A recently declassified CIA document has sparked a fresh wave of online discourse, reigniting long-standing conjectures about concealed structures beneath the Great Sphinx of Giza. This document, dating back to 1952, contains a photo log that specifically mentions a “Temple under the Sphinx.” The resurgence of theories blending alternative history, psychic phenomena, and conventional archaeology makes many wonder what the photograph truly depicts and if ancient secrets are indeed buried beneath the Egyptian sands.
The document in question, officially cataloged as CIA-RDP83-00423R000100200001-7, is a routine CIA administrative form titled “Form for Submission of Graphic Material.” It served to inventory eleven rolls of 35mm black-and-white photo negatives taken by a traveler touring the Middle East and Afghanistan in 1950. Amidst standard entries like “Tourist at the Pyramids” and “Ruins near the Sphinx,” an intriguing line appears: “Temple under the Sphinx; July 1950.” This straightforward caption has fueled debates about potential hidden chambers beneath the Great Sphinx—a subject long intertwined with legends of an underground repository of ancient lore.
The phrase “Temple under the Sphinx” immediately brought to mind the prophecies of Edgar Cayce, the famed American psychic dubbed the “Sleeping Prophet.” During his trance sessions in the early 20th century, Cayce repeatedly spoke of a secret chamber situated beneath the Sphinx’s right paw. He asserted that this chamber held records of Atlantis, brought to Egypt by survivors of the great cataclysm. He predicted this repository would be discovered between 1996 and 1998.
While the CIA document makes no direct reference to the “Hall of Records” or Edgar Cayce, internet users quickly conflated the two concepts. The document is merely a photographic inventory, not a classified intelligence report on subterranean caverns. The caption “Temple under the Sphinx” is likely a descriptive label assigned by the photographer to a specific ancient structure he visited in July 1950. But which temple was it?
Archaeologists have long been aware of a temple situated directly in front of the Sphinx, which itself is named the Sphinx Temple. This structure was constructed during the Old Kingdom period, likely under Pharaoh Khafre around 2500 BCE, using massive limestone blocks quarried right next to the Sphinx. Some of these blocks weigh up to 100 tons.
The Sphinx Temple had been completely engulfed by sand for millennia. It was only through excavations conducted by French archaeologist and engineer Émile Baraize between 1925 and 1936 that the temple was fully uncovered and restored. Given that the CIA photo archive dates to 1950, it is probable that “Temple under the Sphinx” refers to this newly revealed Sphinx Temple, which sits at a lower elevation than the surrounding plateau, directly ‘under’ the gaze of the great monument.
Though the 1952 CIA document may have an entirely mundane explanation, the mystery of what lies beneath Giza remains unsolved. The legend persists, partially fueled by physical anomalies detected during scientific investigations. In the 1990s, seismologist Thomas Dobecki conducted surveys near the Sphinx and identified what appeared to be rectilinear cavities beneath its paws. More recently, Italian and Scottish researchers, utilizing Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), have claimed the discovery of an extensive underground complex and even a second Sphinx beneath the plateau, though these assertions await rigorous scientific vetting.
Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities has consistently denied permits for excavating these anomalies, citing the need to protect the monument from damage. Regardless of whether the “Temple under the Sphinx” inscription points to the known Old Kingdom structure, a mislabeled photograph, or something more significant, it underscores the enduring fascination with Egypt’s ancient monuments. The convergence of archival finds, psychic predictions, and modern archaeology ensures that the sands of Giza will continue to command our collective wonder for generations to come.
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