Anubis, Pharaoh’s Pet Identical to the Great Sphinx of Giza

CAIRO – Sphinx Agung Giza, ikon abadi Ancient Egypt, has been the protector of the Giza plateau for centuries.

Traditionally, the statue is believed to have been built during the reign of Pharaoh Khafre (c. 2558-2532 BC), with its face resembling Khafre as evidence of his divine power and connection.

However, a provocative theory put forward by Robert Temple in his book “The Sphinx Mystery” challenges this long-held belief.

Temple argues that the Sphinx originally depicted Anubis, a jackal-headed god associated with mummification and the afterlife, and that the present human head is a later modification, possibly re-carved to resemble the Middle Kingdom Pharaoh Amenemhet II.

One of the main arguments in favor of the Anubis theory is the difference in proportion between the Sphinx’s head and its large body.

Critics of the traditional view point out that the head appears too small, suggesting that it may have been re-carved from a larger original structure.

As reported by The Archeologist, Anubis, depicted as a jackal or jackal-headed man, was an important god in Ancient Egyptian religion, often associated with the guardian of tombs and graves.

Proponents of the Anubis theory argue that a giant statue of Anubis would be well suited to the role of guardian of the Sphinx on the Giza Plateau, a major burial site.

Temple also presents archaeological and geological evidence to support his theory. He points out that erosion on the Sphinx seems more consistent with a much older age than previously assumed.