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The Great Sphinx of Giza is a limestone statue of a reclining sphinx, a mythical creature with the head of a human and the body of a lion. [ 1 ] Facing directly from west to east, it stands on the Giza Plateau on the west bank of the Nile in Giza, Egypt. The face of the Sphinx appears to represent the pharaoh Khafre. [ 2 ]
- What Is A Sphinx?
- How Old Is The Sphinx?
- Khafre
- Other Theories
- Riddle of The Sphinx
- Great Sphinx Restoration
- Sources
A sphinx (or sphynx) is a creature with the body of a lion and the head of a human, with some variations. It is a prominent mythological figure in Egyptian, Asian, and Greek mythology. In ancient Egypt, the sphinx was a spiritual guardian and most often depicted as a male with a pharaoh headdress—as is the Great Sphinx—and figures of the creatures ...
The most common and widely accepted theory about the Great Sphinx suggests the statue was erected for the Pharaoh Khafre (about 2603-2578 B.C.). Hieroglyphic texts suggest Khafre’s father, Pharaoh Khufu, built the Great Pyramid, the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in Giza. When he became Pharaoh, Khafre constructed his own pyramid next to ...
Several lines of evidence exist that tie the Great Sphinx to Pharaoh Khafre and his temple complex. For one thing, the head and face of the Sphinx are strikingly similar to a life-size statue of Khafre that French archaeologist Auguste Mariette found in the Valley Temple—the ruins of a building situated adjacent to the Great Sphinx—in the mid-1800s...
Over the years, researchers have put forth many other theories for the Great Sphinx’s origins, though most are refuted by mainstream Egyptologists. Some theories suggest the face of the sphinx actually resembles Khufu and, therefore, Khufu built the structure. Alternatively, Pharaoh Djedefre—Khafre’s older half-brother and Khufu’s other son—built t...
What Egyptians called the Great Sphinx during its prime remains a riddle, because the word sphinx originates from Greek mythology some 2,000 years after the statue was built. It’s also unclear in what regard Egyptians held the Great Sphinx during the Old Kingdom (c. 2613-2181 B.C.), as there are few texts that discuss the statue. However, Khafre as...
The Great Sphinx was eventually forgotten again. Its body suffered from erosion and its face became damaged by time as well. Though some stories claim Napoleon‘s troops shot off the statue’s nose with a cannon when they arrived in Egypt in 1798, 18th-century drawings suggest the nose went missing long before then. More likely, the nose was purposel...
Sphinx-lined road unearthed in Egypt; PhysOrg. The Great Sphinx of Giza; Ancient History Encyclopedia. The Mystery of the Great Sphinx; Ancient History Encyclopedia. Old Kingdom of Egypt; Ancient History Encyclopedia. What happened to the Sphinx’s nose?; Smithsonian. Saving the Sphinx; PBS/NOVA.
Sep 13, 2024 · Great Sphinx of Giza, colossal limestone statue of a recumbent sphinx located in Giza, Egypt, that likely dates from the reign of King Khafre (c. 2575– c. 2465 bce) and depicts his face. It is one of Egypt’s most famous landmarks and is arguably the best-known example of sphinx art.
- The Giza Plateau. Located on the Giza Plateau, the Great Sphinx of Giza is one of several monuments in the area, which includes the Giza Necropolis. The Giza Plateau is a sandy plateau in Giza, Egypt that overlooks the West bank of the Nile River.
- When was the Great Sphinx Built? Modern Egyptology largely agrees that the Sphinx was built around 2500 BC during the reign of Pharaoh Khafre, whose face it is thought to bear a likeness.
- Why was the Great Sphinx Built? If the Sphinx was truly built during the reign of Khafre, then it is likely that it was built for that pharaoh. Keeping in mind that the Sphinx is only one of several structures erected as part of the deceased king and sun god cult, the monument may have had the purpose of connecting the dead pharaoh with the sun god.
- A Lion's Body. Perhaps the most notable aspect of the Great Sphinx's appearance is that it possesses a lion's body and a human face and head. This appearance is only one of many forms the sphinx has taken.
Oct 26, 2016 · The Great Sphinx of Giza is the most instantly recognizable statue associated with ancient Egypt and among the most famous in the world. The sculpture, of a recumbent lion with the head of an Egyptian king, was carved out of limestone on the Giza plateau probably in the reign of the king Khafre (2558-2532 BCE) during the period of the Old ...
- Joshua J. Mark
The sphinx is located southeast of the pyramids. While the date of its construction is not known for certain, the general consensus among Egyptologists is that the head of the Great Sphinx bears the likeness of the pharaoh Khafre , dating it to between 2600 and 2500 BC.
Jul 27, 2023 · Learn about the ancient Egyptian monument that has guarded the pyramids of Giza for 4,500 years. Discover who built it, who broke its nose, and what it symbolizes.
