is out of proportion, and whose face adorns it.
In The Sphinx Mystery , Robert Temple addresses the many mysteries of the Sphinx. He presents eyewitness accounts, published over a period of 281 years, of people who saw the secret chambers and even went inside them before they were sealed in 1926--accounts that had been forgotten until the author rediscovered them. He also describes his own exploration of a tunnel at the rear of the Sphinx, perhaps used for obtaining sacred divinatory dreams.
Robert Temple reveals that the Sphinx was originally a monumental Anubis, the Egyptian jackal god, and that its face is that of a Middle Kingdom Pharaoh, Amenemhet II, which was a later re-carving. In addition, he provides photographic evidence of ancient sluice gate traces to demonstrate that, during the Old Kingdom, the Sphinx as Anubis sat surrounded by a moat filled with water--called Jackal Lake in the ancient Pyramid Texts--where religious ceremonies were held. He also provides evidence that the exact size and position of the Sphinx were geometrically determined in relation to the pyramids of Cheops and Chephren and that it was part of a pharaonic resurrection cult.
566 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 26, 2015
The author might be highly opinionated and have a rather amusing writing style, but he has a very interesting hypothesis here that makes more sense than all those ancient alien and star matching claims. The book lacks "fruit-loopiness", so that is actually a bonus. The book is also stuffed full of sepia/black photographs and illustrations and has information that is new to me (also a bonus) - it isn't just a re-hash of other stuff.
June 25, 2014
Through a series of evidences and arguments, complete with illustrations, photos, and other inserts, Temple (convincingly) leads the reader to a conclusion which, uncharacteristically of academic publications, is well summed up in a few paragraphs, perhaps two pages, revealing and solving the mystery of the Sphinx. Or, at least, it gives a very plausible explanation which is simple, elegant, and highly believable.
The book is incredibly interesting, if somewhat dry (it is, after all, academic), and though it took me many (18) months to finish, was well worth the read.
The book is incredibly interesting, if somewhat dry (it is, after all, academic), and though it took me many (18) months to finish, was well worth the read.
March 12, 2011
I read this book to supplement my previous research on the chambers below the Sphinx and the Pyramids at Giza. Robert Temple and his wife offer a wealth of information in this book. Much of their research found them translating documents referring to the chambers written prior to the 1700's in German and other European languages. It is an intensive study with a multitude of information by an author who is quite thorough and tedious.
May 12, 2012
A fascinating book one that explores the mystery of the oldest and largest statue in the world.
October 12, 2022
This book has its flaws - like the writing style being uneven and a bit dull from excessive dry descriptions and self-referential dead-ends that feel like a contrived tactic to sell his other books. But I am willing to plow through as there are always valuable and intuitive insights to be found from the mind of Mr. Temple. His flagship work, The Sirius Mystery I still haven’t finished, but his areas of study are always intriguing to me, and I feel that he is an influential thinker in his work with ancient cultures. I think he will be lauded as a great visionary in the years to come, and this book is certainly a big reason why. His understanding of Ancient Egyptian culture is convincing and inspiring, and I learned so much more than I had anticipated. I can’t wait to reread it more carefully!
July 12, 2013
I gave this book two stars because he is a good writer. I wanted so badly to give the "story" one star. An example of problems I found throughout this entire book...
figure 1.40 and 1.41 on page 57 of his book are said to be pictures from the south, then his left leg. This may be true, but he is leadiing the reader to believe it is sand piling up from opposite directions. If fact they are reversed pictures. Look at the stone on the sphinx's chest!
So, from early on I felt the author is trying to dupe the reader, so I use a suspicious eye. Needless to say I found 22 other things in text and pictures that were misleading.
Once again though, he is a great writer. My advise to him would be to "quit your day job".
figure 1.40 and 1.41 on page 57 of his book are said to be pictures from the south, then his left leg. This may be true, but he is leadiing the reader to believe it is sand piling up from opposite directions. If fact they are reversed pictures. Look at the stone on the sphinx's chest!
So, from early on I felt the author is trying to dupe the reader, so I use a suspicious eye. Needless to say I found 22 other things in text and pictures that were misleading.
Once again though, he is a great writer. My advise to him would be to "quit your day job".
January 23, 2016
This wasn't quite what I was expecting. It was an alright book, thus why I gave it two stars, also because I love Ancient Egypt, but I just had a hard time getting into the book. The captions on all of the pictures, and the pictures themselves, were very interesting, but repetitive.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews