Mick Harper wrote: I was puzzled since all accounts confirm that the sphinx, like all ancient monuments, were constantly painted the most vivid colours but neither he nor anyone else ever make reference to this, I would have thought, salient fact.
He probably thought your probing intellect was misplaced. Like, it's not likely they painted the sphinx while it was underwater.
Mick Harper wrote: I am writing to Athens to instruct them to paint the Parthenon. I want to witness the cries of 'barbarism' should they go for accuracy rather than that which we associate with ancient gravitas. I can do Stonehenge myself.
I wish you well with that. These pesky authorities can get snotty about outside help. I'm still waiting for a reply from English Heritage to my helpful suggestion that they should restore Avebury to its original condition of a white faceted pyramid. Strange that they've taken so long.