Giza - Sphinx

Immediately northwest of the Valley Temple of Chephren, a simple but finely built granite structure, is the Sphinx, perhaps the most celebrated monument in Egypt after the Pyramid of Cheops: the figure of a recumbent lion hewn from the natural rock with the head of a Pharaoh (Chephren?) wearing the royal headcloth and cobra. The divine image on the breast and other royal insignia are missing.

Weathering and deliberate mutilation have wrought much damage over the course of the centuries but in spite of this the Sphinx still conveys a powerful impression of majesty and artistic achievement. The total length of the figure is 241ft/73.5m, its height some 65ft/20m. Preservation work is in progress.