The Fissure at the Rear of the Great Sphinx - Émile Baraize (1920s)
Photograph showing the fissure at the rear of the Great Sphinx of Giza, documented during the excavations of Émile Baraize in the 1920s and published in Archives Lacau (2017).
The natural north–south limestone fissure running across the body of the Great Sphinx of Giza.
The limestone fissure was fully revealed and photographed during Émile Baraize’s excavations in the 1920s. The exposure showed that the rear of the Sphinx had been almost completely severed by weathering along this natural geological fracture. Shortly afterwards, the fissure was infilled as part of restoration works carried out on the monument.
Source: Archives Lacau, Centre Golenischeff, EPHE, PSL. "Black and White Photo 02496 from Egypt/Giza/Unspecified Sphinx Area 7". (2017) In ARCE Sphinx Project 1979-1983 Archive. Mark Lehner, Megan Flowers, Rebekah Miracle (Eds.). Released: 2017-12-23. Licensed under CC by 4.0