Great Sphinx of Giza

Identification

Map

Structure in general

Facts

• The Sphinx is believed to be a depiction of King Khafre wearing the royal nemes headdress affixed to a lion's body.
• Part of the Sphinx's beard is on display in the British Museum in London.
• Many features, including the nose, are missing.
• For much of its life, the Sphinx was buried in sand which helped preserve it against erosion by wind-blown sand.
• The Sphinx is a national symbol of Egypt and is one of the world's most famous monuments.
• The Sphinx's face is four metres (13 feet) in width.
• The base was carved from a natural limestone outcrop at around the time of the construction of the Pyramid of Khephren (Khafre), circa 2,555 to 2,532 BC; the Sphinx though could be far older.