Conspiracy Theories Revealed

The Great Pyramid without the capstone Egypt has long been the source of countless conspiracies, ranging from ancient lost civilizations to extraterrestrial markers. The reason for this focus is probably because Egypt is the most romanticized ancient civilization, and also because it is home to the mystical Great Pyramid of Giza, the only surviving Wonder of the Ancient World.

The following are some of the more popular conspiracy theories that have originated from Egypt:

Riddle of the Sphinx
Secret of the Pyramids
Illuminati Symbols : The Pyramid
Illuminati Symbols : The All-Seeing Eye

The Riddle of the Sphinx

Most of the conspiracy theories revolving around the Sphinx usually involve its age. The Sphinx is generally accepted to have been built along with the Pyramids of Giza around 2500 BC. It is even accepted that the face of the Sphinx bears the likeness of Khafre (Chephren), the Pharaoh during that time.

The eroded Sphinx However, there was no written record from that era regarding the Sphinx or its construction. In addition, the human head of the Sphinx is small in relation to the rest of the body, indicating that the head bearing Pharaoh Khafre's likeness could have been carved out of a larger lion's head. These points led some researchers to believe that the Sphinx could have been built much earlier by a more ancient civilization, thus starting a whole host of conspiracy theories.

Erosion marks on the Sphinx's side Geologist Dr. Robert Schoch and author John Anthony West made a case that the erosion marks on the Sphinx appears not to be made by wind or sand, but by water, such as falling rain. They used evidence of other structures in the Giza area to prove their point.

If this were true, the construction of the Sphinx could then be dated back to at least 5000 BC, when the area still received substantial rainfall, in contrast to desert conditions later on.

In his official website, Director of the Giza Monuments Dr. Zahi Hawass provides various points suggesting that the evidence used in proving Dr. Schoch's theory is flawed.

Adding to the conspiracies surrounding the age of the Sphinx, writers Graham Hancock and Robert Buvaul provide evidence in their book Message of the Sphinx that the creation of the Sphinx and Pyramids can be pushed back as far as 10,500 BC using astronomical data.

Secret of the Pyramids

The Pyramids of Giza have been the objects of many conspiracies over the years. Many people believe that the Pyramids are a link to an ancient lost civilization, and may still contain evidence to prove it. Many conspiracy theories regarding secret chambers and passageways within the pyramids exist to this day.

These conspiracy theories became even more widespread in 1993, when Dr. Zahi Hawass announced that the Great Pyramid of Khufu was to be closed to the public for a year. The reason given for the closure was to facilitate cleaning, conservation and restoration of the interior chambers in the Great Pyramid.

The pyramids at dusk However, conspiracy theorists believe that the Egyptian authorities had uncovered evidence of a lost civilization in the Pyramid, and were secretly excavating it to reveal more information.

The entrance into the Great Pyramid During the conservation process in 1993, robots were used to explore the small ventilation shafts leading from the "King's Chamber" and the lower "Queen's Chamber" in the Great Pyramid. An intriguing discovery was made: partway through the shafts of the "Queen's Chamber" were "doors" with handles.

In order to prove the transparency of their work and debunk any conspiracies, Dr. Zahi Hawass decided to partner with National Geographic to explore beyond the "doors", and provide a live telecast of the exploration to the rest of the world.

After much publicity, the expedition commenced, with footage telecast live around the world. During the last minute of the show, a camera was sent in a hole made in the "door" of the shaft, revealing another "door" behind it. And that was when the show finished. Conspiracy theories started sprouting, asking the following questions: What's behind the 2nd door? Why did the show end so abruptly? What are they hiding from us?

Illuminati Symbols : The Pyramid

In the late 18th century AD, a group of progressive freethinkers founded a secret society in Bavaria (part of modern-day Germany), calling themselves the Perfectibilists. Over the years, the secret society was called many things, one of which was the Order of the Illuminati.

The great seal on the $1 bill The Illuminati, together with their associates the Freemasons, have long supported science and opposed the restrictive reigns of the Christian Church. As such, they have often been branded as worshippers of the antichrist, and fuel doomsday conspiracies.

How they relate to Egypt is via Illuminati symbols. According to the conspiracies out there, the Illuminati still exist today, and subtly make their presence known via these Illuminati symbols, one of which is the Pyramid.

According to the conspiracy theories, these Illuminati symbols are everywhere, demonstrating the Illuminati's control over financial, education and political sectors worldwide. The most famous example of this is the Great Seal on the US$1 note.

Recently, author Dan Brown popularized the Illuminati and the symbolism of the Pyramid in his books Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci Code. In his books, he suggests that throughout the centuries, anti-church organizations have sought to extend their power over the church. They placed many Illuminati symbols throughout the land, including churches. These symbols include the Pyramid and various obelisks.

Adding to the conspiracies involving the Illuminati and the Pyramid, the recent millennial celebrations at Giza drew a lot of heat from conspiracy theorists. They believed that the Illuminati leaders would perform some dark rites within the Great Pyramid and usher in a dark age at the stroke of midnight of 31st Dec 1999. Well, nothing seems to have happened, as far as we know...

Illuminati Symbols : The All-Seeing Eye

The Eye of Horus represents the eye that the falcon-headed god Horus lost while battling the dark god Set. The symbol, composed of an eye with falcon-like facial designs, was used by the ancient Egyptians as a symbol of protection. It was also used as the Egyptians' system of measuring fractions.

However, just like the Pyramid, the Eye of Horus has become associated with the Illuminati conspiracies. These objects were used as Illuminati symbols because they represented something older and stronger than the church. As one of the Illuminati symbols, the Eye of Horus has evolved into what is known as the All-Seeing Eye.

The All-Seeing Eye is usually depicted as an eye surrounded by the glow of the sun, and sometimes encased in a pyramid. The most famous example is again the Great Seal on the US$1 note.

The All-Seeing Eye is commonly said to be the eye of the Christian God watching over us, but the conspiracies out there suggest that the Eye represents a "Big Brother" organization watching and controlling us.

Examples of the Eye and Pyramid in corporate logos The All-Seeing Eye is ever present throughout our daily lives. Many corporations sport the Eye (and sometimes the Pyramid) in their logos. The conspiracy theories assert that the Illuminati are in control of these organizations, and are constantly influencing us via business, television or the internet.

The next time you see any of these Illuminati symbols, it could very well mean that the Illuminati is trying to influence you. "Big Brother" is watching...