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NARRATOR: Egypt,
the richest source
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of archaeological treasures
on the planet.
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MAN: Oh, whoa, look at that!
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NARRATOR: Hidden beneath
this desert landscape
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lie the secrets of
this ancient civilization.
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[man speaking native language]
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MAN: I never seen
something like this.
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NARRATOR: Now, for a full
season of excavations,
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our cameras have been given
unprecedented access
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00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:38,480
to follow teams on
the front line of archaeology.
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WOMAN: This is the most
critical moment.
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NARRATOR: Revealing
buried treasures.
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WOMAN: Oh!
MAN: We'’re lucky today.
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MAN: Wow! Lots of mummies.
WOMAN: The smell is horrible.
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NARRATOR:
And making discoveries
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that could rewrite
ancient history.
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MAN: We'’ve never had
the proof until now.
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WOMAN: This is where
it all started.
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MAN: My goodness,
I never expected this.
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[clapping]
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NARRATOR: This time,
archaeologists unravel
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the enigma of the Great Sphinx.
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MAN: It'’s the most iconic statue
anywhere in the world.
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NARRATOR: John goes where no
archaeologist has gone before.
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JOHN WARD: I'’m gonna be the
first man underneath this sphinx
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in 3,500 years.
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NARRATOR: Alejandro unearths
evidence of a crocodile cult.
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ALEJANDRO JIMEÉNEZ-SERRANO:
It'’s a challenge to explain
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why the crocodiles
were mummified.
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NARRATOR: And Jared discovers
a mummified dog.
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JARED CABALLO PEREZ:
It was a complete surprise
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to find something that
you don'’t really expect.
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♪
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♪
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NARRATOR:
The Great Sphinx of Giza,
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one of the most famous
monuments in the world.
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Egyptologists believe
it was built
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around the same time
as the Giza pyramids,
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4,500 years ago.
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This colossal statue has an animal'’s body and a human face.
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It'’s as enigmatic
as it is iconic.
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All over Egypt, archaeologists
are attempting to unravel
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the riddles of the Sphinx.
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Egyptologist Dr. Chris Naunton
is on a mission
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to unlock its most
controversial secret:
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whose face is carved on it?
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CHRIS NAUNTON: We can begin
to sort of imagine
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how this might have looked
in ancient times,
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and with that in mind,
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we can perhaps begin to compare
that face to known faces.
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NARRATOR: Chris thinks
the face was modeled
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on an ancient pharaoh.
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In the age of
the pyramid builders,
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the Sphinx had a delicate nose
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and was painted
in bright colors.
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But whose face is this?
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It could be King Khufu, who
also built the Great Pyramid.
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He had a square chin, like the Sphinx, but no one is sure.
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The only image archaeologists have of Khufu is a tiny statue.
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The Sphinx once had a beard,
just like Khufu'’s son, Khafre.
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When Khafre became pharaoh,
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he built the pyramid
directly behind the Sphinx.
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But the original beard
was lost during antiquity
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and another one added later.
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The identity of the face
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remains a secret
yet to be revealed.
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CHRIS: Trying to match faces
in Egyptian imagery
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is an inexact science.
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It seems to be that it'’s
a pharaoh of the fourth dynasty.
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Khafre'’s perhaps
the leading candidate.
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NARRATOR: The usual role
of an Egyptian sphinx
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is to protect a sacred site.
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If this is Khafre'’s sphinx,
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it'’s perfectly positioned
to guard his pyramid tomb.
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Chris must investigate clues
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to unravel more mysteries
of the Great Sphinx.
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400 miles south of Giza,
in Gebel El-Silsila...
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JOHN: Everybody here?
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MARIA NILSSON: I believe so.
We'’re late.
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NARRATOR: Husband and wife
archaeologists
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John Ward and Maria Nilsson
are on their way
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to investigate a site
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where the ancient Egyptians
created sphinx statues.
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But their commute along the
River Nile is slow to start.
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JOHN: The boat'’s not working.
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MARIA: It'’s coming.
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JOHN: Everybody send
positive vibes.
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MARIA: Ohh.
Come on, Abdullah.
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JOHN: By the time
we get on site,
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it will be at least 8 o'’clock,
so that'’s another hour lost.
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MAN: I knew it would happen.
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[motor starts]
MARIA: Yay!
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[clapping]
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JOHN: Ah, only 35 minutes late.
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NARRATOR: Every minute counts
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when they only have a limited
number of days for excavating.
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Last season, Maria and John
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found a sphinx statue
at this site.
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Unlike the Great Sphinx
at Giza,
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this statue has a ram'’s head.
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It'’s called a criosphinx.
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MARIA: Of course, what we see is
a raw state of a sculpture,
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but we got the head here,
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so the ram'’s face,
the ram'’s horn.
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The area in front
would most probably hold
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the statue of the ruling king.
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NARRATOR: The craftsmen
would carve out
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the sandstone criosphinx
right here in the quarry,
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before transporting it
to a sacred site.
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MARIA: Once it reached
the main destination,
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the artists would
continue the process
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of making it into its
fine details and final dressing.
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We have them guarding tombs
or other monuments.
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So in a simplified version,
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you can say that each sphinx
is a guard, it'’s a protector.
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NARRATOR: Maria believes
this sacred statue
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was built for
the Avenue of the Sphinxes,
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a road between the temples
of Luxor and Karnak,
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lined with ram-headed sphinxes,
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but for some unknown reason,
it didn'’t make the journey.
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It was never finished.
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Now Maria wants
to discover why.
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MARIA: Why was it left here?
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Why is this not sitting
at the Avenue of Sphinxes
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in modern day Luxor?
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We'’re hoping that
through this excavation,
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we will be able to solve
a little bit of the mystery
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of the sphinxes and
add to history in general.
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NARRATOR: A large rock
under the sphinx
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brings the investigation
to a halt.
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JOHN: Watch your toes, guys,
watch your toes.
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[men yelling]
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[all grunting]
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MARIA: You guys are amazing!
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[yelling]
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[cheering]
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NARRATOR: Now the rock is gone,
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they can see there'’s a gap
under the sphinx.
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MARIA: Anyone who watched
"Indiana Jones,"
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I'’m sure will understand the
excitement for an archaeologist
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when you suddenly see a hole.
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NARRATOR: Despite the danger,
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John wants to get
under the sphinx.
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JOHN: I'’m gonna be the first man
underneath this sphinx
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in 3,500 years.
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NARRATOR: 40 miles south,
near Aswan...
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at the ancient necropolis
of Qubbet el-Hawa,
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Professor
Alejandro Jiménez-Serrano
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heads one of the largest
foreign teams
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working in Egypt today.
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ALEJANDRO: During the last
11 years we have been excavating
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this huge complex of tombs
where the governors of
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the 12th dynasty were buried.
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NARRATOR: These burial chambers were built for the nobles
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governing southern Egypt,
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500 years after
the Sphinx was built.
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ALEJANDRO: We will see
what we will find.
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You never know what is
going to happen today,
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what we will find,
or which surprise we will have.
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NARRATOR:
Close to a cliff side,
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the team reports a skull
emerging from the sand...
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followed by a second.
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The huge jaws include
some teeth two inches long.
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RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ: At first,
we can only see this head only,
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and we was like,
"Wow, a crocodile, a crocodile."
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And then something
appeared here,
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and it was like, "Oh, my God,
there are two crocodiles."
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NARRATOR: The crocodiles are
an especially lucky find
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for Raquel Rodriguez.
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It'’s her first-ever
dig in Egypt.
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RAQUEL: I asked,
"Oh, this is something common?"
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And it was like, no, no, no,
this is the first crocodile
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that we'’ve seen in 11 years.
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So, I'’m very happy about it.
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NARRATOR: The crocodiles may be close to the River Nile,
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but this is not a natural nest.
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The bones have black marks;
the remains of skin and flesh.
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They are so well preserved,
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Alejandro thinks they
must have been mummified.
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ALEJANDRO:
It'’s a challenge to explain
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why the crocodiles
were mummified.
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NARRATOR: Mummified crocodiles
are an unusual find
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and have only ever
been unearthed
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at a small number
of sites in Egypt.
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They could be a sign of
a rare form of animal worship.
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As the team slowly unearths
more skeletons,
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they count 11 in total.
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And they'’re deteriorating--
all except one.
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ALEJANDRO: Unfortunately,
they are not in a good a state
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of preservation.
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But this one,
it is almost perfect.
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NARRATOR: The intact crocodile
is extremely fragile.
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They can'’t risk damaging it.
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Before they attempt to move it,
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they carefully extract the surrounding bone fragments.
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In the midday sun,
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the temperature is over
90 degrees Fahrenheit.
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It'’s hot and smelly work.
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RAQUEL: They say that
it smells gross.
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I'’m not smelling anything
because I'’ve got a cold,
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but they say it smells bad.
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NARRATOR: Now the crocodile
is exposed to the air and sun,
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it'’s rotting fast.
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Alejandro has to
get it out of here.
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NARRATOR: Raquel is working
with the team
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tasked with moving
the crocodile out of the sun.
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RAQUEL: It'’s scary, because it'’s
been there for a lot of years,
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and now you take it off
and you take the sand
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and what'’s covering it away,
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and the sun gets into it,
the oxygen, everything,
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so it'’s deteriorating
at each second that pass.
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So you need to work fast,
but not rush,
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because things can go bad and
you can destroy it completely.
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So, it'’s a tense situation.
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NARRATOR: They'’re finally ready to move the crocodile mummy.
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The main challenge is moving
the skeleton in one piece.
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ALEJANDRO: We basically are
following the same protocol
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that we use with
the human mummies.
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NARRATOR: The tail is not
well connected to the body
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00:12:00,520 --> 00:12:02,360
and could easily break off.
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ALEJANDRO: We are in
a very delicate moment,
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00:12:04,560 --> 00:12:08,440
because we want to put
the mummy of the crocodile
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on a wooden board
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in order to move the mummy
to the conservation lab.
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I'’m quite nervous now.
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MAN: Uno, dos, tres.
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NARRATOR: 100 miles north,
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00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:30,320
on the west bank of the Nile
at Luxor...
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00:12:30,320 --> 00:12:33,680
archaeologist
Professor Miguel Molinero
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is returning to
a 4,500-year-old necropolis
231
00:12:37,760 --> 00:12:40,440
near the Valley of the Kings.
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MIGUEL MOLINERO: My first season
working in Egypt
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was 32 years ago.
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So it'’s like coming home
every year, always fantastic.
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NARRATOR: Miguel'’s team is
from Tenerife, in Spain.
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00:12:56,400 --> 00:13:00,000
Last season,
they excavated a family tomb
237
00:13:00,000 --> 00:13:03,320
at a site called South Asasif.
238
00:13:03,320 --> 00:13:05,920
They unearthed
mummified remains,
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00:13:05,920 --> 00:13:10,080
but their dig permit ran out
before they could investigate.
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00:13:10,080 --> 00:13:12,320
MIGUEL: It always happens.
241
00:13:12,320 --> 00:13:15,480
The last day something new
appears that is exciting,
242
00:13:15,480 --> 00:13:18,640
but has to be kept there waiting
for us for the next season,
243
00:13:18,640 --> 00:13:21,040
and that'’s what happened
last year.
244
00:13:21,040 --> 00:13:24,240
NARRATOR: 26-year-old
Jared Carballo Pérez
245
00:13:24,240 --> 00:13:26,560
can'’t wait to
continue their dig.
246
00:13:26,560 --> 00:13:29,280
JARED: Egypt is quite addictive
in that sense,
247
00:13:29,280 --> 00:13:31,800
and it'’s always nice to be back,
to keep doing the work.
248
00:13:34,520 --> 00:13:36,680
NARRATOR: After an anxious
year-long wait,
249
00:13:36,680 --> 00:13:39,920
today is their first day
back on site.
250
00:13:39,920 --> 00:13:42,680
MIGUEL: We had to leave it
as it was found,
251
00:13:42,680 --> 00:13:45,680
because we did not have the time
to take it out carefully.
252
00:13:45,680 --> 00:13:48,320
NARRATOR: The team
covered the mummies
253
00:13:48,320 --> 00:13:52,040
in an attempt to
prevent deterioration.
254
00:13:52,040 --> 00:13:53,680
MIGUEL: Now we are anxious
255
00:13:53,680 --> 00:13:56,880
to see if the protection
has worked.
256
00:13:56,880 --> 00:14:01,320
We have been waiting one year
to see what happens inside.
257
00:14:04,240 --> 00:14:07,040
NARRATOR: There'’s a chance
they may have deteriorated
258
00:14:07,040 --> 00:14:10,320
over the past year.
259
00:14:10,320 --> 00:14:12,480
JARED: So we have
to be very careful.
260
00:14:12,480 --> 00:14:14,880
MIGUEL: Oh, so, yeah.
261
00:14:14,880 --> 00:14:16,440
Oh, perfect.
262
00:14:16,440 --> 00:14:18,480
They are well preserved.
263
00:14:18,480 --> 00:14:20,880
Oh, yes.
264
00:14:20,880 --> 00:14:24,040
NARRATOR: Now they can begin
their investigation.
265
00:14:24,040 --> 00:14:27,720
Two mummified human skeletons
still intact,
266
00:14:27,720 --> 00:14:31,720
and a third,
much smaller mummy.
267
00:14:31,720 --> 00:14:34,680
JARED: It was a complete
surprise to find something
268
00:14:34,680 --> 00:14:37,440
that you don'’t really expect.
269
00:14:37,440 --> 00:14:39,920
NARRATOR: As they look closer,
270
00:14:39,920 --> 00:14:43,280
they notice it'’s been embalmed
in a very strange way.
271
00:14:43,280 --> 00:14:45,560
There'’s just one layer
of bandage around the head,
272
00:14:45,560 --> 00:14:47,680
instead of three,
273
00:14:47,680 --> 00:14:51,240
and the limbs are wrapped
together, not separately.
274
00:14:51,240 --> 00:14:55,320
But it'’s the shape of the skull that'’s most surprising.
275
00:14:55,320 --> 00:14:57,440
JARED: First, by the shape,
276
00:14:57,440 --> 00:15:00,520
we thought it was a baby
that was abandoned,
277
00:15:00,520 --> 00:15:04,000
but then we started seeing
some features right there.
278
00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:06,520
By the teeth and
the shape of the bones,
279
00:15:06,520 --> 00:15:09,640
we can know it'’s
a mummified dog.
280
00:15:09,640 --> 00:15:15,000
NARRATOR: A mummified dog in a human tomb is highly unusual.
281
00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:17,880
JARED: As far as we know,
it'’s a very rare case,
282
00:15:17,880 --> 00:15:21,520
because we have found
a lot of dogs across Egypt,
283
00:15:21,520 --> 00:15:25,960
but they are not next
to the human bodies.
284
00:15:25,960 --> 00:15:28,240
NARRATOR: The discovery
may help shed light
285
00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:32,560
on the significance of animals
in ancient Egyptian belief.
286
00:15:32,560 --> 00:15:37,480
The dog could be a religious
offering to a particular god.
287
00:15:37,480 --> 00:15:39,720
According to
ancient Egyptian belief,
288
00:15:39,720 --> 00:15:43,640
dogs are associated
with the god Anubis.
289
00:15:43,640 --> 00:15:48,120
The jackal-headed Anubis
was the god of mummification.
290
00:15:50,880 --> 00:15:54,040
He weighed the heart of
the dead against a feather.
291
00:15:56,320 --> 00:16:00,080
If the heart was lighter,
the soul could enter heaven.
292
00:16:02,600 --> 00:16:06,240
But if it was heavier,
they were eaten by Ammit,
293
00:16:06,240 --> 00:16:08,520
the devourer of the dead.
294
00:16:11,400 --> 00:16:14,760
Depictions of Anubis would
often be present in tombs
295
00:16:14,760 --> 00:16:17,240
to offer protection
to the mummy.
296
00:16:19,680 --> 00:16:23,280
This mummified dog could be
an offering to Anubis,
297
00:16:23,280 --> 00:16:26,280
but there'’s something
that doesn'’t add up.
298
00:16:26,280 --> 00:16:28,080
MIGUEL: When we started
cleaning it,
299
00:16:28,080 --> 00:16:30,480
we found something very unusual.
300
00:16:30,480 --> 00:16:33,480
NARRATOR: They discover
a perplexing clue
301
00:16:33,480 --> 00:16:36,200
in the alignment
of the mummies.
302
00:16:41,840 --> 00:16:46,200
NARRATOR: In Qubbet el-Hawa,
archaeologists are racing
303
00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:49,040
to save a rare
mummified crocodile.
304
00:16:49,040 --> 00:16:51,480
Their discovery
may help demystify
305
00:16:51,480 --> 00:16:54,880
the ancient Egyptian practice
of animal worship.
306
00:16:54,880 --> 00:16:59,840
Could it also help explain
the purpose of animal statues,
307
00:16:59,840 --> 00:17:02,640
like the Great Sphinx?
308
00:17:02,640 --> 00:17:04,680
[chatter]
309
00:17:04,680 --> 00:17:07,760
Raquel and the team carefully
move the crocodile mummy
310
00:17:07,760 --> 00:17:09,840
to the laboratory.
311
00:17:09,840 --> 00:17:12,200
♪
312
00:17:18,800 --> 00:17:23,120
♪
313
00:17:23,120 --> 00:17:26,160
RAQUEL: We made it.
314
00:17:26,160 --> 00:17:31,440
We'’ve been working for three
hours and a half now in the sun,
315
00:17:31,440 --> 00:17:35,440
and it all came out
extremely, extremely well.
316
00:17:35,440 --> 00:17:37,720
I wasn'’t expecting this success.
317
00:17:39,560 --> 00:17:42,560
NARRATOR: The crocodile
survives its journey intact
318
00:17:42,560 --> 00:17:46,680
and can now be examined
in more detail.
319
00:17:46,680 --> 00:17:49,160
Alejandro is puzzled
320
00:17:49,160 --> 00:17:51,920
as to why these mummified
crocodiles are here.
321
00:17:51,920 --> 00:17:55,320
ALEJANDRO: It'’s something that
always happens in archaeology,
322
00:17:55,320 --> 00:17:59,120
surprises that, well, it'’s
a challenge to explain them.
323
00:17:59,120 --> 00:18:01,240
NARRATOR: There could be
a connection
324
00:18:01,240 --> 00:18:03,040
with a mysterious cult
325
00:18:03,040 --> 00:18:06,280
that worshipped
an ancient god called Sobek.
326
00:18:06,280 --> 00:18:09,120
ALEJANDRO: Sobek is always
represented as a crocodile.
327
00:18:09,120 --> 00:18:12,560
It'’s an animal that was living
on the banks of the Nile.
328
00:18:12,560 --> 00:18:14,840
It'’s related with the fertility
329
00:18:14,840 --> 00:18:18,160
that the river gave
to ancient Egypt.
330
00:18:18,160 --> 00:18:21,640
NARRATOR: Sobek was
the crocodile god
331
00:18:21,640 --> 00:18:25,520
who built the world and created the River Nile from his sweat.
332
00:18:25,520 --> 00:18:28,160
Ancient Egyptians
feared his power,
333
00:18:28,160 --> 00:18:32,960
but also revered him as
a protector and a healer.
334
00:18:32,960 --> 00:18:34,880
In some versions of the myth,
335
00:18:34,880 --> 00:18:37,840
when the god Osiris was
dismembered in a fight,
336
00:18:37,840 --> 00:18:40,120
Sobek gathered up
the body parts
337
00:18:40,120 --> 00:18:43,160
and put the god back together.
338
00:18:43,160 --> 00:18:47,120
Some wealthy Egyptians
bred pet crocodiles
339
00:18:47,120 --> 00:18:49,520
that they adorned with jewels
340
00:18:49,520 --> 00:18:52,960
and fed with fine food
and wine.
341
00:18:52,960 --> 00:18:54,880
When the crocodiles died,
342
00:18:54,880 --> 00:18:59,120
they were mummified and buried
as votive offerings to Sobek
343
00:18:59,120 --> 00:19:01,600
to ensure protection
in the after-life.
344
00:19:04,520 --> 00:19:07,240
But the existence
of a crocodile cult
345
00:19:07,240 --> 00:19:10,840
at Qubbet el-Hawa
is news to Alejandro.
346
00:19:10,840 --> 00:19:12,680
ALEJANDRO: As far as we know,
347
00:19:12,680 --> 00:19:17,760
there is no reference to the
worship of crocodiles in Aswan.
348
00:19:17,760 --> 00:19:21,160
NARRATOR: The discovery
challenges the idea
349
00:19:21,160 --> 00:19:23,640
that crocodile rituals
only happened
350
00:19:23,640 --> 00:19:26,400
in a small region of Egypt.
351
00:19:26,400 --> 00:19:29,440
It'’s further evidence that
the worship of animal gods
352
00:19:29,440 --> 00:19:31,520
wasn'’t just practiced
by pharaohs
353
00:19:31,520 --> 00:19:33,760
building sphinx statues.
354
00:19:33,760 --> 00:19:37,360
People all over Egypt
were making offerings
355
00:19:37,360 --> 00:19:41,160
to different animal gods
in the form of mummies.
356
00:19:41,160 --> 00:19:43,600
ALEJANDRO:
The popularity of Sobek
357
00:19:43,600 --> 00:19:46,240
was bigger than
we thought before.
358
00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:50,320
NARRATOR: Alejandro'’s team
looks for further evidence
359
00:19:50,320 --> 00:19:53,000
of a crocodile cult.
360
00:19:53,000 --> 00:19:56,360
If these animal mummies were
protecting a human burial,
361
00:19:56,360 --> 00:20:00,880
a tomb could be close by.
362
00:20:00,880 --> 00:20:06,080
[man speaking foreign language
over walkie-talkie]
363
00:20:06,080 --> 00:20:08,360
[Alejandro speaks
foreign language]
364
00:20:08,360 --> 00:20:11,600
ALEJANDRO: Two skulls
have been discovered.
365
00:20:11,600 --> 00:20:14,160
NARRATOR: Just yards
from the crocodile burial,
366
00:20:14,160 --> 00:20:18,720
Alejandro'’s team makes
an intriguing discovery.
367
00:20:18,720 --> 00:20:21,200
ALEJANDRO: Yes! [chuckles]
368
00:20:21,200 --> 00:20:25,320
NARRATOR: In the quarry
at Gebel El-Silsila,
369
00:20:25,320 --> 00:20:28,640
Maria and John
are investigating
370
00:20:28,640 --> 00:20:30,560
a ram-headed sphinx.
371
00:20:30,560 --> 00:20:32,840
Like the Sphinx at Giza,
372
00:20:32,840 --> 00:20:36,480
it could have been built
to protect a religious site.
373
00:20:36,480 --> 00:20:38,760
They'’re now looking
for evidence
374
00:20:38,760 --> 00:20:42,360
to explain why it was
abandoned unfinished.
375
00:20:42,360 --> 00:20:44,120
JOHN: I can'’t believe
I'’m putting my head
376
00:20:44,120 --> 00:20:46,360
underneath this bloody sphinx.
377
00:20:46,360 --> 00:20:49,440
She'’s actually sat on a stone.
378
00:20:49,440 --> 00:20:51,840
She'’s ready to lift.
379
00:20:51,840 --> 00:20:57,920
They'’ve quarried underneath her
to put a sledge in to lift her
380
00:20:57,920 --> 00:21:00,040
to get her out of here.
381
00:21:00,040 --> 00:21:02,280
NARRATOR:
John'’s discovery shows
382
00:21:02,280 --> 00:21:04,680
how the sphinx was
ready to be moved.
383
00:21:04,680 --> 00:21:06,760
So why did
the ancient Egyptians
384
00:21:06,760 --> 00:21:09,360
leave it here unfinished?
385
00:21:09,360 --> 00:21:13,320
Maria explores
the surrounding area
386
00:21:13,320 --> 00:21:16,360
for an explanation as to
why the Egyptians gave up
387
00:21:16,360 --> 00:21:19,600
on the protective powers
of this sphinx.
388
00:21:21,680 --> 00:21:24,720
MARIA: Well, we'’re looking
for more clues.
389
00:21:24,720 --> 00:21:27,520
If they painted something,
if they'’ve written something,
390
00:21:27,520 --> 00:21:31,200
if they'’ve given us
any form of clue.
391
00:21:33,200 --> 00:21:36,520
Do you see a red mark there,
painted?
392
00:21:36,520 --> 00:21:40,000
NARRATOR: The red markings
are on a nearby plinth,
393
00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:43,120
but they'’re too faint
to decipher.
394
00:21:43,120 --> 00:21:47,800
Maria needs to get photos
for close-up analysis.
395
00:21:47,800 --> 00:21:50,480
MARIA: I'’m gonna sneak
carefully behind here
396
00:21:50,480 --> 00:21:53,560
and try not to get
the entire wall behind me,
397
00:21:53,560 --> 00:21:56,560
which is about four meters
of spoil just packed up,
398
00:21:56,560 --> 00:21:58,800
try not to collapse it
on top of me.
399
00:21:58,800 --> 00:22:01,040
So, wish me luck.
400
00:22:01,040 --> 00:22:04,200
NARRATOR: Maria'’s mission
is a dangerous one.
401
00:22:04,200 --> 00:22:07,440
Loose rocks are piled
next to the stone.
402
00:22:07,440 --> 00:22:11,880
If she'’s unlucky, one false step could trigger a landslide.
403
00:22:16,160 --> 00:22:20,680
400 miles north,
at the Great Sphinx...
404
00:22:20,680 --> 00:22:23,480
the ancient Egyptians
believed many animal gods
405
00:22:23,480 --> 00:22:26,240
had divine powers to protect.
406
00:22:26,240 --> 00:22:29,480
If it was King Khafre
who commissioned the Sphinx,
407
00:22:29,480 --> 00:22:33,480
he wanted to harness
that power for himself.
408
00:22:33,480 --> 00:22:37,360
CHRIS: The Great Sphinx is
one of the great icons of Egypt.
409
00:22:37,360 --> 00:22:41,360
You could argue it'’s perhaps
the most iconic statue
410
00:22:41,360 --> 00:22:46,280
anywhere in the world,
but it remains an enigma.
411
00:22:46,280 --> 00:22:50,600
NARRATOR: Chris searches for
evidence of how it was built.
412
00:22:50,600 --> 00:22:55,040
The ancient Egyptians carved
the Sphinx from limestone,
413
00:22:55,040 --> 00:22:59,080
and it'’s a match with
the surrounding bedrock.
414
00:22:59,080 --> 00:23:02,640
CHRIS: The Sphinx wasn'’t built
in an empty space.
415
00:23:02,640 --> 00:23:05,320
It was cut out of solid bedrock.
416
00:23:05,320 --> 00:23:08,600
So you have to try to imagine,
where we'’re standing now,
417
00:23:08,600 --> 00:23:11,880
until the ancient Egyptians
came along, was solid bedrock.
418
00:23:11,880 --> 00:23:16,040
NARRATOR: The Great Sphinx
wasn'’t built with stone
419
00:23:16,040 --> 00:23:18,560
from remote quarries.
420
00:23:18,560 --> 00:23:21,880
It was carved out
of the Giza landscape.
421
00:23:21,880 --> 00:23:24,360
CHRIS: In order
to create this sphinx,
422
00:23:24,360 --> 00:23:26,840
the Egyptians first
have to kind of free it
423
00:23:26,840 --> 00:23:28,760
from the natural rock,
424
00:23:28,760 --> 00:23:32,920
and they did that by creating
a kind of quarry around it,
425
00:23:32,920 --> 00:23:36,520
and they just left some
of the living, natural rock
426
00:23:36,520 --> 00:23:38,360
in the center,
427
00:23:38,360 --> 00:23:40,560
which they then cut into
the shape of the sphinx.
428
00:23:40,560 --> 00:23:44,360
NARRATOR: Chris has discovered
how the Sphinx was built,
429
00:23:44,360 --> 00:23:48,440
but he still wants to solve the mystery of its animal form.
430
00:23:54,320 --> 00:23:59,320
NARRATOR: The Great Sphinx is
a human-lion hybrid.
431
00:23:59,320 --> 00:24:02,520
CHRIS: Here, you get such
a strong sense of the fact
432
00:24:02,520 --> 00:24:05,040
that it'’s the body of the lion
433
00:24:05,040 --> 00:24:09,960
that conveys that kind of sense
of strength and power.
434
00:24:09,960 --> 00:24:13,600
From this angle in particular,
the forelegs of the lion
435
00:24:13,600 --> 00:24:16,720
and these massive paws
are absolutely huge.
436
00:24:16,720 --> 00:24:20,800
It'’s difficult to imagine
a statue that has a human body
437
00:24:20,800 --> 00:24:25,160
having that same idea of
strength and ferocity of a lion.
438
00:24:27,800 --> 00:24:31,040
NARRATOR: Ancient Egyptians
feared and revered lions
439
00:24:31,040 --> 00:24:33,120
in equal measure.
440
00:24:33,120 --> 00:24:36,640
CHRIS: The lion is
the embodiment of a goddess,
441
00:24:36,640 --> 00:24:40,240
Sekhmet, who in
a particular Egyptian myth
442
00:24:40,240 --> 00:24:44,400
wreaks death and
destruction on mankind.
443
00:24:44,400 --> 00:24:46,520
NARRATOR:
According to the myth,
444
00:24:46,520 --> 00:24:48,640
the sun god Ra was furious
445
00:24:48,640 --> 00:24:51,280
humans were turning
against him.
446
00:24:51,280 --> 00:24:53,680
He summoned his daughter,
Sekhmet,
447
00:24:53,680 --> 00:24:56,080
the lion-faced goddess
of destruction,
448
00:24:56,080 --> 00:24:58,560
to teach them a lesson.
449
00:24:58,560 --> 00:25:00,880
Sekhmet went on a killing spree
450
00:25:00,880 --> 00:25:04,760
until the Nile
ran red with blood.
451
00:25:04,760 --> 00:25:08,760
Ra was worried his daughter
would wipe out all humanity.
452
00:25:08,760 --> 00:25:11,800
So he used a trick to stop her.
453
00:25:11,800 --> 00:25:16,800
He poured 7,000 jugs of
red-tinted beer onto Earth.
454
00:25:16,800 --> 00:25:21,480
After Sekhmet drank it,
she passed out for three days.
455
00:25:21,480 --> 00:25:24,120
When she woke up,
she had been transformed
456
00:25:24,120 --> 00:25:27,240
into the benevolent god Hathor,
457
00:25:27,240 --> 00:25:31,320
and humankind was saved.
458
00:25:31,320 --> 00:25:35,040
Egyptian gods,
like the sun goddess Sekhmet,
459
00:25:35,040 --> 00:25:38,720
are often portrayed as humans
with animal heads.
460
00:25:38,720 --> 00:25:41,520
But the Sphinx is
the other way around;
461
00:25:41,520 --> 00:25:44,920
a human head on a lion'’s body.
462
00:25:44,920 --> 00:25:47,920
Chris thinks whichever pharaoh
built this statue,
463
00:25:47,920 --> 00:25:51,200
he had ambitions to embody
the power of the divine,
464
00:25:51,200 --> 00:25:53,680
and present himself as a god.
465
00:25:53,680 --> 00:25:56,200
CHRIS: The Egyptians
looked all around them,
466
00:25:56,200 --> 00:25:58,720
all around the natural world,
for their inspiration,
467
00:25:58,720 --> 00:26:01,160
and that'’s exactly
what you'’ve got here.
468
00:26:01,160 --> 00:26:05,000
This great, mighty,
powerful animal, the lion,
469
00:26:05,000 --> 00:26:09,040
as a kind of a symbol
of the king and of kingship.
470
00:26:09,040 --> 00:26:13,040
NARRATOR: The Sphinx wasn'’t
just a spiritual guardian.
471
00:26:13,040 --> 00:26:15,880
Its creator may have wanted
to project himself
472
00:26:15,880 --> 00:26:18,720
as the protector
of the Egyptian people.
473
00:26:18,720 --> 00:26:23,200
Or is there an even grander
purpose for the Sphinx?
474
00:26:23,200 --> 00:26:26,920
Chris explores the remains
of an ancient temple
475
00:26:26,920 --> 00:26:29,160
at the Sphinx'’s feet.
476
00:26:32,080 --> 00:26:34,960
300 miles south in Luxor,
477
00:26:34,960 --> 00:26:39,520
at a site built over 500 years
after the Sphinx,
478
00:26:39,520 --> 00:26:43,040
Miguel and Jared are faced
with another riddle.
479
00:26:43,040 --> 00:26:46,840
They'’ve discovered intriguing
evidence of a different animal
480
00:26:46,840 --> 00:26:50,880
also considered sacred
by ancient Egyptians.
481
00:26:50,880 --> 00:26:54,520
They'’re trying to understand
why this mummified dog
482
00:26:54,520 --> 00:26:58,920
was buried in a family tomb
with two human mummies.
483
00:26:58,920 --> 00:27:02,720
JARED: The dog, curiously,
has been put on top of the legs
484
00:27:02,720 --> 00:27:05,480
of these two individuals.
485
00:27:05,480 --> 00:27:08,000
NARRATOR: According to
Egyptian belief,
486
00:27:08,000 --> 00:27:11,080
dogs are a living
representation of Anubis,
487
00:27:11,080 --> 00:27:13,640
the god of the after-life.
488
00:27:13,640 --> 00:27:17,640
This dog may be mummified
as an offering to Anubis,
489
00:27:17,640 --> 00:27:20,840
in the hope of his protection
in the after-life.
490
00:27:20,840 --> 00:27:23,240
But there'’s a problem.
491
00:27:23,240 --> 00:27:26,840
JARED: Normally animal mummies
are buried and separated
492
00:27:26,840 --> 00:27:29,480
from the human mummies.
493
00:27:29,480 --> 00:27:32,200
NARRATOR:
Miguel has another idea.
494
00:27:32,200 --> 00:27:34,920
MIGUEL: He'’s buried on
the feet of two mummies,
495
00:27:34,920 --> 00:27:37,440
one female and one male.
496
00:27:37,440 --> 00:27:40,000
So we think it was
the owners of the dog
497
00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:44,960
and they wanted to keep her
company for the after-life.
498
00:27:44,960 --> 00:27:49,760
JARED: It could be a pet
instead of an offering to a god.
499
00:27:49,760 --> 00:27:52,880
NARRATOR: If the mummified dog
is a family pet,
500
00:27:52,880 --> 00:27:55,240
it would be a rare discovery.
501
00:27:55,240 --> 00:27:59,160
JARED: We know there were pets
in the past in ancient Egypt.
502
00:27:59,160 --> 00:28:00,800
It'’s not something as common
503
00:28:00,800 --> 00:28:04,760
as it is as a concept
in modern times.
504
00:28:04,760 --> 00:28:08,360
NARRATOR: Miguel searches
for further evidence
505
00:28:08,360 --> 00:28:10,400
to confirm the dog was a pet,
506
00:28:10,400 --> 00:28:13,440
and discovers
an intriguing inscription
507
00:28:13,440 --> 00:28:16,520
identifying the owner
of the tomb.
508
00:28:16,520 --> 00:28:20,840
At the man'’s feet is a pet dog.
509
00:28:20,840 --> 00:28:24,280
MIGUEL: He is sitting on a chair
with an offering table
510
00:28:24,280 --> 00:28:27,160
in front of him and his dog,
whose name is Heken,
511
00:28:27,160 --> 00:28:29,160
below the chair.
512
00:28:29,160 --> 00:28:32,360
NARRATOR: Miguel and Jared
believe the inscription is key
513
00:28:32,360 --> 00:28:37,040
to understanding the mystery
of the mummified dog, Heken.
514
00:28:37,040 --> 00:28:40,120
The people in this tomb
wanted their beloved dog
515
00:28:40,120 --> 00:28:44,960
buried with them to ensure it
joined them in the after-life.
516
00:28:44,960 --> 00:28:47,520
JARED: It was kind of
touching to find.
517
00:28:47,520 --> 00:28:51,200
As modern humans, it'’s something
you can really relate
518
00:28:51,200 --> 00:28:53,960
when you have a pet.
519
00:28:56,040 --> 00:28:59,560
NARRATOR: 100 miles south
near Aswan,
520
00:28:59,560 --> 00:29:03,840
Alejandro'’s team has found two
human skulls just yards away
521
00:29:03,840 --> 00:29:07,920
from where they discovered
11 mummified crocodiles.
522
00:29:07,920 --> 00:29:10,000
ALEJANDRO: Another skull.
523
00:29:10,000 --> 00:29:13,400
So we have now
three individuals.
524
00:29:13,400 --> 00:29:16,280
NARRATOR: Alejandro
wants to investigate
525
00:29:16,280 --> 00:29:18,360
the intriguing connection,
526
00:29:18,360 --> 00:29:21,680
but he'’s under pressure
to excavate first.
527
00:29:21,680 --> 00:29:23,760
It'’s the hottest
part of the day,
528
00:29:23,760 --> 00:29:28,520
and the skulls could crack
in the 90-degree heat.
529
00:29:28,520 --> 00:29:30,400
ALEJANDRO: We have always
toilet paper,
530
00:29:30,400 --> 00:29:33,320
but not only for
natural reasons,
531
00:29:33,320 --> 00:29:36,320
but also for research.
[laughs]
532
00:29:36,320 --> 00:29:38,840
NARRATOR: They spray
the toilet paper with water
533
00:29:38,840 --> 00:29:40,960
and apply it to the skulls.
534
00:29:40,960 --> 00:29:42,600
It'’s an emergency measure
535
00:29:42,600 --> 00:29:46,160
to keep them moist
before they are excavated.
536
00:29:46,160 --> 00:29:50,720
Alejandro looks for clues
to explain why the skulls
537
00:29:50,720 --> 00:29:53,760
are so close to
the mummified crocodiles.
538
00:29:53,760 --> 00:29:57,960
He discovers that one is
the skull of a young boy,
539
00:29:57,960 --> 00:30:00,560
and as the team excavates,
540
00:30:00,560 --> 00:30:04,200
something fascinating
emerges with it.
541
00:30:04,200 --> 00:30:07,640
ALEJANDRO: The coffin is
an empty timber
542
00:30:07,640 --> 00:30:11,520
where they put
the children inside.
543
00:30:11,520 --> 00:30:13,840
NARRATOR: The social status
of a person
544
00:30:13,840 --> 00:30:15,880
was reflected in their burial.
545
00:30:15,880 --> 00:30:18,560
The tree trunk coffin
is convincing evidence
546
00:30:18,560 --> 00:30:21,320
this boy was poor.
547
00:30:21,320 --> 00:30:26,280
ALEJANDRO: This boy was, uh,
had the honor to be buried here
548
00:30:26,280 --> 00:30:32,000
in Qubbet el-Hawa,
but was not part of the elite.
549
00:30:32,000 --> 00:30:34,560
NARRATOR: Only wealthy
ancient Egyptians
550
00:30:34,560 --> 00:30:36,920
could afford
mummified crocodiles,
551
00:30:36,920 --> 00:30:40,160
a religious offering
to the god Sobek.
552
00:30:40,160 --> 00:30:43,760
It'’s a puzzle why this
apparently poor boy
553
00:30:43,760 --> 00:30:47,680
might be part of
a crocodile cult.
554
00:30:51,800 --> 00:30:54,440
NARRATOR: Alejandro
looks for answers
555
00:30:54,440 --> 00:30:56,760
to explain the boy'’s grave.
556
00:30:56,760 --> 00:30:59,320
The team doesn'’t just
unearth skulls,
557
00:30:59,320 --> 00:31:02,040
they uncover three skeletons.
558
00:31:02,040 --> 00:31:04,320
And the bone structure
of the second one
559
00:31:04,320 --> 00:31:06,720
indicates it'’s a female.
560
00:31:06,720 --> 00:31:10,000
It'’s buried with
something interesting.
561
00:31:10,000 --> 00:31:13,640
ALEJANDRO: During the excavation
of individual number two,
562
00:31:13,640 --> 00:31:16,800
it appeared
this interesting amulet.
563
00:31:16,800 --> 00:31:19,520
NARRATOR: The jewelry is
in the shape of Bes,
564
00:31:19,520 --> 00:31:23,160
the god of childbirth, who was
popular with Egypt'’s poor.
565
00:31:23,160 --> 00:31:27,720
The female skeleton was also
buried with something else.
566
00:31:27,720 --> 00:31:30,160
ALEJANDRO:
And beside this skeleton,
567
00:31:30,160 --> 00:31:34,280
we have the burial of a baby.
568
00:31:34,280 --> 00:31:37,000
NARRATOR: Infant mortality
was tragically high
569
00:31:37,000 --> 00:31:38,960
in ancient Egypt.
570
00:31:38,960 --> 00:31:42,920
Only one child in two
lived past adolescence.
571
00:31:42,920 --> 00:31:47,840
ALEJANDRO: It'’s always sad when
you find these kind of burials.
572
00:31:47,840 --> 00:31:49,880
[sighs]
573
00:31:49,880 --> 00:31:53,280
NARRATOR: The skeletons are
stacked on top of each other.
574
00:31:53,280 --> 00:31:56,240
It'’s another clue
this was a shared tomb
575
00:31:56,240 --> 00:31:59,040
for a non-elite family.
576
00:31:59,040 --> 00:32:03,640
It could help explain why they
were buried near crocodiles
577
00:32:03,640 --> 00:32:07,240
in a necropolis
reserved for the rich.
578
00:32:07,240 --> 00:32:10,360
ALEJANDRO: Sometimes it was
very important for the people
579
00:32:10,360 --> 00:32:14,800
to be buried here
beside their master.
580
00:32:14,800 --> 00:32:17,480
NARRATOR: They could be
favored servants.
581
00:32:17,480 --> 00:32:22,320
ALEJANDRO: It'’s not the quality
of the funerary equipment
582
00:32:22,320 --> 00:32:24,080
that you might have.
583
00:32:24,080 --> 00:32:25,840
In certain ways it'’s much better
584
00:32:25,840 --> 00:32:28,360
to buried beside
an important person,
585
00:32:28,360 --> 00:32:30,560
because you can benefit
from the offerings
586
00:32:30,560 --> 00:32:32,920
that he is going to receive.
587
00:32:32,920 --> 00:32:35,280
NARRATOR: If these servants
were getting the protection
588
00:32:35,280 --> 00:32:36,760
of the mummified crocodiles,
589
00:32:36,760 --> 00:32:40,160
their rich masters
could be close by.
590
00:32:40,160 --> 00:32:45,280
The hunt for a wealthy tomb
filled with treasure is on.
591
00:32:47,440 --> 00:32:50,680
As the team searches
the surrounding area,
592
00:32:50,680 --> 00:32:53,480
it'’s not long
before they unearth
593
00:32:53,480 --> 00:32:56,440
a mysterious gap in the rock.
594
00:32:56,440 --> 00:32:58,240
ALEJANDRO: It seems
that it'’s another tomb.
595
00:32:58,240 --> 00:33:00,480
MAN: Good, good.
596
00:33:02,640 --> 00:33:06,040
NARRATOR: In the quarry
at Gebel El-Silsila,
597
00:33:06,040 --> 00:33:09,560
Maria is looking
for clues to explain
598
00:33:09,560 --> 00:33:13,800
why a ram-headed sphinx
was left abandoned.
599
00:33:13,800 --> 00:33:17,480
MARIA: We got a series
of symbols or text
600
00:33:17,480 --> 00:33:21,720
that we still haven'’t been able
to decode in a simple way.
601
00:33:21,720 --> 00:33:24,920
It'’s very difficult
to work there
602
00:33:24,920 --> 00:33:27,200
because of the risk
of this collapsing.
603
00:33:27,200 --> 00:33:29,600
JOHN: Well, I wanted to go
down there, but my...
604
00:33:29,600 --> 00:33:31,720
MARIA: No, we can'’t.
It'’s not safe.
605
00:33:31,720 --> 00:33:33,120
JOHN: I'’m frightened of this.
606
00:33:33,120 --> 00:33:34,600
MARIA: No, no, no,
it'’s not safe.
607
00:33:34,600 --> 00:33:37,600
JOHN: If this comes down.
Go on.
608
00:33:39,680 --> 00:33:43,800
NARRATOR: At a safer location,
Maria uses computer software
609
00:33:43,800 --> 00:33:46,520
to enhance the colors
of the ancient graffiti.
610
00:33:46,520 --> 00:33:50,160
She begins to see
something incredible.
611
00:33:50,160 --> 00:33:52,280
MARIA: It is amazing.
612
00:33:52,280 --> 00:33:54,520
We actually have a face here.
613
00:33:54,520 --> 00:33:58,480
It'’s a long snout,
so the eye is emphasized,
614
00:33:58,480 --> 00:34:00,480
and these, they'’re teeth.
615
00:34:00,480 --> 00:34:02,520
We have a crocodile face.
616
00:34:02,520 --> 00:34:05,080
NARRATOR:
As Maria looks closer,
617
00:34:05,080 --> 00:34:07,400
she discovers
it'’s not a crocodile,
618
00:34:07,400 --> 00:34:10,320
but something
even more intriguing.
619
00:34:10,320 --> 00:34:13,640
MARIA: It is indeed
a line of the belly,
620
00:34:13,640 --> 00:34:18,120
and that tells me one thing:
this is the hippopotamus body.
621
00:34:18,120 --> 00:34:22,320
NARRATOR: She identifies
the enigmatic drawing.
622
00:34:22,320 --> 00:34:26,360
It'’s Taweret,
the hippopotamus goddess.
623
00:34:26,360 --> 00:34:30,280
Taweret was the principal
female deity at this quarry,
624
00:34:30,280 --> 00:34:34,680
and was often cast
in the role of protectress.
625
00:34:34,680 --> 00:34:38,680
Egyptians prayed to Taweret
to keep them safe from harm,
626
00:34:38,680 --> 00:34:42,000
and Maria believes a quarry
worker drew this sketch.
627
00:34:42,000 --> 00:34:45,960
MARIA: It'’s not
a royal official stela
628
00:34:45,960 --> 00:34:48,040
dedicated to this goddess.
629
00:34:48,040 --> 00:34:50,440
This is a personal wish
630
00:34:50,440 --> 00:34:53,680
to be safe-kept and
protected from mishaps.
631
00:34:53,680 --> 00:34:57,760
NARRATOR: The laborer asked
Taweret for protection.
632
00:34:57,760 --> 00:35:02,000
Work here was dangerous,
and life expectancy short.
633
00:35:02,000 --> 00:35:04,360
MARIA: They wanted to be safe.
634
00:35:04,360 --> 00:35:06,760
This, for me, is like
shaking the ancients
635
00:35:06,760 --> 00:35:09,120
directly in their hands.
636
00:35:09,120 --> 00:35:12,360
Regardless of all the
technologies that we have today
637
00:35:12,360 --> 00:35:14,280
and how much the world
has evolved,
638
00:35:14,280 --> 00:35:16,480
we'’re still looking for safety.
639
00:35:16,480 --> 00:35:19,840
We still want to be keeping
our families safe and protected
640
00:35:19,840 --> 00:35:22,960
and to be able to see
yet another day.
641
00:35:22,960 --> 00:35:25,440
NARRATOR: Maria
investigates further.
642
00:35:25,440 --> 00:35:27,640
She needs to date
this inscription.
643
00:35:27,640 --> 00:35:30,600
MARIA: This mentions
the year 34,
644
00:35:30,600 --> 00:35:33,160
the opening of this quarry.
645
00:35:33,160 --> 00:35:35,160
So it gives us the clue
646
00:35:35,160 --> 00:35:38,960
it'’s the end of the reign
of Amenhotep III.
647
00:35:38,960 --> 00:35:41,600
NARRATOR:
Amenhotep III ruled Egypt
648
00:35:41,600 --> 00:35:45,520
during the New Kingdom era,
over 3,000 years ago.
649
00:35:45,520 --> 00:35:51,000
His son, Amenhotep IV,
revolutionized Egypt.
650
00:35:51,000 --> 00:35:54,160
He banned the worship
of multiple gods--
651
00:35:54,160 --> 00:35:57,280
all the animal deities,
like Taweret the hippo,
652
00:35:57,280 --> 00:35:58,960
Sobek the crocodile,
653
00:35:58,960 --> 00:36:02,080
and even the mighty
Sekhmet, the lion.
654
00:36:02,080 --> 00:36:06,360
Amenhotep worshipped just one:
the sun god Aten.
655
00:36:06,360 --> 00:36:10,000
He declared himself the representative of Aten on Earth
656
00:36:10,000 --> 00:36:13,040
and changed his name
to Akhen-aten.
657
00:36:15,200 --> 00:36:18,200
Maria thinks
the inscription is a clue
658
00:36:18,200 --> 00:36:20,880
to why the sphinx they found
here in the quarry
659
00:36:20,880 --> 00:36:22,440
was abandoned.
660
00:36:22,440 --> 00:36:24,800
MARIA: We know that
Akhen-aten broke off
661
00:36:24,800 --> 00:36:28,560
from the state religion,
but still we have the production
662
00:36:28,560 --> 00:36:33,040
of these beasts at a time when
he starts to get into power.
663
00:36:33,040 --> 00:36:36,040
Maybe it was that they were
abandoned here on site
664
00:36:36,040 --> 00:36:38,640
because he came to power.
665
00:36:38,640 --> 00:36:40,920
NARRATOR: Akhen-aten
instructed the workers
666
00:36:40,920 --> 00:36:44,280
to down tools on this sphinx.
667
00:36:44,280 --> 00:36:48,080
MARIA: What we know is
we had Amenhotep III here.
668
00:36:48,080 --> 00:36:51,720
When Akhen-aten turned from
Amenhotep IV to Akhen-aten,
669
00:36:51,720 --> 00:36:53,920
he destroyed everything.
670
00:36:53,920 --> 00:36:56,040
This site wasn'’t used again.
671
00:36:59,040 --> 00:37:02,880
NARRATOR: In Aswan,
at Qubbet el-Hawa,
672
00:37:02,880 --> 00:37:06,480
before Alejandro'’s team
can enter the tomb,
673
00:37:06,480 --> 00:37:09,480
they must first excavate
the entrance.
674
00:37:09,480 --> 00:37:11,600
But it'’s perched
dangerously close
675
00:37:11,600 --> 00:37:14,120
to the edge of a steep cliff.
676
00:37:14,120 --> 00:37:16,880
The soft rock crumbles away.
677
00:37:16,880 --> 00:37:19,920
An accident could
easily happen.
678
00:37:19,920 --> 00:37:24,320
ALEJANDRO: We need to take care
of our every step that we make.
679
00:37:26,920 --> 00:37:30,560
NARRATOR: Finally,
they access the entrance,
680
00:37:30,560 --> 00:37:32,400
and there'’s a promising sign
681
00:37:32,400 --> 00:37:34,760
they'’re on the verge
of a huge discovery.
682
00:37:34,760 --> 00:37:39,000
ALEJANDRO: We have just
discovered that the tomb
683
00:37:39,000 --> 00:37:44,720
is intact because the stones
are sealing the door.
684
00:37:44,720 --> 00:37:48,880
NARRATOR: It means tomb robbers haven'’t beaten Alejandro to it.
685
00:37:48,880 --> 00:37:50,920
ALEJANDRO: Fingers crossed
686
00:37:50,920 --> 00:37:53,920
to know if we are
going to be lucky.
687
00:38:00,000 --> 00:38:03,760
NARRATOR: Alejandro explores
the untouched tomb.
688
00:38:03,760 --> 00:38:08,160
ALEJANDRO: Here there is
something that is quite strange.
689
00:38:08,160 --> 00:38:12,320
NARRATOR:
Two coffins lie inside,
690
00:38:12,320 --> 00:38:14,880
but it'’s disappointing news.
691
00:38:14,880 --> 00:38:18,920
Termites have got
in there first.
692
00:38:18,920 --> 00:38:22,080
ALEJANDRO: We have these kind
of days in the excavation.
693
00:38:22,080 --> 00:38:24,000
What a pity.
694
00:38:24,000 --> 00:38:25,840
NARRATOR:
Termites are a problem
695
00:38:25,840 --> 00:38:27,600
worse than tomb robbers.
696
00:38:27,600 --> 00:38:30,000
They destroy coffins.
697
00:38:30,000 --> 00:38:32,960
Just before Alejandro
gives up hope,
698
00:38:32,960 --> 00:38:35,600
he notices another chamber.
699
00:38:35,600 --> 00:38:37,520
ALEJANDRO: Oh, it'’s amazing!
700
00:38:38,880 --> 00:38:40,640
NARRATOR: And fortunately,
701
00:38:40,640 --> 00:38:43,960
the termites haven'’t
destroyed what'’s inside.
702
00:38:43,960 --> 00:38:45,840
ALEJANDRO: For the first time
we are lucky
703
00:38:45,840 --> 00:38:48,880
and we discover without
the problems of the termites.
704
00:38:50,640 --> 00:38:53,920
NARRATOR: Two ancient
colored coffins.
705
00:38:53,920 --> 00:38:56,800
ALEJANDRO: I never seen
something like this.
706
00:38:56,800 --> 00:39:01,160
NARRATOR: It'’s a triumphant
moment for the whole team.
707
00:39:01,160 --> 00:39:03,200
The discovery
of the wealthy tombs
708
00:39:03,200 --> 00:39:05,200
they'’ve been searching for.
709
00:39:05,200 --> 00:39:09,040
[singing]
710
00:39:09,040 --> 00:39:13,240
They could hold evidence
of a crocodile cult
711
00:39:13,240 --> 00:39:17,240
and finally resolve the mystery of the mummified crocodiles.
712
00:39:19,920 --> 00:39:23,320
The colored coffins need
weeks of restoration work
713
00:39:23,320 --> 00:39:25,920
before they can be
safely moved.
714
00:39:25,920 --> 00:39:30,200
Until then, they seal
the burial with an iron door,
715
00:39:30,200 --> 00:39:33,240
to keep the coffins safe
from tomb robbers.
716
00:39:35,160 --> 00:39:37,680
ALEJANDRO: Perfect.
717
00:39:37,680 --> 00:39:42,400
Now I can sleep more relaxed.
[chuckles]
718
00:39:44,280 --> 00:39:48,400
NARRATOR: It'’s a satisfying end to an amazing day.
719
00:39:48,400 --> 00:39:52,480
ALEJANDRO: We did not expect
to find anything important.
720
00:39:52,480 --> 00:39:55,160
However, we have found
two amazing tombs,
721
00:39:55,160 --> 00:39:59,080
one with the coffins, and
the other with the crocodiles.
722
00:39:59,080 --> 00:40:03,840
It has been one of the most
intensive days of my life.
723
00:40:08,680 --> 00:40:12,280
NARRATOR: 400 miles north,
on the Giza Plateau,
724
00:40:12,280 --> 00:40:16,440
Chris continues to explore the
ancient Egyptians'’ reverence
725
00:40:16,440 --> 00:40:21,520
for animal gods and their role
as divine guardians.
726
00:40:21,520 --> 00:40:24,520
At the paws
of the Great Sphinx,
727
00:40:24,520 --> 00:40:26,640
he finds a tantalizing clue
728
00:40:26,640 --> 00:40:30,120
that could reveal
the statue'’s true purpose.
729
00:40:30,120 --> 00:40:33,520
CHRIS: This, we think,
is some kind of temple.
730
00:40:33,520 --> 00:40:35,720
It'’s a building which sits
731
00:40:35,720 --> 00:40:37,760
right in front of the paws
of the Sphinx.
732
00:40:37,760 --> 00:40:40,120
It'’s built in the same way
as well,
733
00:40:40,120 --> 00:40:44,760
with these absolutely massive
local limestone blocks.
734
00:40:44,760 --> 00:40:48,200
NARRATOR: The temple'’s
limestone blocks
735
00:40:48,200 --> 00:40:50,320
are a match with the Sphinx.
736
00:40:50,320 --> 00:40:52,960
The Egyptians built it
at the same time
737
00:40:52,960 --> 00:40:55,880
from the Sphinx'’s
leftover stones.
738
00:40:57,600 --> 00:41:00,200
Chris steps back
to the eastern corner.
739
00:41:00,200 --> 00:41:04,200
From here, he notices
something intriguing.
740
00:41:04,200 --> 00:41:05,920
CHRIS: Where we'’re
standing here,
741
00:41:05,920 --> 00:41:09,200
we'’re looking straight on
at the face of the Sphinx,
742
00:41:09,200 --> 00:41:11,840
and, in fact, the Sphinx
is aligned to the pyramid.
743
00:41:11,840 --> 00:41:15,600
So its right shoulder
is absolutely aligned
744
00:41:15,600 --> 00:41:18,480
along the axis of the temple
in front of it,
745
00:41:18,480 --> 00:41:21,800
and behind it,
the corner of the pyramid.
746
00:41:21,800 --> 00:41:25,680
What'’s even more interesting
is that at the two equinoxes,
747
00:41:25,680 --> 00:41:27,520
that is the exact point
748
00:41:27,520 --> 00:41:30,880
where you see the sun
setting in the sky.
749
00:41:30,880 --> 00:41:34,120
NARRATOR: The temple, the Sphinx and Khafre'’s pyramid
750
00:41:34,120 --> 00:41:38,360
could all be part
of one master plan.
751
00:41:38,360 --> 00:41:40,800
During solar events
752
00:41:40,800 --> 00:41:44,720
their alignment reveals
something extraordinary.
753
00:41:46,920 --> 00:41:50,240
When the sun sets
on the equinox,
754
00:41:50,240 --> 00:41:53,160
it drops into the shoulder
of the Sphinx
755
00:41:53,160 --> 00:41:57,160
and the south side
of Khafre'’s pyramid.
756
00:41:57,160 --> 00:42:00,560
These two mighty monuments
are symbols of the king,
757
00:42:00,560 --> 00:42:05,560
and as the sun sets,
their shadows become one.
758
00:42:05,560 --> 00:42:07,360
On the summer solstice,
759
00:42:07,360 --> 00:42:10,440
the sun sinks between
the two great pyramids,
760
00:42:10,440 --> 00:42:13,200
and looks like
an ancient Egyptian hieroglyph
761
00:42:13,200 --> 00:42:16,840
that represents the cycle
of divine rebirth.
762
00:42:19,520 --> 00:42:23,400
The architects who built the
Sphinx pyramid temple complex
763
00:42:23,400 --> 00:42:27,360
had an in-depth knowledge
of cosmology.
764
00:42:27,360 --> 00:42:29,840
They would have known
that Sekhmet the lion
765
00:42:29,840 --> 00:42:32,120
is also a sun goddess.
766
00:42:32,120 --> 00:42:34,200
CHRIS: Perhaps this
helps us to explain
767
00:42:34,200 --> 00:42:35,920
the meaning of the Sphinx,
768
00:42:35,920 --> 00:42:38,560
and what the Egyptians were
doing in a temple like this,
769
00:42:38,560 --> 00:42:40,160
what rituals
they were performing.
770
00:42:40,160 --> 00:42:42,560
If this is a solar deity,
771
00:42:42,560 --> 00:42:44,640
then perhaps the worship
in the temple
772
00:42:44,640 --> 00:42:48,960
was all connected with the sun
and the setting sun.
773
00:42:48,960 --> 00:42:52,240
NARRATOR: The ancient Egyptians believed the rise and fall
774
00:42:52,240 --> 00:42:56,200
of the sun equated
to human resurrection.
775
00:42:56,200 --> 00:42:59,680
The Sphinx could have been
central to a complex
776
00:42:59,680 --> 00:43:04,760
built by King Khafre to harness the spiritual power of the sun.
777
00:43:04,760 --> 00:43:09,640
Today, the Sphinx sits alone
in the pyramids'’ shadow.
778
00:43:09,640 --> 00:43:12,960
But back in the time
of the pharaoh Khafre,
779
00:43:12,960 --> 00:43:16,560
it was at the figurehead
of a grand design,
780
00:43:16,560 --> 00:43:20,720
a great temple complex
with a huge causeway
781
00:43:20,720 --> 00:43:23,960
connecting the Sphinx
to Khafre'’s pyramid...
782
00:43:23,960 --> 00:43:27,920
the pharaoh'’s
final resting place.
783
00:43:27,920 --> 00:43:31,400
The temple complex
stretched to the Nile,
784
00:43:31,400 --> 00:43:34,920
where there was
a magnificent port.
785
00:43:34,920 --> 00:43:37,600
When Khafre died, it was here
786
00:43:37,600 --> 00:43:40,880
that the boat carrying
his body would dock...
787
00:43:40,880 --> 00:43:44,120
before he was entombed
in his giant pyramid
788
00:43:44,120 --> 00:43:47,080
to wait for his resurrection.
789
00:43:47,080 --> 00:43:51,360
♪
790
00:43:51,360 --> 00:43:54,200
The Egyptian belief
in the divine powers
791
00:43:54,200 --> 00:43:56,720
of their animal gods
was so great,
792
00:43:56,720 --> 00:43:59,920
they built the Sphinx to be
the protective figurehead
793
00:43:59,920 --> 00:44:03,200
in a resurrection machine
designed to guarantee
794
00:44:03,200 --> 00:44:06,800
King Khafre'’s journey
into the after-life.
795
00:44:06,800 --> 00:44:09,480
Captioned by
Side Door Media Services
61181
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