The Great Sphinx, Giza

The Great Sphinx has guarded the Giza Plateau for over 4500 years. Since being made by King Khafre (Chephren) around 2558-2532 BCE this statue - the first colossus in the world - has fascinated all those who have gazed in awe upon its face some 20m above them. Although the structure has Khafre's face, it does not represent him but rather a guardian deity of the necropolis. The Sphinx, being made of soft stone, has suffered considerably from erosion. Blocks of limestone used for restoration, probably in the Ptolemaic period, may be seen on its paws, tail and flanks. It is important to remember that, by the time of the New Kingdom, the Sphinx was already an ancient monument!

The Great Sphinx