OscarCatus on Egypt

The Egyptians were famous for any number of wonderful things, such as the pyramids, embalming, mummies, cat worship, and so on. In my reading I have come across a curious fact: many of the things associated with Egypt can also be found in other cultures around the world, although in some cases in slightly altered form.

One of the more famous of these Egyptian institutions is the Sphinx. (Contrary to what Carrie Pipperidge may say, the 'x' does not a plural make.) This impressive being of stone sits on the Giza plateau, guarding the pyramids and gazing forlornly across towards Cairo. A group of sphinxes is known as an avenue.

The Sphinx came in dreams to one of Egypt's phuture pharaohs, Thutmose IV, and begged him to dig it out of the sand. In those days Sphinxes were burrowing creatures and this one had gotten in over its head. It promised him phame and phortune and it must have delivered because there it is and there he was, the next pharaoh.

There are stories that the little emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and his army performed one of history's first nose jobs on the Sphinx. Now the Sphinx just sits and slyly winks. One has to wonder what he thinks. And according to Edgar Cayce, there is a secret chamber hidden under this creature that contains some interesting records that will soon be discovered. Now that should be exciting!

Egypt has an avenue of Sphinxes at Al Karnak, a sort of pre-Gallic Champs Élysées. I can just see the ancient Egyptians doing their shopping here, which was surely the place to be seen with your cat. Edgar Cayce did not mention a hall of records buried here. But I'm sure these Sphinxes saw their fill of interesting things.

The Greeks had Sphinxes too, but they took a different form. As OEdipus found out, you didn't have to wonder what a Greek Sphinx thinks. These Sphinges, which unlike their Egyptian counterparts were female on top, were famous for asking you riddles. You became Sphinx dinner if you didn't give the correct answer. OEdipus, being the hero that he was, happened to know "What walks on four legs in the morning, two legs in the afternoon, and three legs in the evening?" and this particular Sphinx was not at all pleased. However, a bargain is a bargain, and she had to eat crow.

A much less well-known example of this is the dreaded Manx Sphinx, from my own Isle of Man. Since this species is not often sighted, I have included here a rare photo of one recently captured and sent to me by a fan in Great Britain.

As you can see, it has similarities to the Egyptian Sphinx, with a ceremonial headdress, the head of a male, and a feline body. It is not quite as large as the Egyptian variety, which usually sports the body of a lion. (In this the Egyptian Sphinx also resembles the Piasa Bird, to which it is probably related.) And although it is difficult to see, this one has a tail, which proves it is not indigenous to the Isle of Man but is an import to which my race disavows all relationship.

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This page last updated 17 June 1998.

Copyright ©1998 by OscarCatus