The Secrets Hidden in the Sphinx of Tanis
The cult of Amun first arose in ancient Libya before spreading to ancient Egypt. It is believed that thousands of years ago rulers who reigned in the Egyptian capital during the 21st and 22nd Dynasties from 1991 to 1802 BC built this temple earlier. The mystery beneath the Sphinx of Tanis remains a subject of debate with assumptions that it was built during the 4th or 12th Dynasty of Egypt. Surviving inscriptions mention the reign of Pharaoh Amenemhat II of the 12th Dynasty.
Later rulers took this opportunity to add inscriptions to the Sphinx. This period was a time of political stability and development including the true meaning of the statue in the Tanis language a diverse and culturally significant language. Several important pharaohs lived during this era including Amenemhat I and Senusret III. The only female pharaoh confirmed to have been inscribed is Sobekneferu.
The true origins of the Sphinx remain controversial. Overlapping inscriptions make it difficult to identify the builder of the Sphinx of Tanis. Some inscriptions are believed to belong to Pharaoh Amenemhet II and may contain original symbols thought to be missing from the Sphinx's head possibly representing a crown on Tanis's forehead altered by later rulers.
Some are believed to belong to Pharaoh Amenemhet II and hold various secrets connected to the Sphinx of Tanis a pink granite statue from the New Kingdom period found in the ruins of the Temple of Amun-Ra in Tanis. The cult of Amun originated in ancient Libya before spreading to ancient Egypt with the Sphinx of Tanis having the body of a lion and the head of a human symbolizing power and protection.
The Era of Peace
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 2,613 to 2,498 BC. This era was a time of peace and prosperity with recorded trade with other nations. The construction of pyramids during the Third Dynasty led to a flourishing of arts and the construction of the Staba Mausoleum. The constructions undertaken by King Sneferup led to the creation of flat pyramids on the Giza plain.
Tanis a major archaeological site in the northeastern Nile Delta of Egypt is the location of the city of the same name. It was the capital of the Egyptian Empire during the 21st and 22nd Dynasties situated on a branch of the Nile River called Tanis. Some of the monuments discovered in Tanis date back to before the 21st Dynasty. A notable achievement of these kings is the construction and expansion of the Great Temple of Amun-Ra at Tanis.
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