The mystery beneath
the Great Sphinx of Tanis
The Sphinx with its lion body and human head is a symbol of power protection and defense. Surviving inscriptions refer to the reign of Pharaoh Amenemhat II of the Twelfth Dynasty. Later rulers took the opportunity to add inscriptions to the Sphinx. This period marked political stability and developments including the true meaning of the statue in Tanis a diverse and culturally significant language. Several important pharaohs were present including Amenemhat I and Senusret III. The only confirmed female pharaoh is Sobekneferu a pink granite sculpture dating from the New Kingdom in the ruins of the Temple of Amun Ra in Tanis. The cult of Amun originated in ancient Libya before spreading to ancient Egypt at the Temple of Amun Ra.
The cult of Amun first arose in ancient Libya before spreading to ancient Egypt. Thousands of years ago it is believed that the rulers who reigned from 1991–1802 BC the capital of Egypt during the 21st and 22nd Dynasties built the temple before this. The mystery beneath the Great Sphinx of Tanis remains debated with the assumption of a Fourth or Twelfth Dynasty of Egypt and the exact origin of the Sphinx still being debated. Overlapping inscriptions make it difficult to pinpoint the creator of the Sphinx of Tanis. Some inscriptions are attributed to Amenemhet II and may contain the original symbol thought to be missing from the Sphinx's head possibly representing the crown on Tanis's forehead. Modifications by later rulers some attributed to Amenemhet II and secrets remain hidden within the Great Sphinx of Tanis.
Merneptah's family crest on the Sphinx of Tanis. Family crests were intended to represent ownership. They typically appeared in the form of ornaments seals or carvings associated with Pharaoh Merneptah. Symbols of leadership and strength often associated with ancient Egyptian deities such as lions or eagles were often found on objects such as ornaments or carvings on the walls of temples and tombs.
The Golden Age believed to be the most significant period for the Sphinx of Tanis dates back to the Fourth Dynasty of Ancient Egypt approximately 2613–2498 BC. This era was marked by peace and prosperity and marked by recorded trade with other nations. The Third Dynasty's pyramid construction saw the flourishing of artistic expression leading to the development of the Mausoleum of Staba. The construction by King Sneferup led to the development of the flat-sided pyramid on the Giza Plateau.
Tanis a major archaeological site in the Nile Delta in northeastern Egypt and home to the city of the same name, served as the capital of the Egyptian Empire during the 21st and 22nd Dynasties. Situated on the Tanite branch of the Nile some monuments discovered in Tanis date back to before the 21st Dynasty. A notable achievement of these kings is the construction and subsequent expansion of the Great Temple of Amun Ra at Tanis.
