The Message of the Sphinx: A Quest for the Hidden Legacy of Mankind

The Message of the Sphinx: A Quest for the Hidden Legacy of Mankind

Graham Hancock, Robert Bauval

3.9(2177 readers)
The Message of the Sphinx (aka "Keeper of Genesis" in the UK) is by Graham Hancock & Robert Bauval. Using astronomical data, they claim the creation of the Sphinx & Pyramids dates back to 10,500 BCE. Working from a premise that the Giza complex encodes a message, they begin with recently discovered geological evidence indicating deep erosion patterns on the Sphinx' flanks were caused by 1000 years of heavy rain. Such conditions last existed at the end of the ice age, 10-9000 BCE, meaning the Sphinx may be over 12,000 years old, not the generally accepted 4500. Using computer simulations, they suggest the pyramids, representing the three stars of Orion's Belt, along with associated causeways & alignments, constitute a stone record of the celestial array at the 10,500 BCE vernal equinox. This moment represents Zep Tepi, the "1st Time," often referred to in hieroglyphic records. They claim initiation rituals of Egyptian pharaohs replicate on Earth the sun's journey thru the stars in this remote era. They suggest a lost civilization's "Hall of Records" may be located by treating the Giza Plateau as a template of these ancient skies. Professional archeologists dismiss this theory as there's no other evidence for such an ancient civilization's existence.

Publisher

Crown

Publication Date

5/27/1997

ISBN

9780517888520

Pages

400

Categories

HistoryArtsSocial Sciences

About the Author

Graham Hancock

Graham Hancock

Graham Hancock is a British writer and journalist. His books include Lords of Poverty, The Sign and the Seal, Fingerprints of the Gods, Keeper of Genesis (released in the US as Message of the Sphinx), The Mars Mystery, Heaven's Mirror (with wife Santha Faiia), Underworld: The Mysterious Origins of Civilization, Talisman: Sacred Cities, Secret Faith (with co-author Robert Bauval), Supernatural: Meeting with the Ancient Teachers of Mankind and Magicians of the Gods. He also wrote and presented the Channel 4 documentaries Underworld: Flooded Kingdoms of the Ice Age and Quest for the Lost Civilisation. His first novel, Entangled, was published in 2010.

Questions & Answers

The true purpose of the Giza Pyramids and Sphinx, as suggested by the authors Graham Hancock and Robert Bauval, is deeply rooted in ancient Egyptian cosmology and the concept of the "First Time." They propose that the Giza complex was designed as a terrestrial model of the sky during the "First Time," an epoch believed to be around 10,500 BC when the constellation of Leo marked the spring equinox.

The Sphinx, with its leonine symbolism and erosion patterns indicating an age older than the traditional 2500 BC, was built as an equinoctial marker for the Age of Leo. The Pyramids, aligned with Orion's belt, represent the celestial sky and were intended to serve as a bridge between the earthly and divine realms, facilitating the journey of the soul to the afterlife.

The authors argue that the Giza complex was part of a grand scheme to initiate select individuals, including the Pharaohs, into esoteric cosmic wisdom. This wisdom was believed to lead to transcendence of death and immortality. The complex's astronomical alignments, such as the shafts of the Great Pyramid, were designed to facilitate this spiritual journey and were connected to powerful religious and cosmological ideas, including the "as above, so below" philosophy.

The "First Time" is a cosmic "passion play" reenacted in the sky, with each main character identified with a specific celestial body. The Giza complex, therefore, is seen as a physical representation of this cosmic drama, connecting the ancient Egyptians' earthly world with the celestial realm.

The ancient Egyptians achieved the construction of the Giza Pyramids and Sphinx through a combination of advanced knowledge, innovative techniques, and vast labor. Evidence supporting their advanced knowledge includes:

  1. Astronomical Alignments: The precise alignment of the Giza Pyramids with celestial bodies, such as Orion's belt and the meridian, suggests an understanding of precession and celestial mechanics.

  2. Engineering Precision: The Great Pyramid's dimensions are a precise model of the Earth's dimensions, indicating sophisticated mathematical and engineering skills.

  3. Megalithic Construction: The use of massive stone blocks, some weighing over 200 tons, requires advanced lifting and transportation techniques, which have not been fully explained.

  4. Geological Evidence: The Sphinx's erosion patterns suggest it was carved before the Sahara became a desert, indicating an older construction date than traditionally believed.

  5. Architectural Complexity: The intricate design and construction of the Valley Temple and Sphinx Temple, with their massive stone blocks, demonstrate advanced architectural and engineering capabilities.

  6. Ancient Texts: Pyramid Texts and other ancient Egyptian writings suggest a knowledge of advanced astronomy, mathematics, and engineering.

These pieces of evidence collectively suggest that the ancient Egyptians possessed advanced knowledge and technology, allowing them to construct the Giza Pyramids and Sphinx with remarkable precision and scale.

The "Duat" is a central concept in ancient Egyptian beliefs, representing the afterlife journey of the soul. It's a celestial realm, symbolized by the sky, where the soul travels after death. The Giza necropolis, including the Pyramids and Sphinx, is believed to be a terrestrial representation of the Duat.

The Pyramids, particularly the Great Pyramid, are thought to mimic the Duat's structure, with its chambers and corridors resembling the afterlife's journey. The "Kingdom of Sokar" in the Duat, with its double-lion Sphinx-god, is thought to be reflected in the Giza necropolis, with the Sphinx and the Pyramids.

The Sphinx, with its lion body and human head, is associated with the constellation Leo, which was significant in the afterlife journey. The alignment of the Sphinx and the Pyramids with celestial events, like the rising of Orion's belt and the heliacal rising of Sirius, suggests they were designed to guide the soul's journey through the Duat, ensuring the Pharaoh's successful afterlife.

The Giza Pyramids and Sphinx exhibit precise astronomical alignments. The Great Pyramid's north-south axis aligns with true north with remarkable accuracy, and its four shafts target specific stars, indicating it functioned as an ancient observatory. The Sphinx's orientation towards the east and its leonine form suggest it was associated with the constellation Leo, particularly during the spring equinox in 10,500 BC. This aligns with the ancient Egyptian understanding of the cosmos, which incorporated the belief in a "Celestial Nile" (Milky Way) and the "Underworld" (Duat), reflecting the journey of the soul after death. The Giza complex appears to be a physical representation of these cosmic concepts, linking the celestial and terrestrial realms.

The existence of a hidden "Hall of Records" or "Hall of Wisdom" beneath the Great Sphinx or within the Giza Pyramids is a topic of much speculation and debate. Some theories, inspired by sources like the Edgar Cayce readings, suggest that such a chamber exists and contains the knowledge and wisdom of a lost, advanced civilization.

This knowledge might include astronomical observations, architectural techniques, and possibly even the secrets of a "cosmic wisdom" that linked the earth to the heavens. The Great Pyramid's precise dimensions and alignments with celestial bodies suggest it was designed with advanced astronomical knowledge, possibly passed down from the "Followers of Horus" or a similar group.

However, there is no conclusive evidence for such a chamber, and mainstream Egyptologists generally dismiss these theories as speculative. The lack of physical evidence and the absence of any historical record supporting the existence of such a chamber remain significant obstacles to these claims.

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