Interior view of the Temple of Solomon at Jerusalem. The "entry" is called Ulam in Hebrew, the main room is the "Hekal" and the "Holy of Holies," which is a square in dimension, houses the Ark of the Covenant beneath the colossal Cherubim made of olive wood and overlaid in gold. Cherubim are understood to be Egyptian winged sphinxes, aspects of the Sun-god, and of Pharaoh. They served in Egypt as guardians of temples, temple gardens, and burial grounds (the Great Sphinx of Giza "guards" the Pyramids). Egyptian sphinxes are usually portrayed with their wings flat against their back, while Phoenician, Syrian and Israelite examples have their wings fully extended.
