The Message of the Sphinx

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

Graham Hancock and Robert Bauval

While my friend David calls them "Pyramidiots" I must confess a certain attraction to the theories these guys propose. Essentially, they boil down to a recognition of a number of fairly clear but frequently ignored facts:

	Because of the massive size of the blocks employed in the building of the monuments at Giza (the three pyramids, the Sphinx and their associated "temples"), they would require construction techniques clearly beyond the believed capabilities of 2500 BC, when they are supposed to have been erected;
	The alignment of the structures to the cardinal points of the compass to a degree of accuracy unmatched by contemporary structures and clearly unnecessary for their alleged purpose as tombs for kings required knowledge of astronomy and surveying techniques where were, again, beyond the capabilities of the time in which they were built;
	The layout of the structures follows a plan which seems to mimic on the ground a map of the heavens in that area of the sky known to be of significance to Egyptian religious beliefs;
	Weathering on the body of the Sphinx indicates significant precipitation-induced erosion, implying that it was carved at a time when Giza was not in the middle of a desert but received regular rainfall; a time that could not be any sooner than 5000 BC, and more likely at least 10,000 BC.

Hancock and Bauval propose that the evidence suggests that the commonly accepted chronology of Egypt is not consistent with the scientific evidence as observed at Giza. It is generally held that the dynastic period of Egypt -- associated with the pharaohs -- began about 3000 BC and grew out of a simple Stone Age culture incapable of any technological feats whatsoever. But the testimony of Giza begs otherwise.

The authors expose the closed-minded academic arrogance of the Egyptologist Elite who quiet any proposal or research which brings doubt on their theories of Egyptian history. Failing to understand astronomy, and in particular its influence on Egyptian religious beliefs, Egyptologists broad-brush ancient texts which clearly deal with astronomical observations as "primitive religious mumbo-jumbo."

If you're only going to read one book on this topic, this one might not be bad. You'll have to accept some of the arguments on their face value, as the book does not attempt to explain in detail the significance of certain pieces of the puzzle (for example, why it's no coincidence that the ratio of the circumference of the Great Pyramid to the circumference of the earth is exactly 1:43,200 -- and why 43,200 is not just a random number).

The premise of the book is that the Sphinx was built in 10,500 BC by an advanced culture with a knowledge of astronomy unmatched until 100 centuries later. The plan (if not the foundations) of the rest of the Geza necropolis was laid out by these ancient priests, said to be survivors of a great flood which destroyed their culture. The pyramids were then built circa 2500 BC to the earlier specifications, perhaps making use of techniques also specified in antiquity.

The implications of this theory are vast. They throw serious questions on our understanding of history and the evolution of culture and growth of scientific knowledge. This book is a "must read" for anyone seriously interested in history, astronomy, or anthropology.