Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-07-13
UNCOvERiNG THE SPHINX.
Interesting Things Unburicd from
the sands OF the Egyptian Desert

the s8nds of the Egyptian Desert.
The last occasion on which the great
Pphinx WAS cleared down to,the level on which
the paws rest was In honor Of the opening OF
the Suez canal In 1868, says the London
Times. The ever drifting sands had, how
ever, reburIed IL almost to the throat when
Prof. Maspero, during his last year OF Office
at Boulak, began the work OF dis nterment.
This work has now been going on somewhat
Intern ittently for more than twelve months
and Is at the present time in active progress
under the direction OF Prof. Msspero's sue
cessor, NJ Grebsut. irsmway has been
laid down from the Sphinx TO the edge Of the
pyramid plateau, passing close under the
west face OF the granite building popularity,
though Incorrectly, called the temple Of the
sphinx Along the tramwsy light trucks
convey the sand TO the point Of which their
contents are discharged, the trucks being
loaded by Arabs OF both sexes and all ages,
who carry the sand upon their heads In large,
fiat baskets, ascending and descending all
day long from the excavations below to the
tramsay above, and vice versa The means
look curlously inadequate, but the results are
astonishing Already the entire forepart OF
the great stone monster is laid bare, and al
ready the huge chest, The paws. the space be-
tween the paws, the altar ia front OF them, and
the platform upon which they rest are once
more open TO the light OF day Nor is this
all. Between the Sphinx and the edge Of the
pyramid plateau a vast space has also been
cleared thus bringing to view a fine flight OF
steps, some forty feet In width. These steps,
which are described by Pllny, were uncovered
by Cavlglia In 1917, but have been entirely
lost TO sight for nearly seventy years. A
second flight OF steps and the remains Of
two Roman buildings were also found by
Cavlglia, aud will again be brought 10 light,
II NJ. Grebaut continues TO work in this d.
rection
To the right OF the Sphinx-that is to saw,
in the direction OF the granite temple, to the
southward-a further excavation is in pro.
Eress, the result Of which VIII probably con =
firm the surmises 81 those who believe the
sphinx to stand in the midst OF a huge art!
fetal amphithetter hewn out OF sOlid rock
This gigantic work would, Of course be con
tempOraneOus with the SPHINX itself, which
Msrietie attributed TO the rnytLic ages before
the advent Of Meua, the first king OF the
first dynasty and which Maspero considers
10 be, II not actually prchistorc at all
events the Oldest monument In Egypt.
From the level OF the area below the great
flight OF steps (Which led down, and not up,
10 the sphinx one now measures the
whole height OF the huge human-heade
monster, whose battered countenance stands
out against the cloudless sky one hundred
ieet above. The space between the paws is
thirty five feet long and ten wide. This
space was ancentlv converted into small
Sanctuary lined with votive tablets only one
OF whtch-the famous stela Of Thothmes "
vet remains In sight This stella record,
how the king when upon one OF his hunting
expeditions, lay down 10 rest at midday in
the shadow OF the Sphinx. He there fell asleep
and dreamed dream, in which the yener.
able image coniured him to clear awav the
sand in which it was nearly buried Then the
prince awoke and made silence In his heart
and vowed TO do that which the god had
commanded.
The paws OF the Sphinx, as they now APP
pear, are restoration OF Roman date, being
cssed In comparatively small slabs, aud TO
some extent hollow underneath. The breast
OF the Sphinx has likewise been faced with
slabs. apparently In Roman times; and these
SLABS have again been repaired by cutting
away The weatbered surface aud inserting a
fresh facing. Like the legs Of the Colossi
OF the plain and those OF he great statues a
Aboo Simbal, the paws of the SPHINX are
covered with the Greek scrawls OF early
travellers; but these gratii-ti are mostly OF
late period and so slightly scratched that few
are leglbIe. Such they are, however,
Prof. Msspero has, It is understood. devoted
himself 10 the ungrateful and difficult task
OF TRANSMITTING them.
VI Grebauts elevations are not limited to
the clearance OF the Sphinx only. Various
interesting tornbs have lately been discover
ed In the vicinity Of the great pyramid aud
10 the westward the face OF Libyan cliff has
been reached, where IL forms the natural
boundary OF the pyramid plateau Some good
early rock'cut tombs, builtwith fore courts.
have been found in the face OF this cliff Ia
two OF which the walled-up recesses or secret
chambers, called ''serdabs which were con-
s,ructed for the safe keeping OF funerari
portrait statues, are yet intact With their
contents.