[ottenki_serogo]

An abbreviated version of the first chapter of the international collective monograph "Petersburg sphinxes. The sun of Egypt on the banks of the Neva River (St. Petersburg, 2005), dedicated to the famous sphinxes on the University Embankment.

Eyes gazed into his eyes, silent,
Filled with the Holy anguish
They seemed to hear the waves
Other grand river.
For them, thousands of children,
Only a dream - visions of these places ...

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These lines are the outstanding Russian writer Valery Bryusov devoted to the magnificent Egyptian sphinxes, decorating the University Embankment in St. Petersburg. These monuments have long since become such a routine part of the urban fabric that not many think about their remarkable fate. XIX century was a time of a new dating Russia with Egypt, which were intertwined texts "Pilgrimage of early Russian travelers discovering Egypt on their way to Jerusalem," the Egyptian delight, swept Europe after the "Egyptian" march of Napoleon Bonaparte. Certainly, the acquisition of Sphinx of Amenhotep III, later adorned the University Embankment in St. Petersburg, has become one of the most momentous events of the dialogue of cultures, which in Russia include thousands of works of ancient Egyptian art.
Almost at the same time with the famous expedition of Jean-Francois Champollion in Egypt, fill out the Egyptian collection of the Louvre, from 1819 to 1828, he worked at Thebes Greek Janis Athanase, known as Yanni, an archaeologist and adventurer, who represented the interests of the British Consul General Henry Salt. Among the monuments discovered during excavations, a special place occupied by two colossal sphinx made of pink granite. Monuments, lying on the west bank of the Nile, not far from the famous Colossi of Memnon, visited during his travels he Champollion.


In his letter to his brother 20 June 1829, he wrote:
"These two giant were once part of an enormous building, whose ruins still stand there and here from the Nile mud ... This place is open-label study, partly underground, which were conducted randomly, without a plan; nearby lvinogolovyh found more than 40 statues made of gray granite, more or less damaged, and other sculptural fragments. This is a real quarry statues, which according to some fortuitous event, they were collected, as if in a sacred basement, awaiting a new birth of all this vanished splendor. Among this debris still visible today, sphinx made of pink granite, about 20 feet in length, well-preserved and most beautiful works, the Sphinx, which has just been found in order to go on sale: unquestionably the most pristine monument of all those like him that exist today. "

In another letter to his brother, Champollion Figeac already mentions the two sphinxes: "As a result of extensive excavations, which is Greek, known as Janne, a former agent, Mr. Salt, were discovered numerous bases of columns, a very large number lvinogolovyh statues of black granite, as well as two delicious colossal sphinx with human heads, of pink granite of the most perfect work, also depicting the king Amenhotep III ».

Both sphinx appeared at the same time, in an engraving by J. Barton, as an illustration of the XVI century «Excerpta Hieroglyphica», where one of the sphinx represented on the right side, as he sketched G. Bonomi. It is known that Bonomi Barton helped during the preparation of publications, issued in Cairo in 1828. There are other sketch Bonomi, which is one of the sphinx lies during excavations at the foot of the bases of fallen columns peristyle of the temple of Amenhotep

Priess d'Avenn also reproduced the sphinx on the left side in the History of Egyptian art, with the signature "Androsfinks and kriosfinks. Marshandon de la Faye, Priess d'Avenna note published after his death, resulting, inter alia, the following lines of these monuments: "the one that played in the upper part of the picture, his head crowned with the sculpture, which has similarities to Amenhotep III. This beautiful pink granite monolith, the most excellent work, was found in 1825 along with another, very like him, for the Colossi of Memnon, undoubtedly, they were part of the same facilities, Amenofeuma in western Thebes. They are no longer in Egypt. " It is not clear whether seen Priess d'Avenn Sphynx in person and, if seen, why not depict its high crown pas shemti.

Champollion tried to find the funds to buy sphinx, but the venture ended in failure. Despite all its perfection, a buyer for the sphinx they found one of the sphinxes on rafts were sent to Alexandria in order to accelerate the sale of monuments abroad. Nestor L'Ot, a friend and graphic artist in the expedition Champollion fixed carriage funeral temple of the Sphinx of Amenhotep III, where he was found on the bank of the Nile. Figure, size 6,8 x 19 cm, was acquired in 1957, among other works by the artist from a private collection of the Egyptian collection of the Louvre, where it is stored at present. The Sphinx in the figure placed on a platform that is using the log pull a few dozen people, the head of the Sphinx, deprived of the crown, is a man, leading the process of moving the monument, the whole procession moves to the background of the cliffs of Western Thebes, and the ruins of the temple, probably Ramesseum.

Sphinx soon successfully arrived at Alexandria, where after some time they became interested in the potential buyer - AN Ants, who served during the Russian-Turkish war of 1828-1829. in the Foreign Office of Field Marshal Dubichev. "Almost immediately after the conclusion of peace, he decided. Being "located sadly, due to losses during the war many" cherished "friends," and the skill of long deprivation "," followed by a long-standing inclination of the heart ", and" embark on a new long journey "to the holy places. In early 1830 Murav'ev arrived in Alexandria. In the later published "Journey to the holy places in 1830, he wrote that" among the remains of ancient Egypt, was struck by his "colossal granite sphinx, covered with hieroglyphics, shortly before arriving on a raft of ancient Thebes. Overcome by joy at the sight of such perfect sites, Andrey wrote a petition to Count Ribotpierre, Russia's ambassador in Constantinople, informing him of the opportunity to buy in Egypt, the Sphinx of excellent Aswan granite for 100 000 francs, attaching to a letter drawing the monuments. Ribotpierre in turn, sent a letter to Count Nesselrode, the Vice-Chancellor, in order to put forward the question of the acquisition, undoubtedly expensive, the decision of the emperor.

Conversation was very slow both because of the fact that Nicholas I had at that time in Prussia, and all correspondence followed him, failing to follow his movements. As a result, Emperor still considered the petition and handed the letter to the Academy of Arts, "asking," Will it be useful to purchase these things. " Council of the Academy, headed by AN Olenin was interested in Egyptology and personally corresponded with the M-F. Champollion, approved the bid of sphinxes. A new paper again followed the emperor on his travels in Germany, until, finally, no agreement has been received.

Bureaucratic delays and doubts Nicholas I almost cost Russia a great loss: during the long paper fuss sphinx for a specified amount bought France. Transport sphinxes from Alexandria to Marseilles, only prevented the July Revolution 1830. Then again Russia bought forgotten French cattery of 64 thousand rubles. The captain of the ship, chartered for the carriage of giants in Kronstadt, also Greek, asked for a little less than half their value - 18 or 28 thousand, as later recalled in his letter of FI Grigorovich.
Sphinxes "did not want" to leave their homeland. During loading, one of them collapsed onto the deck due to come out of the lift system of the machine: "ropes, covering his head, moved with a sudden jerk, and pulled off the right side of his cap, three small pieces of granite, which were carefully picked in kassetku transferred to Storage captain. Moreover, this installing the second of the Sphinx there were no adventures, like the premise of the two bulky crowns cattery (whether they fell from their heads, or were, for the sake of convenience, load lifted, remains unclear) and a piece of red granite, which was bought in order to repair some damage to the crowns . Unfortunately, unknown location of klafta flakes on the head of a sphinx, which has never been restored. It is difficult to define and then which of the crown was finally restored with the help of pieces of stored stone and I think that crown east of the Sphinx, which consists of several pieces of stone and not stand out superlatives polishing, in contrast to the monuments themselves, can be partially supplemented by installing Sphinx on their present location in St. Petersburg.

Ambitious works of Egyptian artists arrived in the "Northern Palmyra" in May 1832. Even before the appearance of the Buena Speranza "with the precious cargo in the mouth of the Neva River, was a special project that the sphinxes were to decorate one of the St. Petersburg embankments. In 1831 the project was conceived "magnificent granite wharf for ships with the decorations in the best Greek style. Fortunately, a little later in order to save the alleged horses with riders, projected on the project, it was decided to replace the already acquired by the Egyptian sphinxes, the echoes of the original plan are preserved today only in the form of bronze columns, complementing the pier, which, however, due to its papirusovidnomu appearance, many are taken at quite an organic addition to the Egyptian harbor. Member of the Academy of Fine Arts, the famous sculptor de Montferrand proposed to complement the marina colossal statue of "the god Osiris, patron of Arts and Sciences", and offered to personally carve the colossus of granite, not yielding to the ancient samples nor in the quality of the work or the polished stone; today can only rejoice that this proposal is very questionable, too late. Construction of the pier began shortly before the arrival of sphinxes in St. Petersburg, after countless delays sphinxes nearly two years, stood in the courtyard of the Academy of Arts. Only in April 1834 they raised on high pedestals of the Finnish rapakivi granite on which they stand today. Probably, this time with the help of massive iron dowel on their heads were installed and the high crown pas shemti. At the same time the original inscription on its pedestal was replaced with one that is visible on the pedestal, despite the strong erosion of the granite, and today "the Sphinx of ancient Thebes in Egypt. Transferred to the castle of St. Peter in 1832.

Surprisingly, the St. Petersburg sphinxes, unquestionably the best works of ancient Egyptian colossal statues, removed from the country, attracted very little attention. In addition to the famous essay VV Struve, which is partly based this article on the Sphynx wrote little. If the inscription plinth on which they rest sphinxes, are interested in OE von Lemm, an excellent scholar of ancient languages and other VS Golenishcheva - the founder of the Russian school of Egyptology, and, in 1949, EV Cherezova, who published their study in the Official Journal of Ancient History ", the stylistic features of the unique monuments, as if deliberately ignored by researchers. In his excellent monumental work "The Art of Ancient Egypt", ME Mathieu, unfair devoted sphinxes a miserly line, putting them in line with other monuments, met with a "new approach to transfer the image of man" during the reign of Amenhotep III, and adding the above illustration.


All researchers, one way or another worked with sphinxes, including VV Struve and ME Mathieu, unanimously said that that the Sphinx must be another place, more protected from climatic fluctuations, dirt and moisture, the problem is most pressing in the preservation of these monuments today. In this light, the curious contents of the document, found IA Lapis in the archives of the Hermitage: "at the end of the case on the collection of Castiglione (f.1, op. № 1, 1826, № 29), there is no one signed a note in French, which proposes to move to the Hermitage Sphinxes of Amenhotep III in the Neva River and Egyptian sarcophagi from Tsarskoselskaya ruins, and even a sphinx for the locations where they should be put - namely, two rooms on either side of which was installed a famous vase Revdinskiy jasper and in which the author notes offered to place all the other ancient Egyptian monuments. However, this draft was not adopted.
Peterbald cats can be rightly regarded as one of the best images of Amenhotep III. Some fragments of sculpture from the complex of Kom el-Hettan show that the sphinxes were carried out as perfectly as granite osiricheskie Colossi king, who once stood in the Grand peristyle courtyard of the complex. The same polished surface of the stone, a soft face Modeling and developed eyes and lips, made a great master of hand, is known for the colossal head of the king, also created from pink Aswan granite, now housed in the museum collection of Egyptian art in Luxor and found in the Kom al-Hettan in 1957 year. Sphynx from St. Petersburg have a special place among other androsfinksov Amenhotep III. It is well known for heavily damaged miniature winged sphinx king, made of earthenware, from the collection of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, the Sphinx and porcelain vessels with excellent preservation of "well" in human hands, which takes place from the Collection of Howard Carter and located in the Metropolitan Museum in New York, the head sphinx made of pink granite in the Archaeological Museum in Zagreb, damaged the Sphinx of glazed steatite in the Museum Victoria and Albert Lodnone, sphinxes in Turin, some other monuments of this kind.

Course, sphinxes in Russia far outweigh them as their size and quality. Each of them, weighing 23 tons, is 5.24 meters in length and 4.50 meters in height. Both, as already mentioned, are made of excellent pink granite. In the minds of sphinxes - royal scarves-klafty with ureyami and high crown pas shemti; to the chin "tied" ritual beard, their back and chest are decorated with imitations of blankets from pleated fabric. On the chest and shoulders of each of the Sphinx - a broad necklace useh perfectly satisfied with the "beads". Massive tail curved around the right thigh of each monument. On the chest, between the front paws of Sphinx and around the perimeter of the plinth monuments carved hieroglyphic inscriptions with brief titulature Amenhotep III, most of which are well preserved.

The inscriptions on the Sphinx, the rich epigraphic material, are traces of alteration associated with the destruction of the name of Amun in the era amarnskih repression. Later, probably in the early years of XIX dynasty inscriptions have been restored, but, but, as with the loss of image quality hieroglyphic signs, and, subject to the original text of errors and distortions of meaning, as rightly pointed out the first time in its publication EP through, despite the that it translated somewhat outdated. For example, in the inscription on the eastern Sphinx, a sign of "Gold Chorus, member of the traditional royal titulature, replaced by the word - nsw -« the king, there are unconditional repetition of one of the king's name. "All these weird places, we carefully examined and found clear signs of correction and the destruction of the old signs. Signs painted unevenly, some with perfect clarity and expressiveness, the other casually, something where you can see remnants of the old characters for new ". The inscriptions are accurate and correct, not to distort the text, for example, generally restored the name of the god Amon.

Oriental Sphinx. The monument is well preserved and has a special care finish. Flakes, not impeding the perception of general appearance of the Sphinx, are available on the right side of klafta; probably just write about them VV Struve, referring to problems with the loading of the monument in Alexandria, almost Skolot beard; fragments break away from the front of the plinth; lost a piece of the back of the Sphinx and a part of the tail. Not preserved head Urey. Suffice it badly damaged the crown of the Sphinx, the highest part of the crown deshret consists of several parts, some damage there and in front of the crown hedzhet.
The length of the inscriptions on the plinth of a sphinx from the quay - 5,85 m, with the Neva - 5,40 m. On the back of the plinth of the Sphinx chipped off a piece of a length of about 60 cm, which bore some of the text, which can be restored by analogy, that was done EV Cherezova and taken in preparing this translation.

Inscription on the part of the embankment:
"Long live the chorus, a powerful bull, shine forth in truth, both the Lady who has set the laws, pacifying both land Chorus Gold, Bull kings smash Nine bows, the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, lord of both lands Nebmaatra, the heir of Ra, the son of Ra, they beloved, Amenhotep, ruler of Thebes, the likeness of Ra, to both lands, good chorus, the lord of eternity, which are given life, stability, strength, health, [rejoice his heart, like Ra, in eternity]. "

Inscription on the part of the Neva:
"Long live the chorus, a powerful bull, shine forth in truth, both the Lady who has set the laws, pacifying both the land, the king, the great creations, the lord of the miraculous, had never been done like ancestors, open only to his father, Amon, Lord of the thrones of the Two Lands, was placed in heart of knowledge, like Thoth, the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, lord of the Two Lands, Neb [maatra, the heir of Ra, the son of Ra, Amenhotep, ruler of Thebes, which is given life like Ra in eternity].

The inscription on the chest and between the paws of the Sphinx:
"King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Nebmaatra, the son of Ra, Amenhotep, ruler of Thebes, the beloved of Amun-Ra.

The inscription in front paws of the Sphinx:
"Long live God is good, Nebmaatra, the heir of Ra, the son of Ra, Amenhotep, ruler of Thebes, the beloved of Amun-Ra.

West Sphinx. The monument is made from low-quality granite, less preserved, and, as suggested by SB Schigorets may have been done before: on the monument traces fixes sculptor, which are absent on the eastern sphinx. Small chips are on the right side nemesa, lost his beard, his head Urey. Some small flake can be seen on the crown deshret. Severe injuries are on the front of the plinth, the right side of plinth hardest hit by the destruction of the weak components of granite. Person elaborated a little less careful, in place of the pupils there are clusters of dark particles of granite, creating the illusion of the "look" of the Sphinx. The inscription on the plinth of the Sphinx, in general, preserved a little better, hit the front part, which is easily restored in the footsteps of characters, as suggested by another VV Struve. The length of the inscription on the plinth of a sphinx from the shore - 6,47 m from the river - 6,45 m.

Inscription on the part of the embankment:
"Long live the chorus, a powerful bull, shine forth in truth, both the Lady, the great terror in the country of any alien, Khor gold trampled underfoot by the Nubians, who captured their land, the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, Nebmaatra, the heir of Ra, the son of Ra, Amenhotep, ruler of Thebes and commend the victims of creatures, rising to the heavens, like the four pillars of heaven, lord of the Two Lands, Amenhotep, ruler of Thebes, the beloved of Amun, the name of the powerful, which is given life in eternity, like Ra ".

Inscription on the part of the Neva:
"Long live the chorus, a powerful bull, shine forth in truth, both the Lady who has set the laws, pacifying both land Chorus gold, overthrew Asians trampled underfoot by the Libyans, the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, lord of the Two Lands, Nebmaatra, Chosen of Ra, the son of Ra, they beloved, Amenhotep, ruler of Thebes, brilliant creations, the first in infinity, rejoices the heart of it, along with Ra on his throne, like Amun-Ra in eternity. "

The inscription on the chest and between the paws of the Sphinx:
"King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Nebmaatra, the son of Ra, Amenhotep, ruler of Thebes, the beloved of Amun, lord of the thrones of the Two Lands".

The inscription in front paws of the Sphinx:
"[Long live] God is good, Nebmaatra, the heir of Ra, the son of Ra, Amen [hotep], ruler of Thebes, [beloved] Amun-Ra.

In general, the St. Petersburg sphinxes - a unique monument, made one of the greatest sculptors of his time. Symbolic close to them far less committed Sphinxes of Ramses II, installed in front of his Nubian temple of Wadi es-Cebu; such monuments are also known for the relief image.
In 2002, the first time in the history of the monuments was carried out a unique full-fledged research project for the restoration of sphinxes, which managed to clear the sites, to obtain objective information regarding biological and chemical nature of the contamination, to prevent the inevitable process of destruction of granite because of the adverse climate for ancient monuments in Russia . The restoration and preservation of sphinxes team undertook the restoration of the Center for Ecology and Culture in St. Petersburg. As leaders of a restoration project were Schigorets Stanislaw and Albina DEP - known restorers and conservation of monuments of sculpture, located in the space of a modern city, a commission of experts to review the status of the monument includes a professor of St. Petersburg State University - Bulah A., D. Vlasov, A. Zolotarev, O. Frank-Kamenetskaya, as well as specialist restorer A. DEP. The project was implemented under the auspices of the Egyptological Association for the Study of Ancient Egypt "IAATO" under the leadership of the author of this chapter of the book.

At the first stage, a detailed survey of monuments of material - granite. After lengthy discussion it was decided to remove the dense black film, because it not only greatly distorted the original shape sphinx, but was full of fungi and microorganisms. All attempts to simply wash the statue ended in failure. The film proved to be very durable and not liable to attack by detergents, solvents, additional complexity was also in the fact that the clean-up should not suffer the surface of sphinxes. As a result of numerous samples was applied a special chemical composition, developed earlier by the State Hermitage. Covered areas of the stone through the 4-8 hours, depending on the degree of contamination, were cleaned. Sometimes in some places, such packs had to be repeated many times. At the final stage of the surface of the stone was washed with water. Under the film, as it turned out, hiding a beautiful polished, little affected by time. It turned out that the preservation of monuments and different: due to the more fragile structure of the material in the western Sphinx was somewhat worse. Flowing down to the sphinx rainwater washed into dark-colored components granite miniature bed and ran to him. After clearing expert committee confirmed that these Scherbyna not threaten the global structure of granite, so any additional restoration activities to strengthen the structure of the stone is not required.


During the restoration work the most difficult was the recovery process of the corona east of the Sphinx, broken, apparently, even in antiquity, and sealed in the XIX century by metal straps. As a result, water is poured into the cracks, has led to severe corrosion of the metal, as on the surface and deep crowns. Increases in the amount of metal destroyed the granite. That is why the small blocks that make up the crown, were disassembled and thoroughly cleared. Pironi of iron have been replaced by stainless steel. Specially formulated, by color imitating granite were sealed with large seams between the Crown and the heads of sphinxes. After clearing and restoration of the Sphinx, the entire surface of the stone has been treated with solutions that will improve the stability of granite to water and biological aggression. Of course, the main conclusion of all the works, despite their undoubted success lies in the fact that these masterpieces of ancient art and require immediate transfer to the museum, and their historic place on the Neva embankment could take a copy.

On the day when rented scaffolding from the first of the Sphinx, on the east, the whole city, preparing for the 300-year anniversary, was enveloped in mist. Forests slowly expose the crown first, then the face and chest sphinxes. Polished face appeared from the mist, as from the past, as if urging us again to look into it.

Op. By: Solkin VV Peterbald cats: the history of acquisition and general analysis of monuments. //St. Petersburg sphinxes. Sun of Egypt on the banks of the Neva. SPb., 2005. S. 14-36. Footnotes omitted, and a transliteration of the hieroglyphic inscriptions on monuments.

1. "Orient" Sphinx of Amenhotep III on the Neva River in St. Petersburg after the restoration.
 
2. "Western" Sphinx of Amenhotep II before restoration.

3. "Oriental" Sphinx of Amenhotep III to the restoration.

4. "Western" Sphinx of Amenhotep II in the woods.

5. "Orient" Sphinx of Amenhotep III in the woods.

6. Fragment of "Eastern" Sphinx of Amenhotep II.

7.Titul king of Upper and Lower Egypt. Fragment of an inscription between the legs "Eastern" Sphinx of Amenhotep III to the restoration.

8.Restavrator Stanislav Schigorets the work on the crown "eastern" Sphinx of Amenhotep III.

9. Control strip contamination left on the headdress "Western" sphinx.

10. Excavations peristyle courtyard of the temple of Amenhotep III el Hettan. Sketch by J. Bonomi, fragment. At the moment this is the only source that allows you to establish exactly where the temple stood sphinxes, transported to St. Petersburg.

Text and photos from Victor LJ Solkin.