2023-11-13 18:04:15
In Egypt there is a miracle that has defied the iron teeth of time for centuries. There are countless legends about him. This is none other than the Great Sphinx of Giza. The limestone colossus standing quietly beside the Great Pyramid has always raised questions about its origins and symbolism. Well, a recent study suggests that it may not be entirely human-made. A team of scientists from New York University replicated the conditions prevailing at the time of the Great Sphinx’s construction to show how wind moving against rock formations could have shaped one of the world’s most recognizable sculptures, although it is not known who or what may have removed the statue’s nose. This hypothesis, previously proposed by other geologists, has not yet been tested in a specific study. Scientists have focused on unusual rock formations in deserts created by wind-blown sand and dust. It is believed that the Great Sphinx may have originated from jardangen, which was later refined by humans in the form of a statue. A jardang is a surface formation formed by erosion from loose or solid sedimentary rocks (limestone, sandstone, mudstone, possibly crystalline shale and gneiss). To test this theory, harder, less erodible materials were coated with mounds of soft clay to mimic the northeast Egyptian terrain where the statue is located. Then, with a rapid flow of water (to imitate the wind), these formations were “worn down” and shaped, until finally a sphinx-like shape was obtained. As the material became stronger, the lion’s “head” was created, as well as many other features, such as the sunken “neck”, the outstretched forelimbs and the elegantly curved “back”. According to the authors of the study, published in the journal Physical Review Fluids, this suggests a possible origin story for how the sphinx-like formations could be created by erosion of the landscape. “Even today, there are jardangs that resemble animals when sitting or lying down, which supports our conclusions,” explained the researcher in a recent press release. “The work can also be useful for geologists, as it sheds light on the factors influencing rock formations, i.e. the fact that they are not homogeneous and have a non-uniform composition”.
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