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[CanadianStargazer]

First off I'd just like to say hi. This is my first post here.

Anyway, I'm interested to learn about Ancient Egyptian astronomy. I've learned of a theory that says that the three pyramids of Giza may be a representation of Orion's belt, and the other pyramids finish off the other stars of the constellation. I've also been told that the Sphinx may have a sculpture of an actual lion (representation of Leo) before the head was carved off and replaced with that of a human.

It's quite fascinating, really. I'd love to learn more. ;D

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Hi Canadian Astronomer,

Welcome to Chicago and inner city astronomy. I took a peek at your site, and theres certainly plenty of content to enjoy. I'll do that in a bit....

But your first post is a good one to start with.

I am no Egyptologist, but I am interested in the area. There are many theories on the Egyptian Pyramids from hard slave labor to alien intervention. Who knows?...But what there is to plainly see...is the alignment of the three pyramids in direct relation to the three stars in the belt of Orion.

There is a striking resemblance: three stars in the middle of the Orion constellation, diagonally but with one star deviating, and three pyramids, also with one deviating from the diagonal. And the relative positions of stars and pyramids match each other pretty closely. Giza consists of two almost equally tall pyramids and a smaller one which is only 53% of the height of the other two. The belt of Orion consists of two almost similarly bright stars, and one with only 50% of the brightness of the other two. The smallest pyramid is the one which deviates from the diagonal, as does the dimmest star.

Many theories on what the pyramids represent from burial tombs to a giant water pump to a great battery. No one really knows, but the exploration goes on.

The stars of what we know as Orion played a part in the Egyptians concept of the afterlife:

O King, you are this great star, the companion of Orion, who traverses the sky with Orion, who navigates the Netherworld with Osiris; you ascend from the east of the sky, being rejuvenated at your due season and rejuvenated at your due time."

______________________________

The Sphinx

It is believed that Khafre was the builder of the Sphinx and that it was a part of his funerary complex at Giza. Later studies by geologists have revealed that the erosion of the Sphinx has been caused by heavy floods, something that the other structures at Giza don't bear signs of. The only other suggestion is that it was actually built by some earlier civilization. The proposed dates are c. 7000-5000 BC, about three-thousand years earlier than the Khafre Pyramid was built. There is currently a hot discussion on this subject and no clear evidence has been produced to prove either theory.

An Egyptian myth associated with the sphinx states that the prince Thutmosis IV, son of Amenhotep II and Queen Teo, was awakened from his sleep by the god Horemakhet (protector of the sphinx). The god said that if he cleared the sphinx (which was at the time covered with sand) he would be the next ruler of Egypt. Thutmosis IV did this and soon became the ruler of Egypt. There is reason to believe that this was just a myth to strengthen his claim to the throne which was rather shaky in the first place. After Thutmosis IV was finished clearing the sphinx, he added a statue of himself and a temple dedicated to Horemakhet.

It is now accepted that the Sphinx was first originally a lion. It has a body of one and paws that stretch out. The present head was indeed "updated" and is significantly smaller and out of proportion to the rest of the work.

Aristotle wrote about the Hall of Records in the left paw of the Sphinx. Rumor has it that the Egyptian government has already raided this and other treasures. What they found is a mystery.

On the matter of the nose on the Sphinx, nobody "knows" what happened. It was blamed on Napoleon, British and German troops, but this postcard from 1910 clearly shows it to be noseless...

Also notice that the base of the Sphinx was not excavated yet, and the paws were still buried. I wonder what other treasure are yet to be discovered. Why doesn't the Egyptian government just undertake a massive excavating project and uncover all these ancient mysteries? I see them from time to time digging out artifacts with clumsy and antiquated wooden side shovels. I can understand keeping tradition, but that is just ridiculous.

More here: home.xnet.com/~warinner/sphinx.html

Good topic.

[starbux]

The Sphinx is one of those things, like the planet Mars, whose evidence defies the boundries of conventional science theory. Evidence of intense rain erosion at one time strongly suggests that the Sphinx is much older than standards dates indicate, since there has been no intesnse enough rain in the region for over 5000 years.

[NatureDevil]

Everything you wrote about the Sphinx is stuff that I have read and studied also. It makes you think about the land structure out there and how many other statues like that from that long distant civilization are still buried out there or hidden in rock.

Some day I am going to take all those geolography classes that Triton offers, and see what I can peice together from history. Things like Pangea always interested me.

Oooh...now I know what I want for my birthday. One of those nice globes that I see in the window of that store on Michigan Avenue downtown whenever I am walking around there. I have always wanted my own globe to sit on my desk and take up space. Hehehe, actually, I would use the damn thing. I just inherited a huge Encyclopedia set from 1980, before everything had to be written with a liberal slant on it. Going to do some wartime studying as I need it badly. Dammit, I am getting a globe next weekend.....

NatureDevil