The ancient Sphinx

The ancient Sphinx, majestically guarding the secrets of the Giza plateau, has long been one of the greatest mysteries. For decades, scientists have struggled with the enigma of its age, and this mystery is further deepened by one of archaeology's greatest puzzles hidden behind its impenetrable stone face — traces of water erosion.

The water erosion on the Sphinx raises questions that challenge traditional ideas about its origin and age. The official version states that the Sphinx was carved by order of Pharaoh Khafre around 2500 BCE. However, the marks left on its body tell a different story. Researchers have observed that the deep grooves covering the monument’s sides resemble water erosion more than the wind erosion typical of deserts. How could water have so clearly impacted the stone in the heart of the desert?

This discovery has sparked new theories. Some researchers, such as Dr. Robert Schoch, a geologist from Boston University, argue that the Sphinx was built much earlier — perhaps as far back as 7000 or 9000 BCE, during a period when Egypt’s climate was entirely different. At that time, the land that is now parched by the sun was lush and fertile, and rains frequently nourished the region. If this is true, then the Sphinx is not just an ancient monument but a testament to epochs lost in the sands of history.

But what were these epochs? If the Sphinx was constructed long before the rise of Ancient Egypt, who were these mysterious architects capable of creating such a monumental masterpiece? These questions echo like the distant voices of forgotten times, for which we still have no answer. Could it be that a civilization, whose name has long been erased from the historical record, left behind this silent stone symbol?

The water erosion theory not only shifts the dating of the Sphinx but also adds a new layer to our understanding of history — climate change. If rivers once flowed and rains fell in what is now desert, could the ancient people living in the region have faced catastrophic environmental changes? Perhaps the Sphinx is not just a monument of architecture but also a witness to natural disasters capable of reshaping entire civilizations.

However, there are many opponents of the water erosion theory. Some archaeologists suggest that similar grooves could have been created by occasional desert rains or a combination of wind and sand eroding the stone over millennia. They argue that evidence for an earlier dating of the Sphinx is not convincing enough, and that the structure should still be attributed to the age of the pharaohs.

And yet, the mystery remains. Perhaps the Great Sphinx truly is a witness to events that occurred long before the rise of the pharaohs. Maybe its deep grooves, left by water, are a kind of scar — a memory of ancient cataclysms, whose traces have long been erased from the face of the Earth.

Whatever the truth may be, the Sphinx continues to guard its secrets. Its silence only fuels the curiosity of researchers, and the traces of water erosion seem to suggest that history is not always as it seems. The mysteries of the ancient world live within stones that are not always easy to read. The only question is, are we ready to hear their whispers?

If so, the answers to these questions may lie within the pages of our book.