The Great Sphinx of Giza is one of the world’s largest and oldest monolithic statues, standing as a silent sentinel over the Giza Plateau for 4,500 years. Carved from a single ridge of limestone, this mythical creature features the body of a lion and the head of a human—believed to represent Pharaoh Khafre—symbolizing strength and wisdom. Standing 20 meters (66 feet) high and 73 meters (240 feet) long, it aligns perfectly with the rising sun, embodying the solar deity Ra-Horakhty.
Visitors can view the Sphinx from the nearby viewing platform, which offers close-up perspectives of its weathered features and the “Dream Stela” located between its paws—a granite slab placed by Thutmose IV to commemorate his divine vision. While the nose is famously missing (often incorrectly attributed to Napoleon), the statue remains a majestic testament to Old Kingdom engineering. A visit here is often combined with the adjacent Valley Temple, where the mummification of kings took place.
