Great Sphinx of Giza
أبو الهول الكبير بالجيزة
4th Dynasty · Old Kingdom · c. 2530 BCE
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Details
In Egypt- Where to see it
- Giza Plateau, Egypt
- Found at
- Giza Plateau
- Type
- statue
- Material
- limestone bedrock (mokattam formation)
About this object
A 73-metre-long limestone Sphinx with a king's head on a lion's body, carved from the Giza bedrock around 2530 BCE — likely Khafre fused with the lion-god Horemakhet.
Current location
Giza Plateau, Egypt
In the site
Giza Plateau, east of Khafre's pyramid causeway
Materials
limestone bedrock (mokattam formation)
Dimensions
L 73 m × H 20.2 m × W 19.3 m
Provenance
Carved from the natural limestone bedrock during the reign of Khafre. Repeatedly excavated from drifting sand by Thutmose IV (Dream Stele, c. 1400 BCE), Ramesses II, Caviglia (1817), Mariette (1853), Baraize (1925-36), and the modern Sphinx Project.
Depicts
Sourcing
Phase 0 hand-curated — pending Egyptologist review
Citations
- · Hawass, Z. & Lehner, M. (1994). The Sphinx: Who Built It and Why? Archaeology magazine.
- · Zivie-Coche, C. (2002). Sphinx: History of a Monument.
Coming Phase 2
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