612

Photo of the Sphinx taken from a balloon before it was excavated. I can't find a date, but based on when it was excavated and the history of photography, some time between 1840 and 1867 (lemmy.world)

submitted 3 weeks ago by FlyingSquid@lemmy.world to c/historyporn@lemmy.world

60 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I looked all over for a date and got everything from "early 1800s" to "late 1800s" but nothing exact, so I had to make an educated guess. The first cameras practical enough to take such a photo were developed around 1840 and the excavations began in 1867.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago

I don't think that's a hole. I think it's the opposite, and an optical illusion.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multistable_perception

[-] burgersc12@mander.xyz 28 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Not true. "Shaft A

Baraize also paved with cement this deep hole (shaft A) on the top of the Sphinx's head. The hole measures approximately 5 feet square and nearly 6 feet deep. An iron trap door was fitted to the mouth of the hole. It has been theorized that the hole, began as a means for affixing a headdress to the sphinx in the manner of the New Kingdom (see photo below), was later deepened in search of hidden chambers." From this site

And picture from 1925

and covered later