Taha 4 Sphinx In Las Vegas example essay topic

The Sphinx of Giza is a symbol that has represented the essence of Egypt for thousands of years. The body of a lion with the head of a king comes from the Egyptian culture symbolizing strength and wisdom. The sphinx is a carved out of the living rock. Egyptologists believe that the sphinx was built in 2500 BC in the fourth dynasty. From the north side the profile of the Sphinx reveals the proportion of the body to the head. It would appear as though the head is small in proportion to the body.

Because of the changing desert terrain, the body of the Sphinx has been buried several times over the past several thousand years. Most recently in 1905, the sand has been cleared away to expose the magnitude and beauty of the entirety of the Sphinx. The sphinx is carved out of a single ridge of soft limestone 240 feet long and 66 feet high. The head was sculpted from the same stone, and the forepaws were separately made from blocks of limestone. The paws themselves are 50 feet long while the entire length is 150 feet. The head is 30 feet long and 14 feet wide.

Because certain layers of the stone are softer than others, there is a high degree of erosion that has claimed the original detail of the carved figure. The face of the Great Sphinx has been thought to be pharaoh Khafre's face Fascinatingly, the features of the face of the Sphinx has a far more striking resemblance to an older brother of Khafre, the Pharaoh Djedefre. Djedefre's short lived reign occurred just prior to the reign of Khafre. Originally it is believed that the Sphinx was painted and was quite colorful.

Since then, the nose and beard have been broken away from. In between the paws of the Sphinx is a stela, now called the 'Dream Stela' which is a stone slab placed vertically and inscribed with a story. The 18th Dynasty story tells of the time Taha 2 Thutmosis IV fell asleep under the Sphinx which was covered to the neck in sand. Thutmosis had a dream that the Sphinx spoke to him and promised that if he would free the Sphinx from the sand, Thutmosis would be destined to become king of Egypt. From Ancient Egypt, astronomy and astrology play an inextricable part.

Everything seems to have something to do with the stars, or at the very least have a close relation that is. The people who made it had the most extraordinary knowledge of the stars and the behavior of the Earth, planets and stars in space. Workers restoring the Sphinx located a doorway in its side. Old photographs show that this door was at least partially open at one time. Also in 1995 workers constructing a parking lot near the sphinx, found a series of tunnels and pathways.

The Sphinx has been known to have astronomical significance. Approximately every two thousand years, because of the precession of the equinoxes also known as the first point of Aries, is the point at which the sun appears to cross the celestial equator from south to north. The sun on the equinox rises against the solar background of a different group. For the past two thousand years that group has been the Pisces, symbol of the Christian age. Prior to that age it was the age of Aries, and before that it was the age of Taurus. The sphinx of Giza and the sphinx in Las Vegas which is the entrance of the luxor hotel, are very similar.

The luxor hotel was built October 5, 1993. Named after an Egyptian city in upper Egypt. Guests enter the Strip resort beneath this massive sphinx. Lasers lance from the eyes of the statue to create figures and scenes against water spraying from a lavish fountain in front of the hotel. Luxor's ten story tall sphinx is taller than the original sphinx, and just like the original it has an opening in its left paw. The Taha 3 sphinx is about 150 feet which is larger the sphinx of Giza, by just a few feet.

Both of the figures are very alike in structure and form. They both consist of a head of a human and a body of a lion. The sphinx of the Luxor is much more colorful and modern than the Sphinx of Giza. The head of the Sphinx of Luxor is painted with the colors of blue and gold. The eyes are very big and open because of the blue eye liner that was used under the eye lids.

Also, the headdress is much more noticeable on the Sphinx in Las Vegas because it is colored. Unlike the Sphinx of Giza, the structure of the face is not as conspicuous as the Sphinx in Las Vegas. There is no color to the face structure such as the eyes and beard and are not carved as well as the Sphinx in Las Vegas. Also, the body of the Sphinx in Las Vegas looks stronger, and shaped rounder.

It catches the eye more than any other sphinx, because of its location and structure. The two structures were very well built, however due to the fact that the Sphinx in Las Vegas was built just a few years back, it gave the designers the chance to make the new structure more modern and appealing. They used the old structure of the Sphinx in Giza to create a more modernized copy of the old one. One of the major differences I notice about the two structure is the color and line.

The new object has more carvings in the face and body. You notice a shine to the Sphinx in Las Vegas, the colors and perfect carvings of the face and paws make it a perfect sculpture to look at. I chose the historical object of the Sphinx in Giza because it is unlike the pyramids, it was carved out of the living rock. It is an extraordinary object and one of the best know monuments in Egyptian architecture.

The Luxor hotel might of used the Sphinx in the entrance of the hotel, to bring visitors attention. Just by looking at the Taha 4 Sphinx in Las Vegas you sense Egypt, you think of all things in Egypt and that is what you perceive at the Luxor hotel. The Sphinx in Giza was a very popular and know monument, and for the Luxor Hotel to make an exact copy of it and even better brings lots of interest to the stunning Sphinx. The Sphinx in Las Vegas is the same culture as the Sphinx in Giza which is Egyptian. The characteristics of the face are the same as the pharaohs in Egypt thousands of years ago. The Sphinx was built mainly for decorative purposes and to bring attraction to the hotel.

It was copied off an earlier style to astonish people with a better and improved version of the older monument. Since the new monument of the sphinx looks very similar to the earlier one, most people know what it is and what culture it represents. The first time I looked at the Sphinx in Las Vegas I knew what culture and how similar it was to the older structure. The Luxor hotel and the sphinx in its entrance was built to show a different culture and theme from the rest of the hotels.

Another reason why the Sphinx might have been built in Las Vegas, could be because both cities are deserts and that makes it a perfect place to build the Luxor and the Sphinx. On the whole, both monuments are very fascinating and have special characteristics. For example, the size and design of it, the body of a Lion and Face of a Pharaoh represents the strength and power of the ruler. Both of the monuments were built for different reasons but they still represent the same culture.

The sphinx in Las Vegas was built for attraction and to represent the Sphinx in Giza and to signify the Egyptian culture. It was easy to compare the two because their so much a like, and at the same time have different purposes. Looking at a Sphinx at close range is an amazing Taha 5 experience. It is one of the most fascinating monuments you will ever look at, the size and magnificence of it will take your breath away.

So, Whenever you get the chance to see such an amazing monument do not forget to take lots of pictures.