The Great Sphinx of Giza

The Great Sphinx of Giza is the largest monolithic statue in the world, carved from a single mass of Mokattam limestone bedrock directly on the Giza Plateau in Egypt's Giza Governorate. Measuring 73 meters long, 19 meters wide, and 20 meters high, the Sphinx depicts a recumbent lion with a human head believed to represent Pharaoh Khafre, dating to approximately 2500 BC. Visitors approach via a dedicated path from the main Giza ticket gates and descend to the Sphinx enclosure, where viewing terraces on the north and south sides provide close-up perspectives of the paws, chest, and weathered facial features. The famous missing nose is thought to have been deliberately removed sometime in the medieval period. A small temple complex at the Sphinx's feet — the Valley Temple of Khafre — displays massive pink granite doorjambs and alabaster flooring that visitors can examine at close range. The statue faces due east, aligning with the rising sun, and at the spring and autumn equinoxes the sun sets directly over the shoulder of the Sphinx as viewed from the eastern terrace — a popular photography event. The evening sound and light show, run from the grandstand south of the monument, narrates the Sphinx in dramatic fashion and is a worthwhile evening option. Because admission is included with the standard Giza Complex ticket, most visitors reach the Sphinx after the pyramids and stay 30 to 45 minutes. The northern viewing terrace offers the classic full-length view; the southern terrace gets closer but is noisier due to traffic. Morning visits before 9 AM see the eastern face in full sun with relatively thin crowds.