clipped from www.dailystaregypt.com

A thorough analysis of Ancient Egyptian history and examination of archaeological evidence indicate that there were two sphinxes on the Pyramids Plateau, an Egyptian researcher argues.

Egyptologist Bassam El Shammaa believes that the famed half-lion, half-man statue was an Egyptian deity that was erected next to another sphinx, which has since vanished without a trace. This contradicts what many have believed for centuries — that a single colossal statue functioned as a guard to the Pyramids.

The idea of two sphinxes is more in line with ancient Egyptian beliefs, which were mainly based on duality, the researcher said. He cited Ancient Egyptian records and mythology saying that lightening had destroyed part of the Sphinx. This may have been a reference to the second sphinx which was eliminated after a curse by the chief Egyptian deity.