Riddles of the Sphinx

The Great Sphinx is disappearing. It would not be the first time in its nearly 5,000-year history that the sands of Egypt have buried this wonder of the ancient world. But today the Sphinx confronts a threat far worse than being blanketed by dunes. The face of the mysterious pharaoh is being sand-blasted to oblivion, its lips, chin and nose eroded beyond recognition by strong winds. Birds are pecking away its eyes and ears to get at newly-formed calcium deposits while its limestone lion's body, dissolved into paste by rising saltwater and sewage, is also being shaken apart by the vibrations from planes, cars and construction work. Now, an international team of archaeologists, architects and engineers, led by Dr Zahi Hawass, are racing against the clock to save the Sphinx from doom. Ⓢ