The Great Sphinx: The Old Kingdom

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An important feature of the Old Kingdom is the Great Sphinx. It is one the biggest stone monument erected measuring 250 feet long by 70 feet high. The Great Sphinx depicts a creature with a human head and the body of a lion. This structure was designed with a temple built in front so people could come to worship the sun god. Other gigantic constructions were the pyramids. These enormous structures gave witness to the divinity of the rulers as well as protected their mummified bodies for their entrance into the afterlife. The Great Pyramid at Giza is the biggest of the pyramids built; it measures more than 480 feet high and each side is about 760 feet long in length. Another feature of the Old Kingdom was the development of Hieroglyphics. This …show more content…
Once this flooding ceased, the people were convinced that the king had angered their god Maat (goddess of truth, justice and cosmic order). There were power struggles among leading families of the northern and southern dynasties that eventually led to civil war. Governors within these regions took advantage of the fighting to strengthen their political power and gain independence for their districts. This time of unrest became known as the First Intermediate Period and destroyed any attempts at political unity. During the Second Intermediate Period, the kingdom was unable to stop foreign migrants from creating their own societies within Egypt. Known as Hyksos, these foreigners eventually took over and brought integrated their traditions into Egyptian culture. The Hyksos taught the Egyptians new musical instruments, introduced humpbacked cattle and olive trees, as well as instructed them in the art of bronze-making. Ultimately, Hyksos rulers helped to empower and strengthen Egypt’s military by introducing more war chariots and

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